Challenger Santo Domingo - Can Monteiro end Varillas' red-hot streak?

Varillas finally breaking through

Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas has been a promising player for a long time. Looking at his career results, one might not understand that statement at all, but he always had the assets to become a solid clay court player. Playing with confidence after winning his first title in Antalya, Turkey last year really helped him stepping up his game.

Since then, he won 4 more titles on the ITF tour. His biggest result however came last week when he won his maiden Challenger title in Campinas, Brazil. En route to the title, Varillas beat seasoned clay court players like Bagnis, Collarini, Coria and Ficovich. Travelling to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic didn't deter him from continuing his hot streak as he beat Alejandro Gonzalez, Daniel Elahi Galan, Federico Delbonis and, for a second straight week, Facundo Bagnis to reach the semifinal.

11 Matches in 13 Days

While all these wins only emphasize his great form, Varillas might face some fatigue issues coming into his match against Thiago Monteiro. Floating on cloud nine and being pumped on a career high run certainly helps brushing aside these physical issues a bit, but no human body is a machine (apart from Daniil Medvedev's). Today's semifinal will be his eleventh match in thirteen days. The Peruvian never played on such a rate at that level before.

Resilient Brazilian a Tough Task

Thiago Monteiro will be a tough task to overcome any physical struggles. The Brazilian is a pest from the baseline and it takes a steady performance to wear him down. He's a steady member of the world top 150 for more than three years now and already won two Challenger titles this year, in Punta del Este, Uruguay and Braunschweig, Germany.

I'm not a fan of opposing hot streaks, but even though Varillas is playing on another level the last two weeks, I'm not sure he can overcome a rock-solid Thiago Monteiro in his eleventh match in thirteen days. Therefore, I will bet on the Brazilian at underdog odds.