This year brings good news for Argentine tennis fans in Patagonia, as the Davis Cup, men’s tennis’ premier international competition, will be played for the very first time in the region. The duel between Argentina and Türkiye will be played in Neuquén’s Ruca Che Stadium on September 19 and 20.
The decision to go south is part of a plan that goes beyond a change of scenery.
For the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT), this represents a new step in a strategy it has pursued for several years: spreading the sport across the country, decentralizing major events, and giving audiences beyond Buenos Aires the opportunity to watch the national team.
“Many of [the AAT directors] are from the provinces, and we know exactly what it means for a province to host an event like this and watch the best Argentine tennis players at home,” said AAT President Agustín Calleri. He insisted that his team is working to “make tennis widespread across the country.”
“This series will give Neuquén tremendous visibility and international recognition,” he added.
The Davis Cup has seen several new venues since Calleri took over as president. San Juan, Rosario, and now Neuquén, which will become the sixth Argentine province to host a series since Argentina first hosted the competition in 1931.
“We want to take the sport we love to every corner of Argentina,” said Mariano Zabaleta, vice president of the AAT. “For us, it’s a dream come true, and we want to continue promoting tennis so that more and more kids fall in love with it.”
A storied venue
The Ruca Che Stadium holds a special place in the history of Argentine sports because it was there that one of its most glorious chapters began.
On August 26, 2001, the Argentine national men’s basketball team won the FIBA Americas Championship undefeated at the Ruca Che Stadium. The win secured the national team’s ticket to the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, the beginning of a journey that ended in the historic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
“I hope that spirit can also carry over to tennis,” said Neuquén governor Rolando Figueroa. “It’s very important that this series serve as a source of inspiration for many kids, so they can see themselves reflected in it, be drawn to the sport, and help make it increasingly popular.”
A key series
The series between Argentina and Türkiye will be played on September 19 and 20, on a fast indoor court provided by the Spanish company GreenSet, with a spot in the 2027 qualifiers at stake.
Argentina enters as the clear favorite, with 10 players currently in the top 100 of the ATP singles rankings — surpassed only by the United States and France. The country also has four doubles players among the world’s top 100, led by three-time Grand Slam winner Horacio Zeballos, ranked No. 3.
Türkiye, ranked 33rd in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) nations rankings, comes into this match after defeating Slovenia 3-1 on the road in the first round of World Group I. None of its players are currently ranked among the top 300 in the ATP rankings.
At 38.95°S, it will be the southernmost playoff series in the history of Argentine tennis. It will mark Javier Frana’s home soil debut as captain, and it will be played on a fast indoor surface — an unusual choice for Argentina. The last time the national team played indoors as the host was in the 2008 final against Spain, in Mar del Plata.
It could also prove a special date for Argentina, which is aiming to reach a historic milestone: its 100th victory in the Davis Cup. The national team enters the tournament with a record of 99 wins and 75 losses.
