Olivo On Cusp Of Top 100 Breakthrough

After a breakthrough week on the ATP Challenger Tour, Renzo Olivo is on the verge of achieving yet another milestone: reaching the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.

The 24 year old from Argentina won his first Challenger at last week’s $40,000 event in Santos, Brazil. Having started the year at No. 173 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Olivo now sits at a career-high standing of No. 102.

“It’s very important to me. I’ve been fighting for a Challenger title for a long time,” said Olivo. “I’ve reached a few finals and many semi-finals in the past three years and it’s been a barrier that I’ve had to overcome. I’m very happy.”

Another strong result at this week’s $50,000 event in Medellin, Colombia, would put him inside the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. Olivo is off to a strong start after recording an opening-round win over local favourite Orlando Luz.

His recent Challenger success was inevitable after having his best results this season on the ATP World Tour. He reached the semi-finals in July at the German Tennis Championships 2016 and produced a quarter-final finish in February at the Ecuador Open Quito. But while some fans may have been surprised with those results, Olivo always knew he was capable of achieving them.

“I wouldn’t say that I exceeded my expectations, but I took my opportunities and played at the right level to do it,” he said. “And mentally, I managed it well.”

Olivo is now hoping to use another opportunity in Medellin to crack the Top 100. But while the achievement would be the fruition of years of hard work, the Argentine is making it a point to not put pressure on himself.

“The Top 100 is a big goal. The truth is you need to play well consistently and stay strong physically to reach it. To finish the year there is the objective,” said Olivo. “[But] I have no pressure… If I play my game and stay strong, I will have many chances to go far.”