2 Responses to daviscup87pecci_arias

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 23, 2025 at 6:17 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-23, 35-41, 34-30, 41-39 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   22 % Pecci – 32 of 141
   11 % Arias – 13 of 133

   One of the biggest Davis Cup upsets in the 80s, and one of the most incredible ties with so many twists and turns throughout the weekend. Admittedly Americans came to the Paraguayan capital without their two icons (Connors – never particularly interested in the Davis Cup, McEnroe – focused on rebuilding his ranking after a sabbatical ’86 season), but ranking-wise they were overwhelming favorites nonetheless: Arias and Krickstein were ranked [54] and [27] respectively while Pecci and Chapacu [113] and [282]. Admittedly Pecci had been a Top 10er at the end of 70s (French Open ’79 runner-up among 7 finals in total that year), but in the mid 80s he dropped outside the Top 100 and his retirement was near; 25-year-old Chapacu had only won 1 main-level match. Moreover Flach & Seguso belonged to the best double pairs in the world. Given those numbers the safest bet it was to predict USA’s victory already on Saturday…
   Strange things unfolded in the subtropical heat already in rubber no. 1 with the confirmation that playing in front of the home crowd with particular circumstances (weather, surface, partisan support) elevates some mediocre players – Chapacu lost as expected, yet the match lasted 3 hours 40 minutes which encouraged the spectators to belief in impossible. In the second more than three-hour rubber Pecci stunned Arias trailing *3:4 in 3rd and *0:3, 4:5 in the 4th set across two days (halted at 3-all in the 3rd set). The favorites prevailed in doubles, and Paraguayan’s dreams seemed to be evaporating. The first singles on Sunday brought extraordinary scenes. The heavy underdog Chapacu was leading 6-4, 6-1, 3:0! He was haunted by the nerves of achieving the greatest victory of his life though, and wasted a match point at 5:4 – Arias was raised from the dead. The American totally dominating his opponent over two sets, led 5:1 (40/15) in the decider when a miracle occurred, and Chapacu won the only five-setter of his career after 5 hours 5 minutes! The 20-year-old Krickstein was much fresher than 32-year-old Pecci; Krickstein had already an impressive five-set record (8:3) despite his young age – so it seemed that “if he takes one of the first two sets, the match is his” – yet was unable to win the most important points at the end of sets 2 and 3 which meant Pecci’s victory completed at 2:35 a.m. “I think the world of tennis must recognize that Paraguay is tough to beat playing in Asuncion,” said U.S. team captain Tom Gorman. “I don’t know what we could have done more than we did. Naturally, I have a tremendous feeling of disappointment.” With that monumental effort Pecci reached his physical limits being unable to win two successive singles matches for the rest of his career. Unfortunately for Arias that disaster meant the last call-up for the Davis Cup team.

   Asunción (clay outdoors): PARAGUAY d. USA 3-2 (first round), March 13-15
   Aaron Krickstein (USA) d. Hugo Chapacu (PAR) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
   Victor Pecci (PAR) d. Jimmy Arias (USA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
   Ken Flach/Robert Seguso (USA) d. Francisco Gonzalez/Victor Pecci (PAR) 5-7, 9-11, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
   Hugo Chapacu (PAR) d. Jimmy Arias (USA) 6-4, 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 9-7 – 3 m.p.
   Victor Pecci (PAR) d. Aaron Krickstein (USA) 6-2, 8-6, 9-7

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   May 23, 2025 at 6:49 pm

   Paraguay advanced four times to the Davis Cup quarterfinals (1983-85 and 1987). The team always involved Pecci & Fr. Gonzalez

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