Copiapó, Manuela Schuck and Cristina Cirne chasing back-to-back titles

After their win at the FIP Bronze in Porto Alegre less than a week ago, Manuela Schuck is aiming for a repeat in Chile, where she already claimed the title at the FIP Bronze Chile V held in July and where the FIP Bronze Chile VI will kick off this Friday. In Copiapó, a city in northern Chile, the Brazilian No.1 will once again team up with Cristina Cirne, her partner from last month’s victory. They’re the top favourites in a draw that also features Chileans Catalina Arancibia and Kimberley Ahumada, seeded No.2. Also in the spotlight are another home duo, Gabriela Roux and Giannina Minieri, both with 7 titles already on the CUPRA FIP Tour.

On the men’s side, it’s the sixth tournament this year in Chile for Manuel Gayone, who’s back on court with Nicolás Suescun. The Argentine from Mar del Plata opens the 32-pair draw against Chileans Matías González and Alonso Villavicencio. Meanwhile, wild cards Vásquez/Fulla Silva, also from Chile, will face the No.2 seeds Javier Valdés (born in Santiago) and Argentine Tomás Luco. Another pair to watch: Axel Guevara and Pablo Molina, the latter having reached the semifinals at the FIP Bronze Chile V.