Day 1, strong start for Paraguay on home soil. Chile also impress on debut in Asunción

A double victory on debut in front of their home crowd. The opening day of the FIP World Cup 2026 Qualifiers – South America, currently under way in Asunción, could not have gone better for Paraguay, who defeated Ecuador 3-0 in the men’s competition and Uruguay 2-1 in the women’s. In the former, Martin Abud-Sebastian Rodriguez defeated Mateo Enrique Proaño Enriquez-Estefano Mateo Montoya Pinchao (6-0 6-2), while Matias Popovich-Samuel Miltos beat José Andres Chamba Gomez-Sebastián Frederick Armijos Robinzon 6-1 6-1. In the third match, played with the victory already secured, the Paraguayan duo Adrian Miranda-Sebastian Rodriguez defeated Carlos García Campoverde-Agustin Álvarez Puente comfortably (6-1 6-0). While the final match was a formality in the men’s competition, in the women’s it secured Paraguay’s victory over Uruguay: Mariana Salsamendi and Maria Alejandra Vera defeated Claudia Jessica Fernandez and Stephania Gaetan Monza after a closely contested match that was decided only in the third set (6-7 7-6 6-4).

 

WOMEN’S In addition to Paraguay, Venezuela also defeated Uruguay 2-1. After losing the opening match, the team responded by winning the second and third matches with the pairs Valeria Rothe-Oriana Alejandra Meza and Samantha Martinez-Maria Eugenia Turrillo Briquet. Venezuela also won its second match of Day 1 against Ecuador (3-0). Chile made an impressive debut, defeating Ecuador 3-0: all three pairs fielded (Catalina Arancibia-Julieta Escalona Diaz, Esperanza Lamatta-Dalal Chahuan and Macarena Lobo-Amalia Bentjerodt Burgos) produced strong performances. Venezuela currently lead the group with four points (having played one additional match). All the other teams follow on two points: Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Ecuador. On Day 2, scheduled for today, 21 August, the matches are Uruguay-Ecuador and Chile-Paraguay, with play scheduled to start no earlier than 4 pm local time (21 CEST).

 

MEN’S In addition to Paraguay, there was another winning debut in the men’s competition: Uruguay, who defeated Venezuela (3-0) in the other Day 1 match, thanks to victories by the pairs Diego Sebastian Ramos-Martin Araujo De Lizarza, Higor Ensslin Alves-Juan Ignacio Artia and Franco Nicolas Soria-Lautaro Lopez. In the group standings, Uruguay and Paraguay have two points, while Venezuela and Ecuador have one. Day 2 will begin no earlier than 10 pm local time (15 CEST), with Paraguay-Venezuela and Uruguay-Ecuador on the schedule.