Read & Watch: The Inspiration Behind Jarry's Climb

Tennis runs in Nicolas’ Jarry’s blood.

Yes, the 23-year-old is extremely dedicated to the sport. But professional tennis flows through Jarry’s veins. Most notably, his grandfather Jaime Fillol, a founding member of the ATP who won six ATP Tour singles titles, 15 doubles trophies and climbed as high as No. 14 in the ATP Rankings in 1974.

“He’s one of the best Chilean tennis players [ever],” Jarry said. “He’s taught me the sport since I was little. He took me to great tournaments. I remember Wimbledon when I was 12, and I remember going to the US Open a couple of times. They used to make an ATP [Tour event] in Santiago, so I was always, always involved in tennis.”

According to Jarry, Fillol made all his sons and daughters play tennis until they were 14. Fillol’s brother Alvaro Fillol reached No. 102 in singles and the Top 50 in doubles. Jarry’s aunt Cataline Fillol is the tournament director of an ATP Challenger Tour event held in Santiago, Chile, which Jarry won two years ago. The World No. 79 is also coached by his uncle Martin Rodriguez, who peaked at No. 71 in singles and No. 15 in doubles.

“I was always doing sports and tennis grew a little bit more every year until I began doing some fitness before school and when I finished I dedicated myself completely to the sport,” Jarry said.

Chilean tennis has a rich history, with three players cracking the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings in recent years: Marcelo Rios, Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez.

“Of course the Top 3 Chilean players — Massu, Rios, Gonzalez — they’ve always been players that I’ve looked up to,” Jarry said. “But outside that of course, the top players. Del Potro, the South American, Cilic, Anderson.”

It’s fitting that of today’s players, Jarry looks up to the likes of Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Kevin Anderson. All are tall players who look to dictate play from the baseline.

Jarry is 6’6”, and his biggest weapons are his abbreviated yet powerful serve and his booming forehand. Infosys ATP Scores & Stats show that in 2018, Jarry ranked 15th on the ATP Tour by winning 83 per cent of his service games.

“We think he’s got the tools,” said television commentator Nicolas Pereira, who won three junior Grand Slam titles in 1988. “He hits the ball really hard. Expect him to be big news and a great player.”

But while Jarry has proven he has the game — advancing to his maiden ATP Tour final last year in Sao Paulo and climbing to a career-high No. 39 in November — he brings more than just physical gifts to the court.

“His temperament. He’s cool under pressure,” Pereira said. “He doesn’t give much away with his behaviour and that is a very, very positive thing nowadays.”