Who is Darwin Blanch? 16-year-old US teen phenom and dead ringer for Ben Shelton who faces Rafael Nadal
ATP
The
first round of the Madrid Open will feature a stellar match between the
22-times Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and the young wild card Darwin Blanch,
aged 16. Never before has there been such an age difference in a Masters 1000
match, with a gap of 21 years and 117 days.
The
young tennis player is the son of a Spanish Coca-Cola executive, Ernesto
Blanch, and has traveled around the world due to his father's job, living in
countries such as Spain, Argentina, and the United States. Blanch has also
spent time at the Rafa Nadal Academy and currently trains at the Juan Carlos
Ferrero Academy, often alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
Blanch's weapons
Blanch
is one of the players invited by IMG, the multinational company that owns the
tournament in the Spanish capital. He is also listed as a client of Juan Acuña,
the same agent who works with the Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. In his early
days as a learner at just 6 years old, he trained under the tutelage of Rick
Macci, former coach of Andy Roddick and the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena.
Blanch made his ATP debut at the 2024 Miami Open, but was defeated in the first round by Tomas Machac (4-6, 2-6).
At
just 16 years old, he stands at 1.90 meters tall and possesses a powerful
forehand adapted to modern tennis. He is a player who adapts well to different
surfaces and excels particularly with his strength and strong forehand from the
baseline. Rick Macci himself praised him nearly a year ago:
'American
15-year-old Darwin Blanch will have one of the best forehands and serves on the
ATP TOUR in the near future. Everything is science-based and wired correctly
from age 6. The muscle memory is brainwashed to optimize execution in sync so
you do not have a technical flaw,' he wrote on X.
Blanch
made a name for himself last year by reaching the junior semifinals at Roland
Garros and Wimbledon, and at the US Open, he even trained with Novak Djokovic
before the semifinal against Ben Shelton. According to Blanch himself, at
tournaments, some fans mistake him for Shelton due to their physical
resemblance.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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