Maxi Arce changes status after Asunción
Maxi Arce didn’t leave Paraguay with a trophy, but his time at Asunción P2 has clearly changed the way people look at him. Teaming up with Juan Tello, the Argentinian put in one of the most impressive weeks of his early season, not in terms of a title, but in terms of the quality of his performances and the level of competition he showed against some of the best players on the circuit. At this stage, his name is no longer just being bandied about as a player capable of springing an occasional upset.
The Arce/Tello pair first saw off Paquito Navarro and Javi Guerrero, before confirming against Pablo García and Pablo Lijó. Two solid victories, built against recognized opponents, gave real substance to their quarterfinals. Against Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto, they then delivered an intense, hard-fought match, strong enough to nurture the idea that Arce can now exist in much more exposed encounters.
This trajectory has not come out of nowhere. On the Premier Padel tour, Arce’s big match-up statistics lend weight to this build momentum: 41 matches played between 2025 and 2026, for 29 wins, a 70.7% success rate according to his official FIP profile. These figures are not enough to make him an obvious choice for Argentina, but they do reinforce a trend: Arce is progressing, winning often, and starting to do so in contexts that count.
With Juan Tello, an intriguing complementarity
The partnership with Juan Tello plays a central role in this new perception. Tello brings his impact, power and ability to make an impact in the aerial game. Arce, on the other hand, seems to offer a form of stability, with an interesting reading of the zones and an ability to build points without necessarily forcing them too early. Together, they showed a credible complementarity in Asunción, notably in their ability to occupy the net and maintain intensity in long exchanges.
What really stood out was not just their result, but the way they achieved it. Arce alternated tempo, found useful diagonals and gave Tello time to finish the points. This distribution of roles enabled the duo to disrupt several pairs better established in the hierarchy. In a men’s circuit where the gaps are closing fast, this kind of balance can be a real lever for progress.
The match against Galán and Chingotto, already mentioned on Actu-Padel during the Asunción quarterfinals between Chingotto/Galán and Tello/Arce, remains the best symbol of this week. Arce and Tello didn’t win, but they forced one of the most solid pairs of the moment to go for qualification in the details. For a player looking to establish himself at the very highest level, this kind of match can count almost as much as a win.
The World Cup with Argentina, now a legitimate question
The major consequence of this week in Paraguay is whether Maxi Arce can claim a place with Argentina at the next World Cup. Before Asunción, the question might have seemed premature. After this quarterfinal, it becomes much more audible. Not because a single tournament is enough to turn a team’s fortunes around, but because his recent form provides concrete arguments for those who want to include him in the discussion.
Of course, the Argentinian competition remains immense. A number of players have more experience, a more solid ranking and more experience of major international events. Arce has yet to confirm this. He will need to repeat this type of performance, string together results in the final rounds and, above all, win more matches against the major pairs on the circuit. This is the price that must be paid to turn an interesting candidacy into a genuine sporting option.
Asunción is less a culmination than a turning point. Maxi Arce has gained in visibility, credibility and legitimacy. All that remains now is to transform this momentum into continuity. If he succeeds in reproducing this level of performance over the coming weeks, the debate surrounding his presence with Argentina at the World Cup will no longer be just a nice tournament story: it will become a serious sporting issue.
Key takeaway
- Maxi Arce made his mark at the Asunción P2 despite being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
- His pairing with Juan Tello showed real complementarity against top pairs.
- His stats on Premier Padel, with 29 wins in 41 matches, give weight to his progress.
- The question of a place with Argentina at the World Cup becomes more credible, even if the competition remains very strong.
- Arce will now need to confirm this over several tournaments and in key matches.
