At the IEB+ Argentina Open, amid cheers and applause, the man from Azul ended his career: together with Facundo Bagnis he lost in the first round of doubles, thus bringing down the curtain on a career that had its peak in Zagreb, in 2016 .
The defeat of Federico Delbonis with Facundo Bagnis, in the doubles draw of the IEB+ Argentina Open, It’s not just one for Azuleño or for national tennis. 4-6 and 2-6 against the duo consisting of the Spanish Jaume Munar and Roberto Carballes Baena Not only did it end the career of the 33-year-old tennis player, but it was also the retirement of the country’s last Davis Cup hero in 2016, in Zagreb.
Visibly moved, embraced by the applause and cheers of the crowd, Delbonis showed some glimpses of that player who knew how to shine in Croatia (3-2 victory), almost eight years ago, giving Argentina the same Silver Salad as this one. history With his skillful left foot, he scattered his rivals on more than one occasion, with volleys, drives and backhands.
He lived in the golden history of Argentine tennis as a key member of the world champion quartet, completed by Juan Martín Del Potro, Leonardo Mayer and Guido Pella, with Daniel Orsanic as captain. People let him know that: at every change, they yelled at him. “Thanks to Davis.” He listened and nodded, as if he was grateful for remembering her that way.
The score meant little to Delbonis, the fans and his own family. Virginia Táccari, his wife, chatted on hand TyCSports.com after the game: “It is very exciting. Maybe we’re talking about it. He told us to stay in Buenos Aires because at the Santa Fe Challenger -in October- he will announce that he will play his last game. “It’s a splash of cold water.”
And I added: “It’s hard for Fede to let it know. He told it to us, but not to others. He decided to retire here, in the tournament he loves the most and enjoys the most. It also lets everyone know. the friendship we made in tennis because you don’t know whether to come back in sport or if he does anything else. “He hasn’t determined what he wants to do with his future.”
Along with this, Delbonis himself He closed his career in post-match press conference: “I got to the point where I didn’t feel like I was training as I should have reversed the situation, because of my daily and unbearable pain. It was a healthy decision, convinced that it was the right one. It makes you want to keep playing, but the truth is I don’t have the physical tools to keep doing it for a calendar year.”
When Delbonis won the Davis Cup in 2016
In November 2016, after four losing finals (1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011), Argentina ceased to be the only tennis power that did not win the title in the most prestigious team tennis competition. And Delbonis was a key part of that, after determining the last point of the series with Croatia.
He has already fallen due to details, in five sets, in the first duel of the series against Marin Cilic, then seven in the world, and the other three matches have passed: Del Potro worked to stop Karlovic’s bombs , he gave. with Mayer in an adverse double against Cilic-Dodig and accomplished the miracle by coming back from two sets down against Cilic, as Croatia felt like champions.
Karlovic was head over heels in celebration before the fifth point. Delbonis, on the other hand, is dying to play that game. The result was overwhelming: 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and eternal glory.
PHOTO: @Tsobretenis
Source: Tycsports
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
