“Did you see, dad? That tennis player looks a lot like ‘Dibu’ Martínez!”. Little Gaspar observes everything in amazement and pays close attention to the smallest detail on the central field of the Kempes Polo. Next to him, ‘Pancho’ points out that the Córdoba Open 2023 is the first “match of something” that he has to witness live and direct in the company of his son.
Heir to a journalist, after all, the little one is a good observer. Like the goalkeeper of the Argentine soccer team, “that tennis player”, Federico Delbonis, is skinny, measures over 1.90, likes to wear red and once put his hands, body and soul into service of an unforgettable feat for the national sport. Just like Aston Villa’s cuidapalos, he holds the world champion’s “plate”.
The greatest ones know who it is and that is why they propped him up with sand (“Come on, Fede!”) and applauded each of his hits during the week he had to play at La Docta. Delbonis (32) is the player who on November 27, 2016, in Zagreb, put the final 3-2 in the series between Argentina and Croatia for the Davis Cup final and gave our country the only ‘Salad Bowl of Silver’ in 111 years of history.
“I am confident in my physique and I am clear about where to focus my game and my energy to get back to where I want to be.”
“In a certain way it was Davis Cup”, highlighted, at a time of reference to the Córdoba Open, the native of the Buenos Aires city of Azul. “The truth is that the atmosphere was beautiful; It reminded me of old times of playing at home, Davis Cup times. Obviously people took a plus out of me, beyond the fact that I don’t want to take away my merits, because I was also positive, ”he specified.
Delbonis, former 33rd and current 131st in the ATP ranking, had to row from behind in the Kempes contest. I arrive at the main draw from the quality, where he successively defeated his compatriots Mariano Navone and Thiago Tirante. Later, against the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, the Zagreb hero once again celebrated a victory in the ATP first round after six months and twenty days. In that instance, the last celebration had been on July 18, 2022, in the Swiss city of Gstaad, against the Swede Mikael Ymer.
Delbonis’s journey in Córdoba ended in the second round, after a hard-fought duel with Francisco Cerúndolo, a member of the Argentine Davis Cup team that lost to Finland in Espoo last weekend. “It was a very tough game and I think the people liked it a lot,” he said.
WORLD CHAMPIONS. Delbonis, Pella, Orsanic (captain), Mayer and Del Potro celebrated winning the only Davis Cup in Argentina. Berlocq, Monaco and Olivo also made up the national team in 2016. /// PHOTO: CEDOC PROFILE
Return
“Although with ups and downs, what stands out the most is that the level was there. Córdoba is a place where I like to compete, since it has conditions that favor my game, and this year I have a good feeling. I think I played a good role and this, looking ahead, is very positive for me”, said Delbonis, who started the season with participations in the Australian Open and in the Challengers of Canberra and Concepción.
“These are things that,” he said about the decision of the Córdoba Open authorities to include him in the preliminary round. “Since the beginning of the year I knew that I had to play these types of games to get back to where I want to be,” added the Azuleño, who admits a return to the Top 100 as his goal after a 2022 that, between injuries and bad results, was uphill.
“Come with humility, play the qualy; that’s the way Now I’m going to have to do it again at the Argentina Open -where they reached the semifinals in last year’s edition-, since they couldn’t give me the chance to get the wildcard (invitation card). There were other options, so you have to lower your head, accept the conditions that apply and put your best face on the next match in Buenos Aires, ”he reflected.
“Come with humility, play the qualy; that’s the way Now it will be my turn to do it again at the Argentina Open.”
“These are decisions made by each of the tournament directors and I have nothing to reproach them with. They will know and have their conclusions in each wildcard and I’m not the one to tell you something, “said the Azuleño.
Delbonis knows that his name is burned into the history books of Argentine sports, but he does not stop at those laurels that he was able to achieve six years ago in Zagreb and seeks to recover ground on the men’s tennis circuit. “I knew what awaited me. The road is long and hard, but I am confident in my physique and I am clear about where I have to focus my game and my energy in order to be at a good level”, he emphasized.
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