Delbonis, born in Azul 31 years ago, gave an interview to Télam in which he reviewed that magical 2016, that of the historical feat that went through four seasons, Gdansk, Pesaro, Glasgow and finally Croatia, where the historic title was achieved with his triumph over the giant Ivo Karlovic by 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2 that defined the series.
“I felt like the Burruchaga of tennis, the one who scored the goal to win the title, but the most valuable thing was the human group that (Daniel) Orsanic built and allowed him to win the series and the previous points, which were very important to be able to achieve the objective”, analyzed “Delbo” in the talk with Télam.
The left-hander from Azul confessed that although five years passed, it seemed like the Davis Cup final against Croatia was yesterday, and as a good soccer player (he is a Boca fan) he compared his triumph with Jorge Luis Burruchaga’s goal, the third in the final. of the World Cup in Mexico ’86 that Argentina beat Germany 3-2, in another sporting feat abroad.
“The Davis was something very desired, much loved by the atmosphere of tennis and sports in general. When we raised the trophy all together to bring it home it was a great moment, I think the best thing that happened to us”, admitted the tennis player.
The Azulean remembers each situation of the final against the Croats, and the outbreak of the almost 5,000 Argentine fans that made the Arena Zagreb stadium vibrate and left the Croats in silence when a historic victory was consummated that ended with a century of frustrations and four lost finishes.
The series between Argentines and Croats was defined on November 27, with the Balkans ahead 2-1 on the scoreboard and a historic comeback by Juan Martín Del Potro from Tandil to equalize the tie (he beat Marin Cilic in the fifth set after having been two sets down) and then Delbonis came into action.
“I thought the final was lost, I just started to believe when ‘Delpo’ made a ‘Big Willy’ and freed himself, then he tilted the game to his side and I tried to focus on mine, the fifth point, although mentally it was very difficult do it”Delbonis confessed.
“When I started to play with Karlovic I was calm, I planned a baseline game, I took a lot of confidence and hardly had any shocks. Due to my level of play I put him on the podium of the best that I played throughout my career,” added the tennis player.
Delbonis, currently in 44th place in the world rankings, installed his triumph over Karlovic along with two other very significant that he achieved in the race: against Roger Federer in the semifinals of Hamburg 2013 and against Andy Murray in Indian Wells 2016.
Delbonis passed Karlovic in straight sets, broke the stigma of the lost Davis Cup finals (1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011) and dispelled the dense clouds that had loomed the day before when Argentina lost the doubles and remained at brink of defeat.
When reviewing the keys to the conquest, the Azulean did not hesitate to highlight the ability of captain Daniel Orsanic and his coaching staff to define strategies and with regard to the management of the group.
“Orsanic knew how to play his cards well, in the sense of how he treated each one, that everyone felt important and when he had to make difficult decisions. He knew how to listen and that was key, we tennis players like to be heard”Delbonis recalled.
The Azulean did not play the series of the initial round in Gdansk with a victory over Poland, he was the figure in the next against Italy, in Pesaro, with his triumphs over Andreas Seppi and Fabio Fognini that paved the way to the semifinals, and then he joined the team but he did not play Great Britain in Glasgow.
“Daniel decided that ‘Delpo’, Pella and Mayer would play in Glasgow, he explained it to me and I understood it, we were all aligned with his idea. He made decisions always thinking of the group and that was fundamental,” he added in reference to the captain.
Argentina had a solid formation that was defined in the semifinals, with Del Potro, Delbonis, Mayer and Pella, who later played the final, while in Poland there had been Carlos Berlocq and Renzo Olivo, and in Italy Juan Mónaco.
Although the great merit went to the team, Delbonis did not hide that Del Potro was the great winning card, with feats such as beating Murray at home when he was number one on the planet or reversing an incredible match against Marin Cilic in Zagreb.
“Delpo was our width of swords, the one that gave the most. Obviously all champions have an emblem and he was ours. From the outset he understood that he was joining a team that was armed, he took it very well, he adapted quickly and then we know everything he contributed “, praised “Delbo”
The Azulean, winner of two titles in his career, in São Paulo 2014 and Morocco 2016, took over the photo of the final celebration in Zagreb in a season that he will never forget. After that, Davis did not play again, perhaps because he knew he could not achieve anything that exceeds what he lived or because he preferred to give way to the new generations.
Delbonis had many ups and downs on the circuit and just showed a level close to his best version this year with three semi-finals, in Santiago, Belgrade and Hamburg, two quarter-finals, at the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome, and the round of 16 at Roland Garros.
“I had a great first half of the season and I did not find the results in the second. I feel able to improve next year, especially if I maintain the level in brick dust and adjust a couple of details in rapid”, concluded Delbonis , who anticipated that there will surely be a celebration this weekend with Orsanic, Sub-captain Mariano Hood (his current coach), Leo Mayer and possibly Del Potro.
Source From: Ambito
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