It seems that for Argentina in Davis if it is not with suffering and drama, it is not worth it
.
It seems that triumphs are only triumphs if before achieving them you walk on the edge of the abyss.
It was clear, as it has been several times in the hundred years of albiceleste history in this competition, in the closing of the series this Sunday against
Kazakhstan
for the 2024 Qualifiers.
A series that on paper seemed relatively easy for the national team
.
Even when, it is known, in Davis many times what should happen does not happen and underestimating a rival can become a bitter pill to swallow.
Guillermo Coria and his players had everything to resolve the duel quickly.
However, they had to wait until the tie break of the last set of the last point to breathe a sigh of relief and embrace each other in a hug in the center of the court, in a mixture of happiness and relief.
Photo: JUAN JOSE GARCIA - CLARIN
The clock showed 7:48 p.m. on a cloudy and not so hot Sunday when
Sebastián Báez
, 25th in the world and the great Argentine hero, made his first match point and signed the 6-4, 3-6 and 7-6 (8-6 ) against a very tough
Dmitry Popko
(338°).
That victory sealed the 3-2 victory for Argentina, which qualified for the group stage of the September Finals and brought down the curtain on a day that was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Albiceleste team, in which - and he encouraged himself - with his heart in his throat.
Let's celebrate with everything!
🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷
Sebastián Báez saved two match points against Dmitry Popko and gave Argentina a 3-2 lead.
#Davis Cup I @AATenis @sebaabaez7 pic.twitter.com/Y3alo1KOyl
— Davis Cup (@CopaDavis) February 4, 2024
“He went ahead with a lot of effort
,” acknowledged Coria, who experienced this duel in a special way, since it was the first Davis Cup match that was played in this city, which he adopted as his own.
“I never saw the series as lost, it was very complicated.
But the boys committed, as they always do.
When things were going downhill and didn't work out, when there was a lot of tension and the games were slipping away, they were firm, they stuck with it, they never gave up.
That's what makes me proud of this series.
“We have a great team,” added the captain.
Although the suffocating Saturday left some concern for the outcome -
Francisco Cerúndolo
(22nd) beat
Popko
with too much work and
Tomás Etcheverry
(28th) fought but tripped over
Timofey Skatov
(278th) -, logic suggested that the Argentines could lead the match without many problems.
But Davis doesn't understand logic.
Máximo González
and
Andrés Molteni
did what they had to do.
However, the duo, 13th in the world and winner of five titles last year, needed a great effort to defeat Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 and 6-0, a doubles player who is 48th in the specialty ranking, and Popko, a partner confirmed hours before, to give Skatov a rest, thinking about the rest of the day.
“This was so hard because it's Davis, for sure. But with heart and with the help of the people we were able to turn it around
,” Machi acknowledged.
“It was more heart than tennis at the beginning.
It is a relief and a joy to give this point to Argentina, so that Fran can go out on the field calmer.”
Cerúndolo came out calmly, began imposing conditions against Skatov and even led 5-3 for the opening set.
But his rival, who played all weekend well above what his ranking indicates, insisted until she managed to break him tennis and mentally.
And against a confused, erratic and unfocused Buenos Aires player, the Kazakh won 7-6 (7-1) and 6-4 to equalize the duel and force the fifth point.
And it was won, see you in the finals in September!
A lot of suffering but the objective was achieved.
Proud to be part of this team that gives everything.
Thank you to everyone who supports us when things work out and when they don't.
Let's go Argentina🇦🇷❤️ pic.twitter.com/UvCcevvv6G
— Francisco Cerúndolo (@FranCerundolo) February 5, 2024
And it was time for Báez, “the very tough player to face” that Coria had chosen to save for Sunday in case he needed it.
Báez complied, but not without making the 3,500 people who filled the stadium suffer for the second consecutive day.
Although the blame for that suffering was partly Popko, who in the second game of the day played until his legs were almost unresponsive and pushed the Argentine to the limit.
Again, Davis doesn't care about rankings either.
And if the breaks that came and went and the disputed balls had not been enough, a situation that occurred in the final stretch of the decisive tie break stopped the hearts of more than one.
Popko served 6-4, with two match points in favor.
Báez lifted them up.
Finally, after 2 hours and 48 minutes of a very tough battle, when the sun barely shone in the Jockey Club, Báez sealed the victory and unleashed the Argentine madness.
TEAM 🇦🇷
Argentina will travel to the group stage of the 2024 Finals ✈️👏🏻#CopaDavis I @AATenis pic.twitter.com/6ojo2wsJjs
— Davis Cup (@CopaDavis) February 5, 2024
“I always liked representing Argentina.
Listening to all the people and seeing the boys straining on the bench, he felt like he couldn't lose the game, he couldn't let it end like this.
That made me get a little more,” Sebas confessed after the agonizing victory.
And for Argentina in Davis, if it is not with suffering, the victory is not worth it.