Federico Delbonis
spent almost 17 years
with a racket in his hand, traveling around the world, making the tennis courts his home and with victories, points and trophies as his goal and motivation to move forward.
He lived some hard times and great joys.
And at 33 years old, he decided it was time for a change.
The Azuleño, who will forever be remembered as the player who sealed Argentina's victory in the
2016 Davis Cup
final , lowered the curtain on his career.
He said goodbye sportingly on court 2 of the
Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis
, in a doubles match of the
Argentina Open 2024
that he played (and lost) with his friend
De Él Facundo Bagnis
.
And several hours later, he stepped once again on the brick dust of the legendary
Court Guillermo Vilas
- the same one where two years ago, he was in charge of saying goodbye to another Davis champion,
Juan Martín del Potro
- and took a last enormous ovation from his audience.
Delbo
, 331st in the ranking, starred in an emotional moment on a cool Wednesday night at the BALTC.
He entered dressed "in civilian clothes", hand in hand with two of his children.
He received a replica of the trophy/mate that the champion takes from
Martín Jaite
.
And he posed for the cameras with his wife
Virginia
, who arrived a little while later with the youngest of the family in
Upa
.
He didn't give a speech, but the smiles and greetings he gave to the people were goodbye enough.
And he left surrounded by a loud
“Olé, olé, olé... Delbo... Delboooo”
and a shower of applause.
There was no sadness, perhaps some nostalgia for the chapter that is ending.
But he assured that he is happy and at peace with his choice.
And that he is ready for a new stage.
"I was honest with myself and my team. I felt it was the time. This is what I wanted. I made a healthy decision and with each passing day, I become more convinced that it was the right one," he said in a conversation with
Clarín
.
"In October of last year, after losing in the
Santa Fe Challenger
, I told my team that I was going to stop, I was not going to play the other tournaments that we had planned and I was going to go back home to think. I took two months, but I was already totally sure. That time was to see if at some point the decision would change. If I said
'I want to make all the effort I need to make to continue'.
And it didn't happen. I stayed physically just in case. I played soccer , a lot, and I had fun. I went to the gym because it's good for me. But then I was fine doing everyday things, like going to pick up my children or one day cooking. Things that are normal for everyone, but not for us out there. I enjoyed it. a lot of that time," he said.
And he continued: "I think that before I was very cold, in the sense that when I went on a trip, my wife got a little more excited and I was so focused on that goal of going to play a game and compete, that I obviously missed her and my children, but I didn't think about anything other than competing. Today that doesn't happen to me. I'm at home and I want to be at home."
Federico Delbonis, his wife Virginia and their three children, after the tribute that the Azuleño received at the Argentina Open 2024 for his retirement.
Photo Sergio Llamera/Prensa Argentina Open
Delbonis played his last singles match in mid-October at the Santa Fe Challenger. After losing in the quarterfinals to the Czech
Vit Kopriva
, he realized that the desire to continue fighting was not the same as before.
"I was clear that if I was going to continue playing, I had to want to. It wasn't just going to play tennis or go to train like I had been doing automatically. It had to be more of a desire than a routine. I had reached a point where I couldn't. I felt like I was training as I should and my daily aches and pains were a little more unbearable than usual. And thinking about re-planning and going on a trip was going to cost me too much. Tennis players are always selfish, in a good way, because "We always try to look for what makes us good and what leads us to improve on the field. Today I feel like I'm doing the same thing," he acknowledged.
Delbonis closed his career with two titles.
He was champion in
Sao Paulo
in 2014 and in
Marrakech
in 2016, the year in which he reached his best position in the ranking, 33rd place.
And he won the most important match in Argentine history in the Davis Cup: the fifth point against
Ivo Karlovic
, which sealed the victory against
Croatia
in Zagreb and decreed the consecration of the albiceleste.
For many fans, who dreamed for years and years about that title,
Fede
is the "hero of Davis."
"Hero... I don't feel that way. I was able to play the last point, the one that gave the Salad Bowl to Argentina, but without the team we had, without the players and without the coaching staff it would not have been possible," he commented.
"I am proud of the group we formed. There were so many beautiful things that happened during that year that will remain in my heart. For me, the Davis Cup week and the run-up to each series are the most beautiful thing in the world. The training, the day by day with the coaching staff, the talks... That's what I'm going to remember the most."
61619960 - _EMA9112_1.JPG - _EMA9112_1.JPG - FTP CLARIN - Delbonis Bagnis against Munar Baena (Doubles) at the Argentina Open ATP 250.Photos Emmanuel Fernández - FTP CLARIN _EMA9112_1.JPG Z EFernandz Efernandez _EMA9112_1.JPG
-Was that final in Zagreb the most important moment of your career?
I always try to separate my career into two parts, the individual and the collective.
And in the group, which was the most beautiful thing I had to experience, there is no need to mention it, everyone knows it.
I am proud to have been part of the history of Argentine tennis, to be there among so many important figures and names.
I am excited.
I think that as the years go by I will size it up more.
-And on an individual level, was the victory against Roger Federer in the Hamburg semis in 2013 the highest point?
I couldn't say exactly what the strongest point was.
That triumph is one of the most beautiful moments of my personal career.
Having been in the same era as Federer,
Rafael Nadal
and
Novak Djokovic
and having played with them is special.
Because they marked a milestone in the history of tennis.
More than 60 Grand Slams between three people... If you put together another 60 players, I don't know if we will have them.
Having been part of that era is something that I will always carry in my heart.
"Now is my family time"
Federico Delbonis hung up his racket with the certainty that it was time for a change.
That his time as a player had come to an end and it was time to face new challenges.
But the man from Azulejo is not eager to find his new "job" and, for now, he only thinks about enjoying himself.
🎾 Federico Delbonis fell in the doubles at the IEB+ Argentina Open and said goodbye to professional tennis in front of his audience.
He will always be remembered for giving the Davis Cup to our country.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, FAITH!
👏 pic.twitter.com/01JrNBcZkM
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) February 14, 2024
"Today the only thing that is clear to me is that I want to have time for myself and my family. To be more present as a father and as a husband. I have eternal gratitude for both my children and my wife. Now is their time." , he assured.
And he acknowledged: "At the moment I'm not really thinking about what I want to do. I don't immediately see myself coaching another player and traveling. I don't know in the future. For now, I have some things that I'm starting, a lot of nice projects that I'm working on." "I am immersing myself, related to tennis, to which I want to remain linked. But I want to take my time, think about it well and not rush because now begins an unknown stage for me, which I am going to have to learn to live with."