What Juan Martin did was really good because of the way he played, the way he worked hard during key moments. I congratulate him because he played a great tournament and it is not easy to play the first [Slam] final. He was a bit nervous at the beginning, mainly during the first set, but he played really well. This kind of achievement changes your life. Let’s hope with this he settles down and uses this as experience for later on because it is a springboard to his career, to another kind of experiences. We should not forget that Federer is always Federer; he was playing well and it is not easy to defeat him. This is good for the tennis world, an important step forward which does not happen every day. It is really good for Argentine tennis, and let’s hope we can go on making people happy.
Update
Here's a brief article from La Nacion about how David watched the match back home in Unquillo and what he said afterwards...
A few blocks away from the house of David Nalbandian the bar Mumú Mamá, owned by the tennis player, was filling with patrons gathering in front of the TV to support Juan Martin Del Potro. At the house of King David as well, it was the TV set that was attracting all the attention. Coffee and toast on the table, a couple of life-long friends to discuss the match with and mama Alda nearby, David followed the final with a bit of nerves. After a little over four hours of ups and downs, when Delpo dropped to the ground at the Arthur Ashe stadium, Nalbandian let out a spontaneous "How great is that?!"
Afterwards, the thoughts of Nalbandian, who was a semifinalist at the US Open in 2003, were filled with praise for the man from Tandil. "It was a spectacular triumph. There's always a bit of nerves when you watch a match like this but Juan Martin played a great match. And it's always very difficult to play against Federer. Juan Martin went from playing not so good to great. He was the better player and he was able to prevail although Federer was playing well. He has shown that he has enormous confidence and that he's [playing] at a great level."
David followed the tournament during the two weeks. Of each of Delpo's matches he saw at least some part. But the one yesterday he really didn't want to miss. "Will the rise of Juan Martin continue now? The challenge will be to maintain this level and continue winning at the majors, which are the tournaments that mean the most points and prestige. To keep it up is more difficult than to get to this point. Where he is now, it's more difficult to go up one position [in the ranking] than to go up from #100 to #50. But he is very young and still has much to give. I hope it stays that way. His triumph is not only very important for his career but for Argentine tennis in general. It's a very important impulse for approaching the Davis Cup. Hopefully, we can win it next year."
10 comments:
Poor David, he's obliged to say he's happy and to congratulate Delpo....I guess he feels a little bit sad and bitter 'cause a new one won a GS and not him.... Delpo makes David feel "old"...David always said he wanted to win a GS and Delpo did it!!! Not really funny for him.. I pity him !!!
It's one thing in saying it, but doing it is another thing. David hasn't "done" it yet.
Yes, of course this must have been difficult for David, but it was a nice speech.
For a moment there, I thought he wasn't going to mention the Davis Cup! ;-)
Tennisace,
I don't pity David really, for he has had numerous opportunities to earn one of those GS's the same way Delpo did. We've heard all the excuses, but the windows of opportunity close much more quickly when you progress through your career. At this point, David is only paying lip service to the notion of getting a GS.
I think those are good statements David made. And I don't doubt that he was excited and nervous, watching the match. Nor that he was genuinely happy for Delpo when he won the title. What David's true feelings are now, after this match, however - who knows.
He was Argentina's big hope for a long time. But now it's Delpo who has fulfilled it. And precisely at the moment where David is sitting at home, sidelined, and doesn't know whether he'll ever be able to play at his best level again. Saying that his goals remain the same, i.e. winning DC, winning a Slam basically just means that he thinks (or hopes) that his career is not over yet. And that he means to pick it up right where he left off.
The question is whether Delpo's Slam title will affect David and in what way. Seeing Delpo pull off at age 20 and in his very first Slam final what David didn't manage to achieve all these years. It's too late to mourn the opportunities David had in the past and didn't take. And it seems pointless to speculate about David's chances of winning any kind of tournament in the future as there's no way of knowing how well he'll be able to play when he comes back.
I guess I just hope that he's able to let the good thoughts prevail. To be happy for Delpo and not see it as an attack on himself or his status. And after all, it's really good to have a Slam champion on your DC team. ;)
Julia,
I agree; however, he can't help but rue his own missed opportunities and put them in perspective. Maybe when he comes back, he'll have a renewed focus and commitment to the game? Only time will tell on that, and hopefully he will have addressed many of the mental, physical, and emotional issues that surround him currently.
Have a look at Cordobanoticias.web, there's a new David video talking about many things close to a polo match. he wears sunglasses so we can't see his great eyes but he looks very good althought.. Tell me your opinion.
Thanks, tennisace. I'll post that video (it's on YouTube) and another new one.
I can never be sure about this but I think yes David might feel sad that JMDP won GS before him but he has great love for his country and that makes me believe that he's genuinely happy for JMDP.
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