Argentina break jinx with historic Davis Cup victory

 

 

Argentina - the country that has produced one of the most successful teams in sports like football and tennis. However, the nation has been equally unfortunate as they come close to triumphing in a major tournament before eventually succumb at the end.

 

The Argentines have not brought home a notable trophy since their historic win in the FIFA World Cup 1986.

 

Argentina have always had a loyal fan base, be it football or tennis. They come in numbers to support their country, in a hope to return with memories for a lifetime. Nevertheless, that was not happening.

 

 

The most important characteristic that keeps the Argentina's fans apart from the rest of the world is their passion for sports which never let them stop believing in their country, despite a number of poor results.

 

Argentine football team reached the final in FIFA World Cup 1990 and 2014. What followed next was a disappointing loss in the final.

 

Meanwhile, the tennis bunch was not any behind. It made it to the Davis Cup final in 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011. But the outcome was no different, a loss at the end was written in their destiny too.

 

By now, the fans had got used to heart breaks.

 

November 27, 2016 - the date has been etched into the Argentine history forever - Juan Martin del Potro and his boys finally broke the jinx when they fought back hard to lift their maiden David Cup trophy! It took Argentina 116 years to do so. 

 

 

Argentina's campaign in the final began with a loss. Croatia's Marin Čilić defeated Federico Delbonis in the singles' rubber. Del Potro equalised for the South Americans by winning his singles match.

 

Croatia once again took the lead when the doubles pair - Marin Čilić and Ivan Dodig won their rubber.

 

The 2009 US Open champion, de Potro was barely able to speak when he won the reverse singles match after going two sets down. He turned tables around as he brought Argentina back into the game with a far-fetched 6-7 (4), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

 

The ecstatic moment spread in Croatia's Arena Zagreb where the home crowd went quiet leaving the visitors on their feet shouting on top of their voices, including the legendary footballer, Diego Maradona who had flown specially to cheer for his country.

 

 

Diego #Maradona is really living every moment of this #DavisCupFinal!

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 27, 2016

 

 

Federico Delbonis covered up for the first rubber loss when he thrashed the home player, Ivo Karlović in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and dropped to the ground in disbelief. His teammates fell on him as the moment had arrived - Argentina had done it.

 

The crowd broke down in celebration - they danced, chanted and waved the Argentine flags in pride as their players lifted the Davis Cup trophy in the front stage.