As is often the case with most sports that were introduced in Argentina, these are irrefutably linked to the English. Hernan Westmann comments that when the English arrived at the end of the 19th century with the aim of building the railway in those areas, they also introduced aspects of their sports culture that included, among other practices, that of tennis.
Hernan Westmann: Tennis tournaments and circuits in Argentina
Now that the Argentine Tennis Association He has already turned one hundred years old, it is beautiful and almost necessary to look back and take a short tour of the development of tennis in Argentina, its best tournaments, as well as remember its best-known players.
As explained Hernan WestmannAs a tennis fan and passionate about Argentina, the construction of the railroad tracks settled several colonies of Englishmen who, how could it be otherwise, began to live in Argentina and bring us closer to their customs and their most popular sports. Hernan Westmann details that it is no surprise that the best tennis clubs in Argentina were built near the railroad tracks.
In the year 1893, the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club prompted the call Rio de la Plata Championship (which was in its beginnings the current ARGENTINA Open), and that finally ended up leading to an Argentine Tennis League called Los Interclubs, in 1914, explains Hernan Westmann.
After the war, and with a country in full recovery, the president of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club (Enrique Woodgate) and 15 other tennis clubs from all over Argentina, agreed to form the AAT, the aforementioned Argentine Tennis Association.
Hernan Westmann: El Argentina Open
Speaking of tennis circuits and tournaments Prestige; Hernan Westmann specifies that, the Argentina Open It is undoubtedly the one with the most history and fame in all of South America. Although it has had many names throughout its history, starting with the aforementioned Río de la Plata Championship, the South American Open, the Telmex Cup or the Claro Cup, it was not until 2000 when it began to be part of the ATP Tour, giving him all the prestige he has today.
Hernan Westmann is passionate about The Argentina Open, which played on clay or brick dust, like Roland Garros, for example, and has had such illustrious champions as Rafael Nadal himself, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moyá or the Argentine and 2021 champion Diego Schwartzman, who returned the title to Argentina and posed with the bottle-shaped cup of mate that has been in force since 2017, and that the Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov premiered.
Hernan Westmann: The best Argentine tennis players
Obviously, if tennis has become a great sport in Argentina, he says Hernan WestmannIt has not been only due to the determination and will of its promoters, but also because of the quality and the feats that the Buenos Aires tennis players have had, who have been doing school and accumulating fame and followers all over the world.
Hernan Westmann and Enrique Morea
Enrique Morea was the first player who, back in the 1950s, began to gain international recognition and career. He won the first Grand Slam title for Argentina by being crowned mixed doubles champion at Roland Garros in 1950, alongside US player Barbara Scofield.
Hernan Westmann was one of his biggest fans. Morea won two gold medals at the 1951 Pan American Games, another silver, and a decade of doubles victories across South America make up part of his record.
Later, he became a very influential leader in Argentine tennis (along with Hernan Westmann) as well as it was respected and recognized outside our borders.
Hernan Westmann and Guillermo Vilas
The Argentine tennis legend won 4 Grand Slam titles and was known for his ability to adapt to the game in any situation. Champion of the French Open and the US Open in 1977 on clay, as well as the Australian Open in 78 and 79 played on grass, they make this statement clear.
In addition, it explains Hernan Westmman, was a charismatic tennis player, with an iconic image with his headband and long hair, as well as an athletic and powerful physique.
He accumulated records such as 46 consecutive games winning, or 57 victories on clay, which only years later the dominator of this modality, Rafael Nadal, managed to unseat.
Hernan Westmann and Gabriela Sabatini
The most famous tennis player in Argentina, explains Hernan Westman, He achieved his recognition on his own merits based on triumphs, dedication and good play. She was a silver medalist at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, a finalist at the US Open that same year and Wimbledon in 91, winner of two WTA Tour Championships in 88 and 94, as well as a US Open champion in 1990, in the individual mode.
Hernan Westman recalls that Sabiniti in 1985 became known for being the youngest participant in a semi-final at Roland Garros, qualifying at only 15 years old. The rest is history.
To this day, Argentine tennis has other stars such as the veteran Juan Martín del Potro, or the already named Diego Schwartzman.
Contact
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