The Arena Parque Roca was the scene of a historic game of tennis in which Gabriela Sabatini He returned to play in Argentina after several years, in an exhibition in which he teamed up with the Spaniard Rafael Nadal and against her friend Gisela Dulko, who teamed up with the Norwegian Casper Ruud. The match was played within the framework of the Mallorcan tennis player’s tour of Latin America.
Rafa, who returned to play in Argentina after six years, assured that “it was an unforgettable and very special night.” The man from Manacor played an exhibition in which he defeated Casper Ruud 7-6 (8) and 6-2 and then shared the mixed doubles with Sabatini against the duo made up of the Norwegian and Gisela Dulko (6-4).
After the matches, the Spaniard explained: “It’s a unique feeling to play here. Since I came here in 2005, my career started to go up.” On the other hand, he praised Dulko and Sabatini: “They are referents of tennis Argentine and Latino.” Rafa had last played in Argentina in 2016, when he reached the final of the Argentina Open.
On the other hand, the Argentine public gave an ovation to Sabatini when it was introduced. Gaby, former number 3 in the world, winner of the US Open in 1990 and the WTA Championship in 1988 and 1994, as well as Wimbledon in doubles in 1988, took to the pitch with Gisela Dulko, both wearing the Argentine soccer team jersey. Later, Gaby and Gise gave Rafa and Ruud Argentina jerseys, with their names stamped and the 10 on the back.
Gisela Dulko, who knew how to shine in the tennis During the first decade of the 2000s, he also received enormous support from the Argentines. Winner of four WTA titles and former 26th in the world in singles, the one born in Tigre touched the sky with her hands in doubles, a category in which she won the Australian Open in 2011 and even became number 1 in the world.
The doubles match was full of magic and nostalgia and the tennis players were able to demonstrate their best skills, delighting an Argentine public that had already come from enjoying the triumph of Nadal on Ruud by 7-6 (8) and 6-2. The result (practically anecdotal) of the mixed double was 6-4 in favor of Sabatini y Nadal. The former tennis player, who retired in 1996 when she was only 25 years old, was physically impeccable despite her 52 years.
There was a specific point in which the public ovation was won. It was when they had a break point to get 5-3. There, Gaby performed a Great Willy that complicated his rivals and was his partner Nadal who was in charge of finishing the point. The spectators ended up applauding her standing. Sabatini he assured after the game that “these are things that remain in the heart and are never forgotten.”
The last time Sabatini played was in 2000, when she played a match at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club against the Russian Anna Kournikova. Gaby, who retired early in 1996, confessed: “We did (with Gisela Dulko) what we could, but Rafa and (Casper) Ruud forgave us a little bit.”
“The feeling was very emotional and luckily it was very enjoyable,” added Gaby. Regarding playing again in Argentina, he pointed out that “it’s something unique” and added: “I hadn’t played here for a long time. I felt that I wasn’t going to be able to because of the emotion we had.”
Dulko, for her part, said she asked to play on the drive side to feel “comfortable against players of this caliber.” Likewise, he revealed: “The weight and speed of Rafa’s ball cannot be explained.” Finally, he assured that playing again in the country made this “a special night”, and he was moved to say that it is the first time he has seen her son play.
The Norwegian Ruud, number 3 in the world, said a few words in Spanish and said that he was very happy to be in Argentina: “I always have good feelings when I come to Buenos Aires. I hope to return in the future.”
And he continued: “It’s hard to learn just one thing from playing with Nadal. He is a great athlete, but what stands out the most is that he never gives up or gives up.” Argentina was the first destination for Nadal and Ruud on the Latin American tour, which will include matches in Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico.
