Davis Cup Tennis Last time Great Britain’s tennis players competed collectively in South America was in the aftermath of the ‘9/11’ disaster in the United States when Preston Reid, in conjunction with Traveleads, hosted a party of 44 supporters to Guayaquil, Ecuador. A memorable time was had by all, the majority travelling out purely for the tennis, but a number of interesting tailor-made side-trips were made either to the Galapagos Islands, colonial Andean haciendas, or to Amazonian jungle lodges. In addition to the adventure of what was for many a first visit to South America, the group witnessed heroic performances from Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski over the hometown Lapentti brothers, both registering victories on day 1. Final score, 4-1. Six years on – and with Great Britain now back in Davis Cup’s World Group, the October draw for the 1st Round was always going to prove tough – and so it turned out, away to Argentina, on clay, the tie to be played at the Parque Roca stadium. Argentina have never lost a Davis Cup match at home. A group of 15 supporters departed Gatwick on a cold February morning, though somehow and from somewhere another 17 British supporters appeared at the pre-event Reception held at the players and officials downtown hotel. A second match day bus was hastily arranged. Though the Argentines were hit by injuries themselves, British hopes were unquestionably dealt the greater blow when news of Andy Murray’s late withdrawal filtered though to the rest of the squad at a warm up tournament in Vina del Mar, Chile. Under grey skies the atmosphere appeared muted when play got under way and as the national anthems were played, Parque Roca was barely half full. In addition, main cheerleader and rabble-rouser Diego Maradona did not turn up, perhaps sensing a mis-match. There was however a banner high up in the stands which read: ‘In 1986 it was the hand of God, in 2008 it will be the hand of David’ – and so it proved. David Nalbandian was recently described in a Buenos Aires newspaper as the best Argentine player ever. Nevertheless, despite a comprehensive scoreline, Jamie Baker did well on his Davis Cup debut and delivered Great Britain’s solitary point in the dead rubber on day 3 against Agustin Calleri. Not unlike Ecuador in September, 2001, the contest was decided by the end of day 2 when Nalbandian and Acasuso were too much for Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins, straight sets victors over the British pair. Buenos Aires is probably South America’s most vibrant city, so there were no shortages of options once the group had got a feel for the place with a pre-tennis half-day city tour. Restaurants aplenty, wonderful shopping, everywhere seemingly a bargain, particularly in the light of the declining value of the Argentine peso. In the city of its inception, a Tango Show was an obvious choice for most if not all who had made the long trip - a visit to River Plate Stadium, host of the 1978 Football World Cup and where on Sunday evening the home team overcame visitors from the northern province of Jujuy, Gimnasia y Esgrima, 2-0, lunch at Hurlingham Club, even a game of tennis at the Guillermo Vilas Tennis Academy. So Argentina march on and will now play Sweden, for Great Britain a relegation play-off tie scheduled for September to determine their fate. Anyone fancy Peru, away - on clay, of course! |