From suffering to euphoria: Sebastián Báez made Argentina celebrate against Kazakhstan to keep Davis Cup dream alive

It seems that for Argentina in Davis if it’s not about suffering and drama, it’s not worth it. It seems that triumphs are only triumphs if before realizing them you walk on the edge of the abyss. It was clearly seen, as many times in the hundred-year history of the Albiceleste in this competition, in the closing of Sunday’s group against Kazakhstan for the 2024 qualifiers. A series that on paper seemed relatively easy for the national team. Even when, as we know, in Davis many times what should happen doesn’t happen and underestimating a rival can become a bitter pill to swallow. Guillermo Coria and his players had everything to quickly resolve the duel. However, they had to wait for the tie break of the last set of the last point to breathe a sigh of relief and embrace each other in a hug in the center of the court, in a mixture of happiness and relief.

The clock read 7.48pm on a cloudy and not so warm Sunday when Sebastiano Baez25th in the world and a great Argentine hero, he scored his first match point and scored 6-4, 3-6 and 7-6 (8-6) against a very tough Dmitry Popko (338°).

That victory sealed Argentina’s 3-2, which qualified for the group stage of the September Finals, and brought the curtain down on a day that was a seesaw of emotions for the Albiceleste team, in which – and yes he encouraged – with his heart pounding.

“He moved forward with a lot of effort”Coria acknowledged that he experienced this duel in a special way, since it was the first Davis Cup match played in this city, which he adopted as his own.

“I never saw the series as lost, it was very complicated. But the boys worked hard, as always. When things went wrong and didn’t work, when there was a lot of tension and the games slipped away, they stood firm, they held on, they never gave up. This is what makes me proud of this series. “We have a great team,” added the captain.

Although the sultry Saturday left some concerns about the result –Francisco Cerúndolo (22nd) won with too much work Popko AND Tomas Etcheverry (28th) fought but stumbled Timofey Skatov (278th) -, logic suggested that the Argentines could have led the match without too many problems. But Davis doesn’t understand the logic.

Massimo González AND André Molteni They did what they had to do. However, the duo, 13th in the world and winners of five titles last year, had to make a great effort to defeat 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 and 6-0 Aleksandr Nedovyesov, a doubles player who is 48th in the general classification. specialty ranking, and Popko, a teammate confirmed hours earlier, to let Skatov rest, thinking about the rest of the day.

“It was very difficult because it’s definitely Davis. But with our hearts and with the help of people we managed to turn the situation around”Machi acknowledged. “At the beginning it was more heart than tennis. It is a relief and a joy to give this point to Argentina, so Fran will be able to take the field more serene.”

Cerúndolo calmly came out, began to impose conditions on Skatov and even led 5-3 in the first set. But his rival, who played well above his rankings all weekend, persisted until he managed to break him tennis-wise and mentally. And against a confused, irregular and distracted player from Buenos Aires, the Kazakh won 7-6 (7-1) and 6-4 to equalize the duel and force the fifth point.

And it was Báez’s turn, “the very difficult player to face” who Coria had decided to reserve for Sunday in case he needed it.

Báez obeyed, but not without making the 3,500 people who filled the stadium suffer for the second day in a row. Although the blame for that suffering lies partly with Popko, who in his second match of the day played until his legs almost reacted and pushed the Argentine to the limit. Once again, Davis doesn’t care about the rankings either.

And if the breaks that came and went and the contested balls weren’t enough, a situation that occurred in the final stretch of the decisive tie break stopped more than one person’s spirits. Popko served 6-4, with two match points in favor. Báez raised them. Finally, after 2 hours and 48 minutes of hard-fought battle, when the sun barely shone in the Jockey Club, Báez sealed the victory and unleashed the Argentine madness.

“I have always enjoyed representing Argentina. Listening to all the people and seeing the boys tense on the bench, I felt that I couldn’t lose the game, I couldn’t let it end like this. This made me achieve something more,” confessed Sebas after the heartbreaking victory.

And for Argentina in Davis, if it is not with suffering, the victory is not worth it.