2024-02-10 09:45:05
In July 2002, the Chilean Davis Cup team visited Mexico to stay in American Zone I. Led by Marcelo “Chino” Ríosthe series looked favorable for our country, but that didn’t take long to change.
With his usual provocations, the former one in the world ‘warmed up’ the Aztec players and fans to the point that a key that was shaping up to be in favor of Chile almost ended in a mess.
Finally, Nicolas Massu He dressed as a hero and put the Mexicans in their place.
Chile visits Mexico
Querétaro was the venue chosen by the Mexicans for the Davis Cup series, looking for the weather to be a factor in their favor considering the ranking of the Chilean tennis players.
Ríos claimed to be 25th in the ATP ranking, while Massú was 74th in the world. On the other hand, Alejandro Hernandez (293°) y Marcelo Amador (516°) were the main cards of the Americans.
‘Nico’ was the first to jump onto the field and, without any major setbacks, won 6-3, 6-1 and 6-0 over Hernández.
Then it was the turn of ‘Chino’, who arrived in Mexico with problems in one of his wrists. “Marcelo had a joint problem and a lot of previous training that had him with a damaged hand,” he commented. Luis Guzmanthen one of the team captains, to El Grafico.
“That made it very difficult for him to hold the racket and have the feeling what does he have”added Guzmán, who commanded the national squad along with Marcos Colignon.
But despite the ailments, Ríos, his ranking and good tennis shined to win 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3 y 6-2 to Amador and put the key 2-0 in favor of Chile.
But then, the former one in the world opened his mouth. “It was a good training”said the left-handed man from Vitacura.
And if that were not enough, when the Chilean was consulted regarding his duel once morest Hernández, Ríos was clear: “Do not know him”.
The Aztec fury once morest Chino Ríos
The words of our country’s number one infuriated the Mexican fans, who turned the Josefa Ortiz auditorium in Querétaro into hell during the other two days of competition.
On Saturday, the duo Bruno Echagaray and Santiago González they defeated Massú and Hermes Gamonal by 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 y 6-2extending the definition of the series to the Sunday day.
In the first turn, the ailments of Chino Ríos, the desire for revenge of Alejandro Hernández and the heated spirit of the fans, led to the defeat of the national team.
7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 y 6-2 It was the result in favor of the Mexican, who held nothing back once morest the former world number one following his victory.
“Marcelo is a disgusting person. He is a guy who opens his mouth a lot. All the things he said, that he didn’t know us, that it was training, were not right.”stated the then 293rd of the ATP.
“In fact, I have trained more than five times in Australia with him and I don’t know why he says he doesn’t know me. Surely, following this game, he will remember a lot more,” added Hernández.
But ‘Chino’, true to his style, responded in the same way when he spoke to the media.
“If he says that I trained with him it must have been a pretty bad training, because I always remember the good ones”said Ríos, according to Emol.
“Also, someone saying I’m disgusting is nothing new. I don’t know why he said that, if I said I didn’t know them it was because they don’t play at a professional level. Now, if it hurt you so much that I told you that you are really nobody, it was not my intention,” added the former ATP player.
Massú saves Chile from hell
The table was set for Mexico to hit the ground running thanks to Marcelo Amador, who challenged ‘Nico’ Massú with the effusive public – euphoric from alcohol – on his side.
However, the nerves were only on the side of the Aztec, who might do little once morest the solid game shown by the ‘Vampire’.
So, The Chilean took the fifth point by a resounding 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4silencing the Mexican fans who sang “las mañanitas” to him every time the Viñamarino was preparing to serve.
It was a long-suffering triumph for Chile, which touched the gates of hell but escaped to avoid relegation from American Zone I.
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