Much tennis and many victories…

His leg injury contracted during the Copa Petrobras is now healed and after some knee surgery due to a  menisk problem, everything seems to be in order now.

So, being away form the courts, what was El Gato doing off-court all this time ? 

He went to Obera to support the O.T.C. basket-ball team with Tanya and Guillermo…

Sixto Fariña / Territorio Digital

Diego was also following the Davis Cup final Spain vs Argentina from very close, cheering and writing for an Argentinian newspaper :

« Si bien no son cosas determinantes, creo que es importante destacar que el sorteo en algo nos favoreció. David (Nalbandian) tiene su partido físicamente más duro contra Ferrer y jugar en el primer turno significa un poco más de tiempo de recuperación, en el caso de que el juegue el dobles el sábado; aunque insisto que no son cosas determinantes y que los partidos hay que ganarlos siempre y a la hora que sea.

Creo que David es un especialista en este tipo de circunstancias, le gusta jugar con la presión de ser banca y generalmente le fue muy bien, de hecho lo viene demostrando en los últimos torneos que jugó, donde seguramente lo hizo con la cabeza puesta en la Davis.

Con respecto a Juan Martín (Del Potro), en mi opinión, el equipo español se equivocó en poner a Feliciano López el primer día, porque Verdasco es mucho más sólido de fondo de la cancha que López y eso podría haber complicado un poco más a Juan Martín, que es un gran devolvedor de saque y es su especialidad neutralizar el mejor tiro de Feliciano, pero son decisiones de la intimidad de un equipo y ellos sabrán bien por qué la hicieron.

Hoy tenemos dos partidos muy duros que van a estar cargados de tensión. Son duelos diferentes donde ya no cuenta el ranking ni los juegos anteriores, pero creo que Argentina- en ambos partidos- es favorita y mucho más con el apoyo de la gente, que va a ser muy importante.

Soy muy optimista en que vamos a ganar los dos singles y encarar el resto de la serie con mucha más tranquilidad. »

Territorio Digital / 21nov08 

And well, he was seen partying in November at the reopening of the “Fiume” store in Palermo (Buenos Aires) with some friends.

And last but not least, he was spotted watching live Gaston Gaudio vs Chucho Acasuso, playing the Copa Peugeot Argentina…

And now, get all in the starting-blocks for the new 2009 tennis season !

Chucho gave an interview for TV 12 Misiones, after the exhibition in Posadas. You can watch a short clip from the match between Diego and him…

We’ll see Diego back on court on Jan. 17th in Chile, for a brand new event : the ATP Challenger Iquique.

Up-and-coming talents from the local club had the chance to hit the ball with Diego and Chucho and asked for some professional tips… “It’s a great experience, and I really had fun. It’s a chance to have the opportunity to play a little bit like them” said Manuel Belda, one of the lucky Junior. Playing vs Santiago Sandoval (10 years), Diego was kidding : ”He makes me run more than Chucho !”.

After the tennis clinic, Chucho and Gato offered a great show… People discovered Diego as a great entertaining talent, by goofing all along the match : ”Serve hard if you’re a man !”

After the loss of the first set and being a little bit out of breath because of the hotness, Diego threw some water on Fabito Cabral, one of the line umpire… And Chucho gave his racket to Santiago Romero (a young player who won his first ATP points this year) to finish the game.

Gato shared a round of applauses with his family : the TV presenter specified that there was a famous model in the crowd. “Applauses for my sister Tanya !”.

Diego made a funny comment about his father Ernesto, who said that his son would quickly be used the the high-level of tennis that Chucho was imposing. “My dad likes it when I play with pressure, but if he says that, then he must be right.”

The last joke was from Guillermo, Diego’s brother as he announced the first goal for Boca in the middle of the court !

“I”m satisfied by the result (over 30 000 pesos) and happy that Diego played with me, because people know him well here. We were about to cancel the event, because we had not enough sponsors to help us. But, at the last moment, the problem could be resolved. I would like it to be a “classic” event and that we can make more and more benefits every year.” said José Acasuso after the match.

Both players were also awarded by the Tennis Association from Misiones.

No doubt that in the future, we’ll see them again together for some other charity events…

(Pics and original Spanish text from Misiones Online, Tendencia Deportiva & Territorio Digital.)

Some lucky “Misioneros” will be able to watch the match live on TV (Canal 12 Posadas).

The benefits of the events will go to the “Hospital de Pediatría de Posadas” and “the Hogar de Día de Niños en Riesgo de Obera“.

Diego and José will first explain their way of training during a tennis clinic, then the afternoon will go on with a great three sets match. The day will end with both players hitting the ball with every kid who want to be part of the show !

Our Gato is pretty happy on how the things worked out : “Since the people were informed about the event, they wanted to contribute spontaneaously. Let’s hope it will be as successful in Obera as in Posadas because it’s a small way of helping people in need.”

If you’re still in a mood to party after that, you can join everybody on Saturday evening at the “Slice Disco” in Obera to watch Mayra Albarracin (Dotto Models) and Tanya Hartfield (Chekka Buenos Aires) doing the catwalk for Soberbia Lingerie, Vision Plus and Robertta…

Enjoy the show !

“This prize is for a tennis player who competes since a few years now on the ATP tour, for his constant results.” 

Alberto Martinez received the prize in his name.

Listen to the ceremony, broadcasted on the radio…

Menciones Especiales:
Rafael Nakatzuka (Enduro Cross)
David Marchak (Mountain Bike)
Mirian Noeremberg (Atletismo)
Marcos Pare (Atletismo)
Diego Silva (Boxeo)
Ignacio Lezcano (Voleibol)
Diego Hartfield (Tenis)

And thanx to Jesica, more pics from the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami have been added to our galleries.