Del Potro, Nadal, Murray … The world of tennis also salutes the memory of Maradona

“It’s one of those days we wouldn’t want to see happen. The whole world is sad. Today (Wednesday), you find Heaven, a place to which you belong. For me you will never die, friend. You will always be in my heart. I kiss yours. Rest in peace.” The phrases are easy and honest. These are these of Juan Martin del Potro in tribute to his compatriot Diego Maradona, who died at the age of 60 on Wednesday. The “Tour de Tandil” is one of the many personalities in the tennis world to have expressed their emotion on social networks in the hours following the announcement of the information.

Argentinian like the legendary quantity 10, Del Potro had solid particular hyperlinks with Maradona. Four years in the past, the latter made the journey to Zagreb to attend the coronation of his nation towards Croatia in the closing of the Davis Cup. A historic second in Argentine sport, yet another, wherein he had not directly taken half, shouting together with his attribute enthusiasm in the stands. But on the court docket, it was Del Potro who had been the main participant, successful his two singles. At the finish of his triumph, he had also provided his racket to the “Pibe de Oro”, an indelible memory.

The grief was also significantly intense for Diego Schwartzman. The ninth participant in the world, who took half in his first Masters just a few days in the past, admitted with a sure humor on this event that his first identify had been chosen by his mother and father to “98% ” in reference to Maradona. “I love you forever, God“, he tweeted, mixing the well-known” 10 “with the phrase” Dios “in Spanish. Still amongst the compatriots of the genius, Guillermo Vilas also confirmed his affection, identical to Gabriela Sabatini who revealed a photograph of ‘she in the firm of Maradona accompanied by the following message: “There are no words to describe this moment, absolute sadness. For me you will be eternal. “

And expressions of affection have of course crossed borders. The two greatest gamers in the world Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic went there with theirs. Very sober for the Serbian who greeted “the legend“, somewhat extra supported for the Spaniard who thought of that Maradona left” a void “and that he was”one of the greatest sportsmen in history“Andy Murray stood out, as usually, by his humor, telling on Instagram his solely assembly with the 1986 world champion.

“I had the chance to meet him once at the O2 Arena in London (during the Masters 2010, Editor’s note). He had just come to see tennis, and he spoke to me in Spanish for two minutes with incredible energy, passion and expressiveness … Unfortunately, I hardly understood anything but it didn’t seem to have any effect. importance. He was very small in size, but had an unusual personality with a lot of charisma.“, wrote the Scotsman.

Before highlighting the generosity and humanity of Maradona. “The next day, I was given an Argentinian jersey that he had dedicated to me and which you can see in the second photo. It read: ‘To my friend Andy, with all my love and hope that you will soon become world number 1.’ ‘Number 1’ were the only words I had caught in our conversation. ” An exquisite wink for Murray who will always remember it. This is the power of a legend: its universality.