BUENOS AIRES -- Argentine tennis will face its biggest challenge this weekend as it tries to end a curse that has lasted almost a century. Being the sport's dominant force, one that has churned out several top-10 players and Grand Slam winners, hasn't been enough. Argentina's most coveted win has yet to come; it's one that requires a collective effort, the Davis Cup in Croatia.
Only 14 countries have lifted the trophy since it was first played in 1900. In 93 years of competition, Argentine tennis has the dubious distinction as being the country with the most appearances in a final (four) with no titles.
It is the biggest thorn in the side of Argentine sports, especially with its failure to deliver made worse by its lack of team spirit.
The story of the first lost final can actually be traced back to 1980, when Argentina let a semifinal rubber slip away in Buenos Aires against eventual champion Czechoslovakia, which was led by emerging Ivan Lendl. Argentina had two of the best players on clay at the time, Guillermo Vilas and Jose Luis Clerc. But they were on really bad terms with each other and also with the Argentine Tennis Association. The team lost focus, and a golden chance was missed.
Despite their differences, Vilas and Clerc (who were not speaking to each other) teamed up again in 1981 and made it all the way to the final on a fast carpet in Cincinnati against the United States. John McEnroe was world No. 1 in singles and doubles (with Peter Fleming), while Roscoe Tanner, who at the time was one of the most powerful servers, played second singles for what looked like an almost unbeatable combination.
On the middle Saturday, with the series evened at 1-1, Vilas and Clerc barely communicated during the crucial doubles encounter, to the dismay of captain Carlos Junquet. Yet they almost pulled off a miracle, leading 7-6 in the decisive fifth set and Vilas serving. But McEnroe and Fleming broke and finally took the match 11-9. The next day, McEnroe battled past Clerc in five sets to clinch the victory, 3-1.
Twenty-five years later, in 2006, Argentina made another final, this time away against Russia. After a decade out of the World Group, the Argentine legion was at its best. David Nalbandian scored impressive victories against Marat Safin and Nikolay Davydenko, but it was not enough to prevent a 3-2 victory by the Russian team.
Two years later, Argentina could have ended the jinx in what was its best chance -- a final at home against Spain, which was without Rafael Nadal. Fear of what Rafa and his teammates were capable of on clay -- and with internal quarrels between players and officials -- Argentina decided to forgo the traditional Buenos Aires slow surfaces for faster hard courts. The decision proved to be disastrous.
The tie got off to a promising start, with Nalbandian thrashing David Ferrer for a 1-0 lead. But Juan Martin del Potro, suffered from a leg injury, fell to Feliciano Lopez. If Nalbandian and Delpo were already did not seeing eye to eye, things deteriorated even more when the former accused del Potro, fresh off an appearance in his first Masters Cup, of overplaying, thus resulting in his health ailments and jeopardizing Argentina's chances for individual glory and money.
The next day, Nalbandian joined Calleri in trying to secure the doubles, but instead lost to Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Nalbandian then stormed out of the stadium without going to his news conference. To make matters worse, Captain Alberto Mancini then confirmed del Potro would not be fit for Sunday.
Nalbandian knew he would never have the chance to play a starring role and end the curse. He was frustrated, just like the thousands who had packed the stadium during the three days believing they would witnesses a whitewash -- but instead left in tears. There would be another opportunity in 2011, with Nalbandian and del Potro again leaving aside their differences on their way to a final against Spain in Seville. Nalbandian, this time teaming with Eduardo Schwank, would gain revenge in the doubles against Lopez and Verdasco, but Delpo, despite putting up a great performance, lost against two of the best clay players in the world, Ferrer and Nadal, who led Spain to the easy victory.
Still, with so many chances squandered, there is reason for Argentina to be confident ahead of the clash in Zagreb this weekend. The team was never a favorite (even when del Potro came back healthy) but still managed to make its way to the final playing all its previous rounds on the road. Argentina has never lost a tie against Croatia.
But in order to make the dream finally come true, Argentina will require more than its best tennis. If the squad has learned anything, some of the spirit it lacked at key moments in the past is there this season. That could make the difference.