Argentina hails new hero

ByEurosport

Published 07/06/2004 at 15:14 GMT

Watch out Diego Maradona - there's a new sporting hero in town. French Open winner Gaston Gaudio has joined Argentina's pantheon of sporting greats after his thrilling victory over Guillermo Coria on Sunday. "Gaudio touches heaven in Paris," beamed one ne

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Argentina's leading sports daily hailed "Gaudios" - punning on Dios, the Spanish word for God - a nickname reserved until now for Maradona in the soccer-mad country.

Unseeded Gaudio clawed back from two sets down to take the French Open crown after number three seed Coria fell foul to nerves and cramps, triggering an outpouring of emotion back home.

"Roland Gaudio," said Clarin's special tennis pullout supplement, renaming Roland Garros as Argentina's own.

Roland-Garros

Gaudio wins French Open thriller

06/06/2004 at 17:22

"The King of Paris," exclaimed La Nacion.

The last Argentine to win the French Open men's singles was Guillermo Vilas in 1977 and it was the country's first men's singles grand slam win in 25 years.

"We had to wait 8,922 days for a countryman to return to the top of one of the four major men's tournaments," said La Nacion.

But Coria's defeat meant the victory was bittersweet.

In his hometown of Venado Tuerto supporters had uncorked the champagne early as the 22-year-old appeared on track for a three-set whitewash.

"Venado Tuerto is suffering," said Clarin.

Photographs of an ecstatic Gaudio gave way to pictures of a disconsolate Coria and his aghast wife Carla.

"What happened?" asked Ole.

Roland-Garros