Horacio Zeballos In Shock After Defeating Nadal

Written by: Staff on 11th February 2013

Horacio Zeballos In Shock After Defeating Nadal

epa03578214 Argentinean tennis player Horacio Zeballos lies on the ground as he celebrates after his victory against Spaniard Rafael Nadal, during their ATP tennis tournament final match in Vina del Mar, Chile, 10 February 2013. EPA/MARIO RUIZ |

Argentine Horacio Zeballos was still in shock after his three-set comeback victory which denied Rafael Nadal a clay title in Chile as the Spaniard returned to tennis after more than seven months out injured.

“It’s an incredible feeling. I had never imagined being able to win a title or defeating the best clay court player in history,” the No. 73 told the ATP website. “I wish this moment could stop in time and never end, but if it stops, I will for sure remember it my whole life. My phone battery died from all the texts that I was receiving from my family and friends, so I’m now charging it and I imagine I will continue to receive more texts from my friends.”

The outsider became the first from his nation to beat the mighty Nadal on clay since Gaston Gaudio in 2005. “Beating Rafa is the most important victory of my career and it will most likely be the most important one of my entire career,” said the player who also notched his first win over a top 10 player.

“I always dreamed the simple thing of being on a tennis court… And getting to a final, and having Rafa in front of me, who I’ve seen so many times on TV, is what I’ve always dreamed. I tried to aim at all the lines and make all of them.

“I also think I was a little lucky. But I felt very good psychologically. I stood the whole match and the pressure of playing against Rafa. I think that this had to do a lot with it, staying calm.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Argentine tennis news, Chile tennis news, Horacio Zebalolos, Rafael Nadal, Spanish tennis news, Tennis News