From encouraging the National Team everywhere to his meeting with Maradona: the story of the Argentine Tennis Fan

Since 2011 they have followed the National Team around the country and abroad. In each series they are present singing and they became a great group of friends.

In Brazil, in Tokyo, in Zagreb, in Denmark and even in Israel. Wherever there is an Argentine playing a sport, there will be another compatriot cheering him on. Tennis is no exception. There’s a swollen over 30 people who have followed the National Team since 2011who formed a relationship with the players and who travel everywhere.

They are the Argentine Tennis Fanor at least that’s the name of the WhatsApp group made up of fans from all over the country: Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Salta, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Mendoza and Misiones, among others.

Ricardo Gigena is 29 years old and shares the passion of tennis with his brother Martín and his best friend Santiago Ortega, who is in charge of playing the bass drum in all the matches. However, the group exceeds them three: “We are 30 people more or less who met on the field because we always went to the same sector to Parque Roca to see Argentina. As series after series were repeated, we agreed to put together a group,” revealed Ricardo.

Whether visiting or at home, they dress up to watch the games. Trips abroad are paid by everyone and, even, to make it cheaper, they try to get corporate packages. That way, in 2016, when Argentina was Davis champion, they were able to go to each country.

“In 2016 we crossed paths with Maradona. I travel with my brother Martín and in the next room in Croatia we had Diego. He even started singing with us. Sharing that moment with him was amazing,” Gigena said.

Despite everything, always going to see the national team requires certain sacrifices. Ricardo, for example, had to postpone the finals of the university in 2016 so as not to miss the final, although that has its reward, Gigena said: “We made friends with the players. We are always the same and they know us because we put up with them. When Argentina plays abroad we usually meet them. We have shared mates and a snack”.

Who are the members of the crowd? Jorge Fernández, Gastón Vaschetto, Sebastián Fernández, Rossi and Jorge, Moni and Walter, the López family, Manuel and Maruja, Pipi Roque Pérez, Ana Lisa Roque Pérez, Ricardo Gigena, Martín Gigena and Santiago Ortega.

The drums, the flags, the cotillion and the shouts. They turn heads in every Davis series and are an important pillar for the players who usually recognize them. In Brazil, in Tokyo, in Zagreb or in Denmark. Wherever you look, there will always be an Argentine rooting for you.