Gaudio will dedicate victory to Maradona

Gaston Gaudio will dedicate victory to Diego Maradona and Guillermo Vilas if he beats countryman Guillermo Coria in the French Open final.

Gaston Gaudio will dedicate victory to Argentinian sports heroes Diego Maradona and Guillermo Vilas if he beats countryman Guillermo Coria in the French Open final here on Sunday.

HT Image

"Maradona is one of Argentina's greatest idols and it's important that everybody gives him support to make him happy again," said Gaudio.

The former Argentinian football legend, who is battling a long-standing cocaine problem, narrowly escaped death last month with heart and lung problems.

Unseeded Gaudio will start Sunday's final as the underdog against his compatriot but if he does manage to upset the odds, he will also ensure that Vilas, the last Argentinian to win the men's title here in 1977 and who reached the final on another three occasions, will not go unnoticed.

"It is great that Vilas is up in the stands watching us because it is down to him that we started playing tennis in the first place.

"Everything we have achieved, we owe to him.

"Maradona and Vilas are our idols. If I won on Sunday, I don't think I will be an idol. I am not even close to them."