November 25, 2022, 11:20 AM
November 25, 2022, 11:20 AM
Bolivian tennis is in mourning for the death of Ramiro Gonzalo Benavides Saravia from La Paz (January 30, 1947), one of the three best tennis players in the history of the country and who left this world on Thursday night due to cardiac arrest due to severe pancreatitis in Santa Cruz.
At the age of 75, he could not overcome the disease he had suffered since October 9one day after playing a Senior tournament in Santa Cruz, where he became a finalist.
From that moment he was admitted to the ICUwhere he entered intensive care on November 11.
His family and close friends hired the arrival of an Argentine specialist in intensive care to treat him over the weekend.
On Thursday night Benavides suffered a cardiac arrhythmia.Ay, despite attempts to revive him, his heart stopped beating at 11:25 p.m.
His remains are veiled from this Friday in the Manantial Room of the Las Misiones de Santa Cruz wake and will be buried on Saturday in Parque Jardín, Las Misiones sector, at 11:30 a.m. after the religious celebration (10:00 a.m.).
“It is sad because a person is leaving, who was mainly a great human being, which is what Ramiro was. I have met him personally, we had a friendship, we talked many times with him, he had many stories to tell and the life of an athlete Not to mention, he has been one of the first to be among the 50 best in the world, he has an immense sports career; We regret his death, his loss, ”said Híber Vllafañe, president of the Bolivian Tennis Federation (FBT).
Of the best
He started practicing this sport at the La Paz Tennis Club in the 60s and came out as South American champion by teams in 15 and 18 years.
thanks to that he left scholarship to the University of Corpus Christi in Texaswhere he became the best in the entire State of Texas.
After completing his studies he dedicated himself to professional tennis playing in several important tournaments, including three Grand Slams: Wimbledon (in 1974), US Open (1975) and Roland Garros (1976) and was among the top 50 in the world.
He also represented Bolivia 10 times in the Davis Cup. His last foray was in 2003, when he acted as captain (coach) and player.
For all that great performance he was considered as one of the three best tennis players in the history of Bolivia with Eduardo Gorostiaga (+) and Mario Martínez.
Currently still in competition. I was in the 75 year old category and more and was fifth in the world ranking. In the senior categories she won 39 singles titles, 20 in men’s doubles and 3 in mixed doubles.
His most recent crown was given last May in the United Stateswhere he won the world title together with his Spanish teammate Jairo Velasco.
“He leaves a great void in tennis and a quality human being. It is a tremendous void, mainly as a human being and athlete. He was one of the three best tennis players in the history of the country. Tennis is in mourning today, it is a shame that Ramio has passed away”, pointed out the head of the FBT.
