Tennis Prose




Feb/21

25

Nalbandian On Facing Fedalkovic

David Nalbandian achieved remarkable success vs Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, stinging the legendary ATP trio with several painful losses. The Argentine wizard accomplished a career 11-20 record vs Fedalkovic.

Most memorably, Nalbandian beat Federer from two sets down in the 2005 Masters Cup, now named the ATP Nitto World Tour Finals. He beat all three at the 2007 Madrid Masters and then beat Fed and Rafa at the Paris Masters, winning both of those Masters 1000 titles in a row.

Nalbandian completed an 8-11 career record vs Federer, including beating the Swiss maestro the first five times they played.

Nalbadian was 2-5 vs Nadal in his career, winning the first two clashes but losing the final five. Both of those Nalbandian wins vs Nadal in 2007 in Madrid and Paris and they were by decisive scores – 61 62 and 64 60. He would never beat Rafa again though.

Nalbandian only managed to beat Djokovic that one time in Madrid in 2007, 64 76, for a 1-4 career mark vs the Serbian juggernaut. In the other four matches, Nalbandian did not manage to win a set in any of them, and one loss on grass at Queens Club was a 61 60 disaster.

Nalbandian, who last played professionally in 2013 in the Davis Cup QF vs. France (a four set victory with Horacio Zeballos vs Benneteau/Llodra 36 76 75 63), had this to say about playing the Big Three…

“First of all, they’re never going to lose the match, you have to beat them. Second, you have to be perfect on the tactics and then the execution of the tactics,” Nalbandian told the ATP web site this week. “Maybe you know how to play, but they are good players. They are not going to allow you to play the way you want to. It’s a combination of both things.”

When asked if he forecast Fedalkovic to manage to continue their illustrious success for many years after his ATP departure in 2013, Nalbandian chuckled: “No way… no chance.”

Of the Big Three, one in particular impressed him the most.

“I think Nole could win the most Grand Slams, I believe so,” Nalbandian said, referring to Djokovic. “He’s too complete.”

Nalbandian has begun a coaching partnership with rising Serbian star Miomir Kecmanovic this week in Cordoba, Argentina.

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