David Nalbandian

David Nalbandian
David Nalbandian at the 2008 BNP Paribas Masters.jpg
David Nalbandian at the 2008 BNP Paribas Masters
Nickname(s) Davie Pies, Fat Dave, Belly Dave
Country Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Residence Unquillo, Córdoba, Argentina
Date of birth January 1, 1982 (1982-01-01) (age 27)
Place of birth Unquillo, Córdoba, Argentina
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) [1]
Weight 79 kg (170 lb/12.4 st)
Turned pro 2000
Plays Right-handed; two-handed backhand
Career prize money $9,507,776
Singles
Career record: 291–141
Career titles: 9
Highest ranking: No. 3 (March 20, 2006)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open SF (2006)
French Open SF (2004, 2006)
Wimbledon F (2002)
US Open SF (2003)
Major tournaments
Masters Cup W (2005)
Doubles
Career record: 39–48
Career titles: 0
Highest ranking: No. 116 (July 21, 2003)
Mixed Doubles
Career record: {{{mixedrecord}}}
Career titles: {{{mixedtitles}}}
Highest ranking: {{{highestmixedranking}}}

Infobox last updated on: November 3, 2008.

David Nalbandian (born January 1, 1982) is an Argentine[2][3] professional tennis player who is ranked 11th in the world as of October 27, 2008. Nalbandian has won nine ATP titles.

Contents

Tennis career

Nalbandian began playing tennis at age five when his Armenian grandfather built a cement court in his backyard, that's why he particularly likes fast surfaces, unlike other Argentinian players, who prefer clay courts. Once in a TV show, when asked about his success at Wimbledon 2002, he joked that his run-up had been due to grass growing on the court his grandfather had once built. As a junior player, he won the 1998 Junior US Open singles against Roger Federer and the 1999 Junior Wimbledon doubles titles.

2000 - 2002

He turned professional in 2000. In 2001, he finished in the ATP top 50 for the first time. He finished 2002 as No. 1 Argentine and South American for the first time in his career, winning two ATP titles and reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt. His run to the 2002 Wimbledon final is remarkable, considering that it was his first ever pro tournament on grass.

2003 - 2004

Nalbandian wasn't able to return to the Wimbledon Championship in 2003, as he was knocked out in the Round of 16 to hometown favorite Tim Henman. He did however make an impressive run at the U.S. Open, taking out both of the Wimbledon finalists Mark Philippoussis, and Roger Federer along the way to a semifinal matchup with Andy Roddick, it was the second time in less than a month that he would meet Roddick in high stakes match, having lost to him in the final of Rogers Cup a few weeks earlier, Nalbandian took a two sets to love lead, and held match points in the third, he would eventually lose the match 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 6–1, 6–3, Roddick went on to win the championships. He finished 2003 ranked No.8 in the world.

In 2004, Nalbandian made his best effort at the French Open reaching the semifinals, again he lost to the eventual champion Gastón Gaudio. He finished 2004 ranked No. 9 in the world, despite breaking into the top 5 for the first time in his career in July.

2005

In 2005, Nalbandian advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, more importantly he won the Tennis Masters Cup, becoming only the second Argentine tennis player in history (after Guillermo Vilas in 1974) to win the end of year tournament. Having replaced American Andy Roddick, Nalbandian won two of his three group matches (l. to Roger Federer, d. Ivan Ljubičić and Guillermo Coria). In the semi-finals he defeated Russian Nikolay Davydenko and in the final, he beat World No. 1 Roger Federer in the fifth-set tiebreak. David also becomes the first player to win the cup without previously attaining a Grand Slam or Masters Series title.

Nalbandian at the 2006 US Open.

2006

In January 2006, Nalbandian defeated Fabrice Santoro of France 7–5 6–0 6–0 in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, becoming only the third active player then (along with Roger Federer and Marat Safin) to have reached the semi-finals of each Grand Slam tournament. He would lose the semifinals to Marcos Baghdatis in a hard fought five set match, despite holding a two-set-to-love advantage and then 4 games to 2 in the final set. In May Nalbandian won the Estoril Open Tournament in Portugal for the second time, being one of only three men to achieve this accomplishment (Carlos Costa - 1992 and 1994, and Thomas Muster - 1995 and 1996). One month later, Nalbandian reached his second French Open semi-final. It was the first time in his career that he reached two Grand Slam semi-finals in one calendar year. He played Roger Federer and started very well, taking the first set 6–3 and going 3–0 up in the second set. At 5–2 down in the third set, Nalbandian decided to retire from the match, since he was suffering from abdominal injuries. At Wimbledon, Nalbandian was beaten in the third round - it was the first time he didn't reach the last 16. At the US Open, Nalbandian was beaten in the second round against former Grand Slam champion Marat Safin.

Nalbandian then competed in the Davis Cup Semi Final against Australia. David easily defeated Mark Philippoussis 6–4 6–3 6–3 to give Argentina a 1–0 lead. Nalbandian felt as if the crowd didn't get totally fired up because he was cruising through the match. When the draw for the Davis Cup semifinal was being made with Argentina vs. Australia, Nalbandian shook hands with Australian Mark Philippoussis and asked him to join the party on Saturday night, implying that Argentina would beat Australia 3–0 on Saturday. Nalbandian was indeed correct, and Argentina went on to thrash Australia 5–0. Nalbandian said the only thing he was disappointed that he didn't have the opportunity to beat Lleyton Hewitt, whom he thrashed in the Davis Cup quarterfinal in 2005 6–2 6–4 6–4 in Australia (Nalbandian's record against Hewitt is 1–3). Prior to the Davis Cup semifinal, Nalbandian said, "We beat them in Australia, and we're going to beat them again." Argentina went on to humiliate Australia, thrashing them 5–0. Nalbandian also fired up the clash with Australia by saying that Hewitt has no friends on the ATP Tour.

2007

2007 saw Nalbandian drop out of the world's top twenty for the first time since 2003 after losing in the fourth round of the 2007 French Open to Nikolay Davydenko. Nalbandian suffered various abdominal injuries, a back injury and a leg injury during the year which is the reason for his form lapse.

He fell to No. 26 in the world until his season changed when after winning the 2007 Madrid Masters. He won the tournament by defeating Rafael Nadal, Novak Đjoković, and Roger Federer in consecutive rounds, becoming the third player after Boris Becker and Đjoković to defeat the world's top three players in a single tournament. He defeated Nadal, 6–1, 6–2, in the quarterfinals. His good form carried him to his second top three win of the tournament, defeating Djoković in the semifinals. He then stunned Federer in the final, winning 1–6, 6–3, 6–3.

He also reached the doubles semifinals with Guillermo Cañas in the tournament before losing to top-seeded Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the semifinals. After the tournament, his singles ranking moved up from No. 25 on the tour to No. 18, losing in the first round of his next tournament.

Nalbandian played at the 2007 Paris Masters and again defeated Federer in the third round 6–4, 7–6 (7–3). He then beat David Ferrer in the quarterfinals in a closely fought match, winning 7–6 (7–3), 6–7 (3–7), 6–2. After beating Richard Gasquet 6–2, 6–4 in the semifinals, Nalbandian won his second straight ATP Masters Series title over Nadal, 6–4 6–0, thus, becoming the first player to win Madrid and Paris Masters back-to-back since former World No. 1 Safin in 2004. This win allowed Nalbandian to move back into the top ten at No. 9.

Nalbandian serving at the 2008 Pacific Life Open.

2008

Nalbandian began 2008 back in the top ten. However, at the Australian Open for the seventh straight time he failed to make the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event, suffering a 6–1, 6–2, 6–3, 3rd round loss to the No. 22 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. On February 24, 2008 Nalbandian was able to win the Copa Telmex on home soil in Buenos Aires. He beat fellow compatriot José Acasuso 3–6 7–6(7–5) 6–4. With that win he was able to move to the number 8 ATP ranking.

The following week, Nalbandian arrived at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico. Nalbandian defeated Boris Pašanski, Santiago Ventura, Potito Starace, and Luis Horna - all in straight sets - but then lost in the final to Nicolás Almagro, 6–1, 7–6 (1).

Nalbandian entered the 2008 Pacific Life Open, and received a "bye" in the first round because of his seventh seeding. In the second round, he defeated Ernests Gulbis 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 (4), and then came back to beat Radek Štěpánek, 7–6 (1), 0–6, 7–6 (6). In the fourth round, he avenged his defeat by Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Australian Open, winning 6–2 6–2. He lost in the quarterfinals against Mardy Fish, 3–6, 7–6 (5), 6–7 (4), in a very tough match. He teamed up with Guillermo Cañas in doubles, but lost a close match in the second round.

He then lost at the 2008 Monte Carlo Masters to eventual finalist Roger Federer 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. In Barcelona, he was the third seed, but was eliminated by Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round. At the 2008 Rome Masters, he fell in his opening match to Nicolás Almagro 6-4, 7-5.

At the French Open, Nalbandian suffered a shock loss in the second round to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. After being two sets up and seemingly in control, he lost the next three to hand Chardy the win, 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-2.

After the French Open Nalbandian made his debut on the grass courts of the Queen's Club Championships in order to prepare for Wimbledon. He reached the Semi Finals where he lost heavily to world number three Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-0.

At Wimbledon, Nalbandian suffered an early exit for the second straight Grand Slam tournament, going down to wild card Frank Dancevic in straight sets. [1]

In the US Open, Nalbandian lost in the third round in straight sets against Frenchman Gaël Monfils.

Defending his title at the Madrid Masters, he was defeated by compatriot Juan Martín del Potro in the second round. But his next tournament was as a success, as he defeated Robin Söderling 6-2,5-7,6-3 in Stockholm Open 2008 final.

In the Paris Masters, Nalbandian defeated Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach his second straight final where he lost against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 3 tight sets, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6.

Despite his opening victory against David Ferrer, Nalbandian ended up on the losing team against Spain in the Davis Cup finals in Argentina, after numerous offensive comments in the press against Spain, the Spanish tennis team and its top star Rafael Nadal. It was rumoured[4] that Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri where involved in a fight after their doubles rubber was lost. Nalbandian strenuously denied this.[5] Nevertheless, he was fined $10,000 for fleeing the stadium after his and Calleri's defeat in doubles to the Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez and his refusal to appear at a subsequent press conference to comment on the Argentine team's setback.

Playing Style

Nalbandian employs a very aggressive baseline game, although he is capable of playing an all-court style. His main strengths lie in his groundstrokes and return game, and are complemented by his deft accuracy and incredible foot speed. His groundstrokes are technically sound and solid from both wings, and, because of their depth, pace and consistency, opponents often have difficulty breaking down one particular side. Nalbandian's trademark shot is his two-handed backhand down the line, which he often uses to set up a point, by either hitting a clean winner or forcing a weak return from the opponent. Nalbandian is also a sound volleyer, and, if a situation calls for more aggressive play, he is often willing to finish points at the net. Nalbandian's serve is not one of his strengths. However, it is reliable, accurate and efficient. He uses to risk his second serve frequently.

Distinctions

Miscellaneous

Career statistics

Grand Slam finals (1)

Singles

Runner-ups (1)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2002 Wimbledon Flag of Australia Lleyton Hewitt 6–1, 6–3, 6–2

Tennis Masters Cup finals (1)

Singles

Wins (1)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2005 Shanghai Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer 6–7(4), 6–7(11), 6–2, 6–1, 7–6(3)

ATP Masters Series finals (6)

Singles (6)

Wins (2)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2007 Madrid Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
2007 Paris Flag of Spain Rafael Nadal 6–4, 6–0
Runner-ups (4)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
2003 Montreal Flag of the United States Andy Roddick 6–1, 6–3
2004 Rome Flag of Spain Carlos Moyà 6–3, 6–3, 6–1
2004 Madrid Flag of Russia Marat Safin 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
2008 Paris Flag of France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6–3, 4–6, 6–4

Career finals (20)

Singles (19)

Wins (9)
Legend
Grand Slam (0)
Tennis Masters Cup (1)
ATP Masters Series (2)
ATP Tour (6)
Titles by Surface
Hard (3)
Clay (4)
Grass (0)
Carpet (2)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. April 8, 2002 Estoril, Portugal Clay Flag of Finland Jarkko Nieminen 6–4, 7–6(5)
2. October 21, 2002 Basel, Switzerland Carpet (i) Flag of Chile Fernando González 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
3. May 1, 2005 Munich, Germany Clay Flag of Romania Andrei Pavel 6–4, 6–1
4. November 20, 2005 Tennis Masters Cup, Shanghai, China Carpet (i) Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer 6–7(4), 6–7(11), 6–2, 6–1, 7–6(3)
5. May 7, 2006 Estoril, Portugal Clay Flag of Russia Nikolay Davydenko 6–3, 6–4
6. October 21, 2007 Madrid, Spain Hard (i) Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
7. November 4, 2007 Paris, France Hard (i) Flag of Spain Rafael Nadal 6–4, 6–0
8. February 24, 2008 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Flag of Argentina José Acasuso 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–4
9. October 4, 2008 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Flag of Sweden Robin Söderling 6–2, 5–7, 6–3
Runner-ups (10)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. October 1, 2001 Palermo, Italy Clay Flag of Spain Félix Mantilla 7–6(2), 6–4
2. July 8, 2002 Wimbledon, London, England Grass Flag of Australia Lleyton Hewitt 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
3. August 11, 2003 Montreal, Canada Hard Flag of the United States Andy Roddick 6–1, 6–3
4. October 27, 2003 Basel, Switzerland Carpet (i) Flag of Argentina Guillermo Coria walkover
5. May 10, 2004 Rome, Italy Clay Flag of Spain Carlos Moyà 6–3, 6–3, 6–1
6. October 25, 2004 Madrid, Spain Hard (i) Flag of Russia Marat Safin 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
7. November 1, 2004 Basel, Switzerland Carpet (i) Flag of the Czech Republic Jiří Novák 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
8. March 1, 2008 Acapulco, Mexico Clay Flag of Spain Nicolás Almagro 6–1, 7–6(1)
9. October 26, 2008 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer 6–3, 6–4
10. November 2, 2008 Paris, France Hard (i) Flag of France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6–3, 4–6, 6–4

Doubles (1)

Runner-ups

Singles performance timeline

To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only after a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. Davis Cup matches are included in the statistics. This table is current through the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, which ended on July 6, 2008.

Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Career win-loss
Australian Open A A 2R QF QF QF SF 4R 3R 21-7
French Open A LQ 3R 2R SF 4R SF 4R 2R 20-7
Wimbledon A A F 4R A QF 3R 3R 1R 17-6
U.S. Open A 3R 1R SF 2R QF 2R 3R 3R 17-8
Grand Slam Win-Loss1 0-0 2-1 9-4 13-4 10-3 15-4 13-4 10-4 5-4 77-28
Indian Wells Masters A A 2R 1R A 4R 4R 4R QF 10-6
Miami Masters 1R 1R 1R 3R A 3R SF 3R 2R 7–8
Monte Carlo Masters A A 3R 2R QF A 3R 2R QF 11–6
Rome Masters A A 2R 1R F 1R SF A 2R 10-6
Hamburg Masters A A 1R SF 1R 1R A A A 4–4
Canada Masters A A QF F 1R 2R 1R 3R A 11-6
Cincinnati Masters A A 1R QF A 2R 2R 1R A 5–5
Madrid Masters A A 3R A F SF SF W 3R 18-4
Paris Masters A A 2R A A 2R A W F 11–3
Tennis Masters Cup A A A RR A W SF A A 6–6
Total Titles 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 9
Year End Ranking 245 47 12 8 9 6 8 9 11 N/A

A = did not participate in the tournament.
LQ = lost in qualifying draw.
1. The win total does not include walkovers.

References

  1. ↑ Credit to ATP Profile
  2. ↑ ATPtennis.com - ATP Rankings
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (French) David Nalbandian a reçu son passeport arménien
  4. ↑ AOL Noticias Latino
  5. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7746953.stm

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Flag of Argentina Manu Ginóbili and
Carlos Tévez		 Olimpia de Oro
2005		 Succeeded by
Flag of Argentina Germán Chiaraviglio
Persondata
NAME Nalbandian, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Argentine tennis player
DATE OF BIRTH January 1, 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH Unquillo, Córdoba, Argentina
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH