Is Nalbandian as great a player as Wawrinka?

[Federberg]

In the spirit of welcoming Cali back to the forum, I thought this would be a timely topic.

And I mean it in all seriousness. We all remember what a clean striker of the ball Nalbandian was. And I think most of us - tennis lovers at heart - think of him as a tremendous talent who could have achieved more. But the truth is that tennis is littered with huge talents who's silver cabinet is somewhat lighter than perhaps it might have been?

But on the other hand you have a player like Wawrinka who has now entered his peak, and he is producing the big W's. I don't think there's a single player out there who wants to face the Stanimal in full flight right now. As great as Nalbandian could be, I don't think Fedal, or Djokovic would have been particularly afraid of facing him at his absolute best, but I think they might just feel some apprehension facing Wawrinka at his best.

What do you think? After this recent RG, my opinion has moved decisively in favour of the Stanimal? Has yours?

 

[El Dude]

Wawrinka, and it isn't particularly close.

If greatness were solely defined by how pretty your game is then Nalbandian was greater than Nadal. But greatness has other components and prettiness is not particularly high on the list. One important factor is mental toughness, which Stan has in spades and Nalby had very little of. This is also probably what separates Stan from similarly talented players like Berdych and Tsonga. Stan can rise to the challenge of a Slam SF or F and play at a very high level, while Tomas and JW usually seem to fold when it matters most.

I think psychology is understated in discussions of greatness - it really can't be overstated, to be honest. I imagine that the truly great players are able to abate their nervousness in pressure situations and focus on the point at hand. This is also why we sometimes see players decline rapidly - a bit of doubt creeps in as they lose an edge off their game and, well, look at Rafa (this is also why I think Rafa still has more Slams in him, that through reclaiming the mental aspect of his game he can partially make up for lost movement...partially).

 

[Federberg]

^Yes I totally agree with you about the mental component Dude. I'm not sure we under state it here though. Some of the clutch stuff I've seen from Federer, Nadal and Djokovic over the years and other players of the distant past as well.. It really marks them out as greats. I recall Roger's backhand down the line in the 4th set tie break in Wimbledon 2008, and also his off forehand winner against Haas in his RG match in 2009. As clutch as you can get.

I find most of the talk about Nalbandian to be a pointless exercise of woulda coulda to be honest. A great talent, there's no doubt. But as politician once asked... "where's the beef?"

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^Yes I totally agree with you about the mental component Dude. I'm not sure we under state it here though. Some of the clutch stuff I've seen from Federer, Nadal and Djokovic over the years and other players of the distant past as well.. It really marks them out as greats. I recall Roger's backhand down the line in the 4th set tie break in Wimbledon 2008, and also his off forehand winner against Haas in his RG match in 2009. As clutch as you can get.

I find most of the talk about Nalbandian to be a pointless exercise of woulda coulda to be honest. A great talent, there's no doubt. But as politician once asked... "where's the beef?"

Inside Nalby's Paunch.

 

[Federberg]

^:laydownlaughing

 

[calitennis127]

In the spirit of welcoming Cali back to the forum, I thought this would be a timely topic.

And I mean it in all seriousness. We all remember what a clean striker of the ball Nalbandian was. And I think most of us - tennis lovers at heart - think of him as a tremendous talent who could have achieved more. But the truth is that tennis is littered with huge talents who's silver cabinet is somewhat lighter than perhaps it might have been?

But on the other hand you have a player like Wawrinka who has now entered his peak, and he is producing the big W's. I don't think there's a single player out there who wants to face the Stanimal in full flight right now. As great as Nalbandian could be, I don't think Fedal, or Djokovic would have been particularly afraid of facing him at his absolute best, but I think they might just feel some apprehension facing Wawrinka at his best.

What do you think? After this recent RG, my opinion has moved decisively in favour of the Stanimal? Has yours?

Wawrinka has the 2 Slams but Nalbandian at his best had more game than Wawrinka at his best. He would have eaten Wawrinka alive if Wawrinka was playing the style he did against Djokovic in the final. He would have turned those shots around with interest.

 

[Federberg]

^There is simply no basis in that statement. I find it as baseless as speculating on a match between Rafa and Borg. Fun to speculate on but not attached to something very important... reality. All I can do is look at what these guys have done at their very best, and I'm sorry.. it's not even close. Not by a long shot. Nalby beating Federer and Nadal back to back in consecutive tournaments after a long season that they both contributed to is fine, but it doesn't compare to Stanimal beating on these guys right in the business part of the season. You'll find few supporters here mate

 

[Carol]

Definitely yes, Nabaldian was better player than Wawrinka but with much less interested to be fitted and win
And honesty I'm surprised that Stan has the same GS than Muzz who is better player than him and that's why I always say that the sport sometimes is a box of surprises, the results are depending to many diferent situations :huh:

 

[calitennis127]

^There is simply no basis in that statement. I find it as baseless as speculating on a match between Rafa and Borg. Fun to speculate on but not attached to something very important... reality. All I can do is look at what these guys have done at their very best, and I'm sorry.. it's not even close. Not by a long shot. Nalby beating Federer and Nadal back to back in consecutive tournaments after a long season that they both contributed to is fine, but it doesn't compare to Stanimal beating on these guys right in the business part of the season. You'll find few supporters here mate

Look at the tennis, Federberg, instead of just a few carefully selected matches. There is no way that Nalbandian would have been giving Wawrinka lollipops to direct left and right. There is no way that Nalbandian would have allowed someone to hit winner after winner and then just look up to his box like "when is he going to stop making all of these?" There is no way that Nalbandian would have refused to hit a backhand down the line even after Moses parted the oceans on Wawrinka's forehand side of the court.

Look at what Nalbandian did to Berdych, for instance, at Miami in 2006. Employing some of these shots against Wawrinka would have been very effective for Djokovic, and it would have made for a different kind of match:

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ex-oStwLQc[/video]

 

[Federberg]

^Different conditions. Different surface. Why would you think this is supports Nalbandian's case? I can show you a clip or Federer bagelling Rafa at the ATP finals, what on earth would that have to do with facing Nadal at RG? The same applies here mate. No one doubts Nalbandians talent, but I'm not sure Nalby would have coped better with the brutal power on display not so long ago

 

[Carol]

^Different conditions. Different surface. Why would you think this is supports Nalbandian's case? I can show you a clip or Federer bagelling Rafa at the ATP finals, what on earth would that have to do with facing Nadal at RG? The same applies here mate. No one doubts Nalbandians talent, but I'm not sure Nalby would have coped better with the brutal power on display not so long ago

Yep, I suppose that you are talking about London which I think is the worst surface for Nadal
But what about this match of Nabaldian vs Federer in Madrid HC? those last games was spectacular


http://youtu.be/lJN2NKfY8eU

 

[Federberg]

^Different conditions. Different surface. Why would you think this is supports Nalbandian's case? I can show you a clip or Federer bagelling Rafa at the ATP finals, what on earth would that have to do with facing Nadal at RG? The same applies here mate. No one doubts Nalbandians talent, but I'm not sure Nalby would have coped better with the brutal power on display not so long ago

Yep, I suppose that you are talking about London which I think is the worst surface for Nadal
But what about this match of Nabaldian vs Federer in Madrid HC? those last games was spectacular


http://youtu.be/lJN2NKfY8eU

I'm as happy for entertainment as the next guy That was a good performance from Nalby if it's the 07 one you're talking about. What that has to do with evidence of Nalby's supposed superiority to Wawrinka is what escapes me..

 

[brokenshoelace]

Greatness is defined by accomplishments, so no, it's not even close. Is he as talented? I'd say he's even more talented, but that's a different question.

 

[Kieran]

Ironically, these two met in the first round of Roland Garros, in 2006, where Daveed won 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.

Proof positive, surely, for Cali's assessment that Nalbandian would have withstood Stan's assault on Nole in this year's final. I'm converted anyway, to this logic...

 

[Carol]

^Different conditions. Different surface. Why would you think this is supports Nalbandian's case? I can show you a clip or Federer bagelling Rafa at the ATP finals, what on earth would that have to do with facing Nadal at RG? The same applies here mate. No one doubts Nalbandians talent, but I'm not sure Nalby would have coped better with the brutal power on display not so long ago

Yep, I suppose that you are talking about London which I think is the worst surface for Nadal
But what about this match of Nabaldian vs Federer in Madrid HC? those last games was spectacular



http://youtu.be/lJN2NKfY8eU

I'm as happy for entertainment as the next guy That was a good performance from Nalby if it's the 07

one you're talking about. What that has to do with evidence of Nalby's supposed superiority to Wawrinka is what escapes me..

The same example that you has said before, diferent surfaces and situations, but also when a good player wants and is ready to win he can do against anyone. Nabaldian many times wasn't ready, Wawrinka been less talented has throwed his house through the window (literally) to try to win but if they would play in the same conditions Nabaldian would wipe out Warinka without any mercy :cover

 

[Federberg]

The same example that you has said before, diferent surfaces and situations, but also when a good player wants and is ready to win he can do against anyone. Nabaldian many times wasn't ready, Wawrinka been less talented has throwed his house through the window (literally) to try to win but if they would play in the same conditions Nabaldian would wipe out Warinka without any mercy :cover

Everytime tennis players compete against each other, the play in the same conditions...

 

[Carol]

The same example that you has said before, diferent surfaces and situations, but also when a good player wants and is ready to win he can do against anyone. Nabaldian many times wasn't ready, Wawrinka been less talented has throwed his house through the window (literally) to try to win but if they would play in the same conditions Nabaldian would wipe out Warinka without any mercy :cover

Everytime tennis players compete against each other, the play in the same conditions...

Disagree, it depends on diferent factors and that's why some times they win and they lose too and of course the main factor is what well prepared they are at that time mentally and physically
It's not the same to watch a match through the tv lying on the sofa than playing

 

[Federberg]

The same example that you has said before, diferent surfaces and situations, but also when a good player wants and is ready to win he can do against anyone. Nabaldian many times wasn't ready, Wawrinka been less talented has throwed his house through the window (literally) to try to win but if they would play in the same conditions Nabaldian would wipe out Warinka without any mercy :cover

Everytime tennis players compete against each other, the play in the same conditions...

Disagree, it depends on diferent factors and that's why some times they win and they lose too and of course the main factor is what well prepared they are at that time mentally and physically
It's not the same to watch a match through the tv lying on the sofa than playing

Sorry but you're not making much sense. When tennis players play against each other they experience exactly the same conditions as each other. Why do I even have to explain this to you? uzzled

 

[El Dude]

What I'm wondering is why you wanted to have this discussion with the Nalbandian Fanclub of Two, federberg. uzzled:lolz:

 

[Federberg]

What I'm wondering is why you wanted to have this discussion with the Nalbandian Fanclub of Two, federberg. uzzled:lolz:

:laydownlaughing

Just a bit of pre Wimbledon entertainment! :snicker