Is Nalbandian as great a player as Wawrinka?

[El Dude]

Wawrinka and Nalbandian no longer belong in the same sentence. Wawrinka has entered the furthermost southern reaches of Murray territory. When I think of someone similar to Nalbandian, Berdych comes to mind. So much talent, so little results. At least Nalbandian has that 2005 WTF to keep him warm at night.

He's also got 2007 Madrid and Paris.

Actually, think of it this way: in big tournament finals against Rafa or Roger, he's 3-0. That's pretty sweet.

I was browsing some Youtube videos of Federer vs. Nalbandian and I've got say, it must be one of the most enjoyable, prettiest match-ups. In a way it reminds me of Nadal-Djokovic. A quite different style of play, but similar in that both pairs of players played at an absurd level against each other within a specific scope of play. Nadal and Djokovic are like two mighty swordsmen, bashing away at each other but with incredible speed and power, while Nalbandian and Federer were like two fencers, dancing with such finesse and grace.

 

[BalaryKar]

More than the slam, it is the Davis Cup I feel sorry for Nalbandian. More than Federer, it was Nalbandian who deserved to be a DC winner. That 2008 (or was it 09) DC final which Argentina lost to Spain haunts me as a tennis fan and as a Nalbandian fan.

 

[Federberg]

More than the slam, it is the Davis Cup I feel sorry for Nalbandian. More than Federer, it was Nalbandian who deserved to be a DC winner. That 2008 (or was it 09) DC final which Argentina lost to Spain haunts me as a tennis fan and as a Nalbandian fan.

I'm not sure how he deserved it more than Federer. The guy had a deeper squad to rely on, but when their greatest opportunity came he was too busy being a diva and not embracing the concept of team. Delpo is as easy going a guy as you can find, if he finds it difficult to tolerate Nalbandians antics that tells you something :nono

 

[brokenshoelace]

I don't know if he deserves it more than a particular player, but he definitely deserved a Davis Cup. He really took it more seriously than most and his record in Davis Cup matches was ridiculously good. I don't recall the specifics of the 2008 beef he had with Del Potro but if I recall correctly, Nalbandian took issue with Del Potro's apparent disinterest or something like that. I could be wrong.

 

[Federberg]

^I think that was Nalbandian's accusation against him, but if I recall correctly others in the coaching team didn't agree. When I recall how Delpo cried after getting bronze in the Olympics, I find it really hard to believe he was disinterested

 

[brokenshoelace]

^I think that was Nalbandian's accusation against him, but if I recall correctly others in the coaching team didn't agree. When I recall how Delpo cried after getting bronze in the Olympics, I find it really hard to believe he was disinterested

Yeah I agree with this. It seemed to me that with Nadal pulling out injured and the series taking place in Argentina, everyone over there was bracing themselves for a sure victory and when that didn't happen, they turned on each other and pointed fingers.

 

[BalaryKar]

I'm not sure how he deserved it more than Federer. The guy had a deeper squad to rely on, but when their greatest opportunity came he was too busy being a diva and not embracing the concept of team. Delpo is as easy going a guy as you can find, if he finds it difficult to tolerate Nalbandians antics that tells you something :nono

Let me try. Of all the answers the one which seems reasonable is that at least Fed has 19878664892348 other things over Nalbandian.

 

[Moxie]

^I think that was Nalbandian's accusation against him, but if I recall correctly others in the coaching team didn't agree. When I recall how Delpo cried after getting bronze in the Olympics, I find it really hard to believe he was disinterested

Yeah I agree with this. It seemed to me that with Nadal pulling out injured and the series taking place in Argentina, everyone over there was bracing themselves for a sure victory and when that didn't happen, they turned on each other and pointed fingers.

It actually started before they even played. Nalbandian made it clear in the press that he was unhappy that Delpo went to play in Shanghai the week prior instead of staying in Argentina to prep for DC. So bad blood was brewing, and it got worse over the weekend. You can read some of the dirt here.

I don't believe that Del Potro was disinterested, either. But he was young, and he'd just won the USO, he was focused on his singles, (which, if I remember correctly, Nalbandian also mentioned in his criticism,) but probably thought he could do it all. With Nadal out, and Argentina having home court advantage, they were pretty heavily favored. But they were in disarray as a team, and Spain are a very cohesive squad.

 

[BalaryKar]

^^^^ Del Potro won USO next year. However, he won 3 straight HC tournaments leading to USO, 250's tourneys, and he had his best display at the slams with a QF loss to Murray IIRC.

 

[Moxie]

^^^^ Del Potro won USO next year. However, he won 3 straight HC tournaments leading to USO, 250's tourneys, and he had his best display at the slams with a QF loss to Murray IIRC.

Yes, you're right. I got ahead of myself. But he was trending, and the Argentine #1. That was the source of his self-interest (which I don't mean in a bad way,) and Nalbandian's disdain for it.

 

[isabelle]

Er, maybe you don't want to call it injured but off crutches from an ankle injury just a few weeks before that match if that suits you better. Call it lacking match play due to not being able to walk. Seems about right to me.

When he trashed Gaston 6/0 6/0 he looked really fit !!! Not injured when he wins, injured when he losses, always the same excuse from his fans, who can't admit another guy can play better than their idol...it wasn't the 1st time Nalby beat him don't know why this 2005 Masters final is so amazing, the better player won and it was Nalby

 

[Front242]

Er, maybe you don't want to call it injured but off crutches from an ankle injury just a few weeks before that match if that suits you better. Call it lacking match play due to not being able to walk. Seems about right to me.

When he trashed Gaston 6/0 6/0 he looked really fit !!! Not injured when he wins, injured when he losses, always the same excuse from his fans, who can't admit another guy can play better than their idol...it wasn't the 1st time Nalby beat him don't know why this 2005 Masters final is so amazing, the better player won and it was Nalby

Seriously isabelle, don't go there. Federer fans do not complain about injuries, I think you have the wrong fan camp there. I didn't even say one thing about injury, but you know when you break a part of your leg you use crutches, right? Well, Roger had healed up but wasn't long off the crutches. That's all. To then go back to running around a tennis court after having had a bust ankle on crutches isn't ideal preparation is it. We all know how good Nalbandian was, I was a great fan of him. We also know how much you hate Federer but try not to come across as silly. I said, lacking match play, not injury. Funnily enough not many players would practice or play tennis on crutches. Duh.

 

[Front242]

Btw, anyone could have double bageled Gaudio as he was a relatively crap player who just happened to fluke one slam. Not quite in the same league as prime Nalbandian.

 

[BalaryKar]

When he trashed Gaston 6/0 6/0 he looked really fit !!! Not injured when he wins, injured when he losses, always the same excuse from his fans, who can't admit another guy can play better than their idol...it wasn't the 1st time Nalby beat him don't know why this 2005 Masters final is so amazing, the better player won and it was Nalby

Speaking in general, I need to agree with you. Does not Calitennis use the same argument that Nadal was toyed in the first two sets up to the match points but will never admit that the idol was hopelessly outclassed in the bageled set. Excuses disguised as some other point nevertheless. And then what are fans for if they won't defend the indefensible

 

[Federberg]

Er, maybe you don't want to call it injured but off crutches from an ankle injury just a few weeks before that match if that suits you better. Call it lacking match play due to not being able to walk. Seems about right to me.

When he trashed Gaston 6/0 6/0 he looked really fit !!! Not injured when he wins, injured when he losses, always the same excuse from his fans, who can't admit another guy can play better than their idol...it wasn't the 1st time Nalby beat him don't know why this 2005 Masters final is so amazing, the better player won and it was Nalby

Seriously isabelle, don't go there. Federer fans do not complain about injuries, I think you have the wrong fan camp there. I didn't even say one thing about injury, but you know when you break a part of your leg you use crutches, right? Well, Roger had healed up but wasn't long off the crutches. That's all. To then go back to running around a tennis court after having had a bust ankle on crutches isn't ideal preparation is it. We all know how good Nalbandian was, I was a great fan of him. We also know how much you hate Federer but try not to come across as silly. I said, lacking match play, not injury. Funnily enough not many players would practice or play tennis on crutches. Duh.

It was such a ridiculous comment I just ignored it :angel:

 

[brokenshoelace]

Btw, anyone could have double bageled Gaudio as he was a relatively crap player who just happened to fluke one slam. Not quite in the same league as prime Nalbandian.

"Any good player could have crushed a washed up injury plagued Hewitt on his worst surface. Not quite in the same league as Soderling in the form of his life."

 

[brokenshoelace]

Btw, anyone could have double bageled Gaudio as he was a relatively crap player who just happened to fluke one slam. Not quite in the same league as prime Nalbandian.

By the way, Federer actually beat Nalbandian in Round Robin play earlier in the same tournament (in the same week!). I don't disagree that Fed was injured but I'm just saying, that puts a major dent in the above logic.

 

[Front242]

Btw, anyone could have double bageled Gaudio as he was a relatively crap player who just happened to fluke one slam. Not quite in the same league as prime Nalbandian.

By the way, Federer actually beat Nalbandian in Round Robin play earlier in the same tournament (in the same week!). I don't disagree that Fed was injured but I'm just saying, that puts a major dent in the above logic.

So, that's best of 3, Fed was up 2 sets to love in the final which was best of 5. Did he bagel Nalbandian twice? No. So, no it doesn't put even 0.0000001% of a dent in that logic. Good try though.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Btw, anyone could have double bageled Gaudio as he was a relatively crap player who just happened to fluke one slam. Not quite in the same league as prime Nalbandian.

By the way, Federer actually beat Nalbandian in Round Robin play earlier in the same tournament (in the same week!). I don't disagree that Fed was injured but I'm just saying, that puts a major dent in the above logic.

So, that's best of 3, Fed was up 2 sets to love in the final which was best of 5. Did he bagel Nalbandian twice? No. So, no it doesn't put even 0.0000001% of a dent in that logic. Good try though.

Umm, you're not going to double bagel prime Nalbandian under any circumstances. What kind of nonsense is this?

How bad could the injury have been if he actually beat Nalbandian, destroyed Gaudio who, like it or not, was a top 8 player at the time and it made it to the semis, and beat Ljubicic and Coria as well? What kind of injury is so severe that you beat 4 top 8 players in the world in the same week?

What kind of injury is so severe that he almost straight setted Nalbandian in the final?

The hypocrisy is unbelievable. But no, you guys never make excuses.

 

[isabelle]

Stan did what Nalby never did : Naked pictures in a paper !!!