Why we should all miss Nalbandian

[calitennis127]

I was disappointed that Djokovic lost the French Open, but I was not disappointed to see the triumph of offensive tennis. The fact is - and it's tough to say this - but Djokovic got dominated in the majority of the rallies sets 2 through 4. Some of this was due to fantastic shotmaking from Wawrinka, who demonstrated fearlessness and talent. Nonetheless, Djokovic left a lot of points on the table, particularly with his hesitation to take any risks with his backhand down the line.

Assuming Nalbandian was relatively fit, I could never imagine him getting pasted like that by Wawrinka in rallies. Sure, Nalbandian would have hit some double faults and shot himself in the foot with petty errors. But he never would have gotten housed in rally after rally like Djokovic did. As someone who was rooting for Djokovic to win, it was not easy to watch him get yanked around and thoroughly dominated like that. But you have to call a spade a spade, and that is what happened. As good as Djokovic is from the back of the court, we should never place him - or anyone else - in the same class of baseline skill and talent as Nalbandian.

 

[Federberg]

^:laydownlaughing

 

[Carol]

I miss Nabaldian, he had as good game as the best but he never was 100% focus in tennis, he had another entertainments (to eat well too) but it was his choice :-/

 

[Front242]

Welcome back, cali!

 

[Fiero425]

After all his accomplisments, I can only remember watching him "give away" Queens' final to Cilic a few years ago! It made no sense for his tirade or fit, up a set and in control of the match! He broke himself and very well should have come back to win in straight sets! Why kick that board and subsequently get defaulted for injuring the linesman? As soon as I saw blood on the guys shins, it was a done deal! Not even sure why David would even argue over it! It was the most egregious act I've seen on court and I've seen the worst of McEnroe, Connors, and Nastase in my day! Accidently hitting a ball kid with a ball by Ivanesovic years ago wasn't as bad as that; totally an accident! Nalbandian with malicious intent and calculation thought he could get away with kicking that chair; IDIOT! :cover :nono :speechless: :eyepop

 

[calitennis127]

I miss Nabaldian, he had as good game as the best but he never was 100% focus in tennis, he had another entertainments (to eat well too) but it was his choice :-/

Well of course, but that isn't really my point. My point is that - assuming he was relatively fit and playing well - Nalbandian never would have gotten schooled in rallies by Wawrinka the way Djokovic was in the final.

 

[calitennis127]

After all his accomplisments, I can only remember watching him "give away" Queens' final to Cilic a few years ago! It made no sense for his tirade or fit, up a set and in control of the match! He broke himself and very well should have come back to win in straight sets! Why kick that board and subsequently get defaulted for injuring the linesman? As soon as I saw blood on the guys shins, it was a done deal! Not even sure why David would even argue over it! It was the most egregious act I've seen on court and I've seen the worst of McEnroe, Connors, and Nastase in my day! Accidently hitting a ball kid with a ball by Ivanesovic years ago wasn't as bad as that; totally an accident! Nalbandian with malicious intent and calculation thought he could get away with kicking that chair; IDIOT! :cover :nono :speechless: :eyepop

No one is defending that action. This is about what Nalbandian did with his baseline skill and shotmaking.

 

[Front242]

You're forgetting one small, well actually big thing, cali. I loved Nalbandian, but here's the big thing: Nalbandian wouldn't have made the RG final in a million years. He made the semis in 2004 and 2006, fair enough, but fit or not, this is 2015. If he couldn't make the final in 2004 and 2006 then forget it once he was over the hill.

 

[Carol]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

 

[Front242]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

True, he was awesome then but gotta remember those were best of 3 as well.

 

[calitennis127]

You're forgetting one small, well actually big thing, cali. I loved Nalbandian, but here's the big thing: Nalbandian wouldn't have made the RG final in a million years. He made the semis in 2004 and 2006, fair enough, but fit or not, this is 2015. If he couldn't make the final in 2004 and 2006 then forget it once he was over the hill.

Of course, I am not saying that he would have made it this year when he can't even serve after having shoulder surgery. I am just saying the Nalbandian never would have been dominated in rallies like Djokovic was in the final.

 

[Carol]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

True, he was awesome then but gotta remember those were best of 3 as well.

Yep, he looked that was not able to play more than three sets, that's the reason why been so good he never won a GS

 

[calitennis127]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

True, he was awesome then but gotta remember those were best of 3 as well.

If he hadn't squandered match point in the Round of 32 to Ferrer at the 2007 US Open, he would have smashed Nadal in the round of 16 and it would have been much quicker and more decisive than Ferrer's 4-set win. Nadal is very lucky that match didn't happen because it saved him what would have been his biggest embarrassment on a Slam stage in his career.

 

[the AntiPusher]

What da Hell ..You return back to the boards with this

 

[Carol]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

True, he was awesome then but gotta remember those were best of 3 as well.

If he hadn't squandered match point in the Round of 32 to Ferrer at the 2007 US Open, he would have smashed Nadal in the round of 16 and it would have been much quicker and more decisive than Ferrer's 4-set win. Nadal is very lucky that match didn't happen because it saved him what would have been his biggest embarrassment on a Slam stage in his career.

8 years ego Nadal was 21, he still had not so good records playing on HC as he had later and anyway who knows if that alleged loss would have been his biggest embarrassment or not, we never will know

 

[El Dude]

Good to see a nice Calbandian thread. It has been too long.

 

[Front242]

I think Nabaldian best year was 2007. I remember that final against Federer in Madrid (HC) he was incredible and also in the Paris Masters against the very young Nadal, when I watch those highlights I see what good he was when he was fitted

True, he was awesome then but gotta remember those were best of 3 as well.

If he hadn't squandered match point in the Round of 32 to Ferrer at the 2007 US Open, he would have smashed Nadal in the round of 16 and it would have been much quicker and more decisive than Ferrer's 4-set win. Nadal is very lucky that match didn't happen because it saved him what would have been his biggest embarrassment on a Slam stage in his career.

We could write what ifs for tons of matches over the years, not only Nalbandians :s No point going there. He didn't win.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Why none of us should miss these threads...

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'll just leave this here:

Queens Club 2008:

N. Djokovic defeats D. Nalbandian 6-1 6-0.

I'm sure Nalbandian dictated the points though...

 

[BalaryKar]

Of course, I am not saying that he would have made it this year when he can't even serve after having shoulder surgery. I am just saying the Nalbandian never would have been dominated in rallies like Djokovic was in the final.

Agree with the part in bold, and in part because Nalbandian won't be in the finals in the first place :laydownlaughing

Ok, seriously though I think even if Nalbandian would not have been dominated, he would not be winning the match. The reason why Djokovic waited and did not change his plan against Wawrinka is that by not changing it, he won in AO 13 and 15, and USO 13. Unfortunately, for him, Wawrinka was unrelenting.