[Voo de Mar]

I don't think about him as the best/most successful Grand Slam finalist of the Open era without a major title, but the collective MTF consciousness says otherwise. Distinctive & bold player anyway - no doubt about it. He was a player who could afford himself to play on every surface on his own terms. It's a domain of exceptionally gifted players, who possess all shots in their repertoires - he was one of them. Obviously he will be remembered as a player with terrific double-handed backhand, but I'd like to pay close attention to his one-handed skills; usually "double-handed guys" don't play sliced backhands and volleys with Nalbandian's finesse. I wish he won Davis Cup once, I think he deserved it leading the team to the 2006, 2008 & 2011 finals where he defeated very good players (especially the 2008 final was very unfortunate). On the other hand he's the only guy beside Corretja & Davydenko to win Year End Championhips not having a major title under his belt - I consider his triumph in Shanghai as some kind of miracle in regard of the progress of that final and the man he had beaten there... I remember at the end of 2003, I expected he would be the best player of the 00s. Then came a quarterfinal meeting with Federer at the Australian Open '04 - the Swiss won in four sets improving their H2H to 2-5 (eventually 11-8). You never know what would have happened if something in the past had been slightly changed. My casual thought is that it was the key match to the careers of both players...

Win/loss:
Career Singles (Tour Level Only): 383-192
Career Doubles (Tour Level Only): 49-53

Career Singles (incl. ITF Challengers and ITF Pro Circuits): 448-229
Career Doubles (incl. ITF Challengers and ITF Pro Circuits): 82-76

Number of tournaments played in singles:
- Main Tour (Grand Slams and ATP Tour): 193
- Challengers: 26
- Futures: 11

Titles in singles: (11 ATP + 2 Challengers + 1 Futures)
99 - Italy F12
01 - Salinas, Montevideo
02 - Estoril (19), Basel (35)
05 - Munich (75), Shanghai-YEC (89)
06 - Estoril (94)
07 - Madrid (120), Paris (122)
08 - Buenos Aires (124), Stockholm (136)
09 - Sydney (140)
10 - Washington (153)

Finalist: 13 ATP + 1 Challenger + 1 Futures

Best results in Grand Slams:
Australian Open (semifinalist 2006; quarter-finalist 2003-05)
Roland Garros (semifinalist 2004 & 2006)
Wimbledon (runner-up 2002; quarter-finalist 2005)
US Open (semifinalist 2003; quarter-finalist 2005)
Best results in Masters Series:
Indian Wells (quarter-finalist 2008 & 12)
Miami (semifinalist 2006)
Monte Carlo (quarter-finalist 2004, 08 & 10)
Rome (runner-up 2004; semifinalist 2006)
Canadian Open (runner-up 2003; quarter-finalist 2002 & 10)
Cincinnati (quarter-finalist 2003)
Madrid (champion 2007; runner-up 2004; semifinalist 2005-06)
Paris (champion 2007; runner-up 2008)

# Three appearances in both, Davis Cup finals and "Masters" (2005 champion; 2006 semifinalist)

Titles in doubles: 1 Challenger
01 - Salinas (L.Horna)

1 ATP final

Career High Singles: 3 (20.03.2006)
Career High Doubles: 105 (05.10.2009)

Singles ranking history at the end of the year (1998-2012):
1342 - 526 - 248 - 47 - 12 - 8 - 9 - 6 - 8 - 9 - 11 - 64 - 27 - 64 - 82.

Prize Money: $11,123,125

* Detailed singles statistic (including Challengers & Futures):
5-setters: 17-13
Tie-breaks: 144-103
TB's in the deciding 3rd set: 20-10
The longest winning match: 4 hours 48 minutes. L.Hewitt 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 9-7 (Aussie Open 2011)
The longest losing match: 5 hours 9 minutes. M.Cilic 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6 (Davis Cup 2012)
The longest winning tie-break: 13/11 T.Haas (Toronto 2012)
The longest losing tie-break: 11/13 - twice
The most served aces: 20 - defeated J.Tipsarevic (Australian Open 2007)​

Other tributes:​

James Blake, Mario Ancic, Nicolas Lapentti
Nicolas Kiefer Carlos Moya Dominik Hrbaty Sebastien Grosjean Alberto Martin Taylor Dent Mariano Zabaleta
Guillermo Canas Fabrice Santoro Marat Safin Thomas Johansson Andrei Pavel Jonas Bjorkman Gustavo Kuerten
Felix Mantilla Davide Sanguinetti Kenneth Carlsen Tim Henman Wayne Arthurs Sjeng Schalken Greg Rusedski

Dave

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

The most interesting Nalbandian's matches in my subjective view:​

Miami 2000, 1R: J.Courier 3-6 6-3 5-7

One of the best players of the 90s in his last tournament faces an ATP debutant and qualifier (first time in ATP qualies!) - one of the best players of the 00s. After the match Courier, who needed 4 match points says: ''Just another good player coming up. They're coming out of the woodwork like termites. They're just everywhere right now.'' The scoreline allows you to think the kid [473] has big potential sharing a court more than 2 hours with the former champion of the event, 60th best player in the world... It's interesting coincidence I guess, Nalbandian played his first and last tournament in Miami

US Open 2001, 2R: N.Escude 4-6 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5

Escude was a 5-set specialist, so if a teenager manages to beat such a player saving a match point in the 5th, his mentality must be ok

Estoril 2002, 2R: JC.Ferrero 4-6 6-4 7-6(4)

Nalbandian saves three match points and goes to claim the title later on, for Ferrero it's first match point-up defeat in his 64th main-level tournament, another sign of Nalbandian's mental strength

Wimbledon 2002, QF: N.Lapentti 6-4 6-4 4-6 4-6 6-4

Another 5-set win (4:03) over a 5-set specialist, this time Nalbandian shows he can keep his composure when things don't go in his favor - the Argentine led 4:1 with two breaks in the 3rd set; in the following match he withstood 25 aces from Malisse becoming the first man to reach Wimbledon final in his debut

Davis Cup 2002, SF: L.Arnold/Nalbandian d. M.Safin/Y.Kafelnikov 6-4 6-4 5-7 3-6 19-17

6:20 - until this year it was the longest doubles match in history... It could have been 3x 6-4, but the Russians saved break point at 4:4 in the 3rd set. The 5th set lasted 3 hours 3 minutes! The Russians had break points on Nalbandian's serve at 8:8, 10:10 and 12:12. Nalbandian finally lost his serve at 16-all and Safin was trying to serve it out. The Argentinians saved two match points (on second m.p. Nalbandian played BH volley winner followed up with great BH return winner - YT 33:40), and broke Safin's serve for the first time in the match! Two games later also Kafelnikov lost his serve on second match point and the rubber! Despite Argies' unbelievable win, Russians advanced to the final thanks to Safin who defeated in 4 sets Nalbandian on Sunday in the 4th rubber.

US Open 2003, SF: A.Roddick 7-6(4) 6-3 6-7(7) 1-6 3-6

Highly controversial semifinal - Nalbandian had a match point at 6:5* in the 3rd set, at 7-all a fan distracted him during a rally screaming 'out' when the ball was good. He was broken at 3:4 in the 5th set after a passing-shot which was called 'out' when the ball might have clipped the line (no Hawk-Eye at the time)

Australian Open 2004, QF: R.Federer 5-7 4-6 7-5 3-6

I mentioned this match in the opening post... Nalbandian commented the loss: “I can't say I played bad. I think the match was very, very close. I think on the important points, the big points he played better than me."

Australian Open 2005, QF: L.Hewitt 3-6 2-6 6-1 6-3 8-10

Led 8:7* (30/15) in the 5th set - another painful defeat against a player who was firmly supported by a partisan crowd. Dave will nicely avenge this defeat on the same court six years later

Masters 2005, F: R.Federer 6-7(4) 6-7(11) 6-2 6-1 7-6(3)

One of the most bizarre matches I've ever seen. Two tight sets lost to a player in amazing form, so everyone could expect Nalbandian's meltdown in the 3rd set, yet he took a total control, partially thanks to Federer's physical problems; Nalbandian led *4:0 (30/0) in the 5th set, but Federer broke three times and was serving at 6:5 (30/0) - the Argentine's win then seemed impossible, but he snapped Federer's streak of 35 consecutive wins taking 11 out of the next 14 points!

Australian Open 2006, SF: M.Baghdatis 6-3 7-5 3-6 4-6 4-6

After sensational Wimbledon final, he played four Grand Slam semifinals, it's a match he was the closest to reach the final again at the beginning, facing an underdog - Dave led *4:2 in the 5th set against a player, whose participation in the semifinals was already incredible

Australian Open 2007, 3R: S.Grosjean 5-7 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 6-1

Winning two matches from a match point down in a major happens rarely; I don't know any other case that someone won those two matches trailing 0-2 in sets + MP-down - Dave did it: in the first round he beat Tipsarevic 6-7(5) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-0 2-1 ret. saving two match points, against Grosjean he fought off a triple match point. "I prefer winning in three sets, but it's not that simple sometimes,” Nalbandian said

Madrid 2007, 2R: T.Berdych 4-6 6-4 7-6(2)

It's quite characteristic that winning a 'lost match" can elevate a good player to the higher ground within a tournament - I guess it's the case of Nalbandian's astonishing back-to-back Masters titles (Madrid & Paris) separated by defeats to Wawrinka. Against Berdych he was 0:4* in the 2nd set, also *5:6 (15/30) in the 3rd, then beat within three weeks both Federer & Nadal twice, and Djokovic!

Indian Wells 2009, 4R: R.Nadal 6-3 6-7(5) 0-6

The beginning of the end. It was Nalbandian's 144th main-level tournament. Never before he lost a match being so close to win in two sets. He squandered four match points at 5:3 and another one serving at 5:4. The match ended at 2 a.m. local time. Nalbandian was struggling with injuries to the end ever since

Queens Club 2012, F: M.Cilic 7-6(3), 3-4 def.

Perhaps the weirdest way to be defaulted at the main-level. Nalbandian is broken leading by a set against a player, whom he could break back immediately and win the final in straight sets. Yet he loses his mind and kicks three-sided sponsor's advertising board injuring linesman's left leg. It's just second final in the Open era concluded with a disqualification. Nalbandian had been previously defaulted leading 4:3 in the 1st set vs. Saretta in Vina del Mar '02. Much appreciated if some of his fans would tell what was the reason...

Toronto | Cincinnati 2012, 1R: T.Haas 2-6 7-6(11) 3-6 | T.Haas 7-6(0) 6-7(4) 3-6

This is funny two-week weird-combo. In Toronto, Nalbandian lost his only main-level match with a MP-down won set (saved 4 MPs to be precise), one week later in Cincinnati he saved 6 set points in the 1st set, but wasted a match point in the 2nd set. Their H2H: Haas 5-0!

Other thread

 

[Jimnik]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Great stuff Voo, as usual.

Only the 2004 AO loss to Federer was QF, not R4.

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

^ Thx, corrected.
I always make 5-7 mistakes launching those threads, then need to read them a couple of times fishing mistakes out.

 

[n8]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

US Open 2003, SF: A.Roddick 7-6(4) 6-3 6-7(7) 1-6 3-6

Highly controversial semifinal - Nalbandian had a match point at 6:5* in the 3rd set, at 7-all a fan distracted him during a rally screaming 'out' when the ball was good. He was broken at 3:4 in the 5th set after a passing-shot which was called 'out' when the ball might have clipped the line (no Hawk-Eye at the time)

​

The defining match of his career, and Roddick's for that matter.​

 

[leng jai]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

HIs greatest achievement was being Thomas Hass' pigeon.

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

HIs greatest achievement was being Thomas Hass' pigeon.

0-5 vs. Haas but 7-0 vs. Gasquet (only once Gas was relatively close to beat him - Queens Club '08)

 

[LoveFifteen]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Voo, your threads are always amazing. Keep up the good work.

P.S. Do you have a Roddick tribute thread?

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Voo, your threads are always amazing. Keep up the good work.

P.S. Do you have a Roddick tribute thread?

Only on my site, last year I hadn't energy to make "most interesting matches"

 

[LoveFifteen]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Only on my site, last year I hadn't energy to make "most interesting matches"

Cool, thanks. Didn't realize you had a website. I just bookmarked it.

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

His mental fortitude was underrated. It was probably due to his relaxed attitude showed in other instances but his state of mind helped in tense situations and made him a very uncomfortable player in the mid-00s.

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Thx Joolz for GR explaining what happened at VdM '02

 

[Rychu]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

When on, almost impossible to stop. Legend

 

[Bazooka]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Thanks for this, you're great Voo.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

One of my all time favorites.. Thanks Voo, once again awesome work

 

[Voo de Mar]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Funny that Malisse calls it a career 24 hours later. In 2002 they played against each other for the first time, a two-day Wimbledon semifinal (suspended at two sets apiece) - the most important major match for both looking backwards.

Nalbandian d. Malisse 7-6(2) 6-4 1-6 2-6 |6-2|

 

[Kyle_Johansen]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

I wish he could have done better. Should have made the AO final in 2006.

 

[Ouragan]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

Thanks again for this great recap.

 

[Dmitry Verdasco]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

One of my favourite players. Weird - I was a Hewitt fan and was cheering against him in the biggest match of his career back @ Wimbledon in 2002. 2005 Masters, 2007 indoor season were his most defining periods of time, atleast the times I most associate him with. Shame things got a bit turbulent near the end, but I'll always remember him in a positive light.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Re: The statistical tribute to David Nalbandian (2000-2013)

The only player Adrian Ungur has ever beaten in a Grand Slam tournament.

And the only player I/ve seen hitting this shot: