David Nalbandian Makes Swift Recovery to Prove that He’s Not Quite Ready for Retirement
David Nalbandian, an Argentine professional tennis player who was formerly ranked third world wide and who is currently ranked 111th, helped lead the Argentinean team to the semi-finals for the Davis Cup in September.
Although only recently returning to tennis after taking a short three month break due to injuries, the 28 year-old Nalbandian has managed to prove that he still has some moves left in him despite his string of injuries over the past couple of years.
Even though there were many who had all but written off Nalbandian out of the tennis season, the all-court player, best known for his low error-percentage and his use of powerful, sharply accurate ground strokes, was able to deliver results to his team. Shocking and surprising all of those who had believed that his best tennis playing days were behind him.
In their Davis Cup match in July, Nalbandian played two single matches for Argentina against Russia at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, where the player, known as the game's best returner, managed to defeat Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 in the first set. Nalbandian also managed to defeat Mikhail Youzhny 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the fifth and final set, giving Argentina a 3-2 victory and qualifying the country for the Cup’s semi-finals. Argentina’s win also ended Russia’s 17-tie winning streak at home since losing to the United States in the 1995 final.
Since returning this year after his surgery last May, Nalbandian, who was injured with both an abdominal strain and a pulled hamstring after having hip surgery, still managed to lead Argentina in two away ties, despite barely being able to play any tennis while recuperating from his injuries.
“David is a special guy, he’s a guy who has a lot of confidence and reads the game very well, he’s a guy who has a lot of variability which is enough to trouble any player,” commented his captain, Tito Vazquez.
Nalbandian also led the South American team in their doubles and singles win in the team’s first-round victory over Sweden, as well as leading them to the semi-final in the Davis Cup, the first time the team has defeated Russia in Moscow.
“I won playing great tennis and that makes me happy,” said Nalbandian. “The matches were all tough and I had my doubts about my fitness. Luckily it turned out fine. I got really lucky today.”
Nalbandian, who missed Wimbledon because of an injury, had slipped out of the World’s Top 100 all the way down to 153 in the rankings. He almost didn’t even make it into the Davis Cup tournament due to his rehabilitation and recuperating. Yet the player decided at the last minute to play in the tournament in support of his country, regardless of any pain that he might be facing.
At the last minute, the Cordoba born player, also known as one of the game’s best returners who has a double-handed backhand down-the-line trademark shot, flew all the way to Sweden to assist his team. Indeed, the Argentines are short on players since they are currently missing their star player Juan Martin del Potro to injury.
“I think it will be hard as he still needs another two months to recover from his injuries. I don’t know if he will play at the US Open, and if he doesn’t play there, then realistically it will be tough for him to play in the Davis Cup a week later,” said Argentine captain Tito Vasquez about del Potro's injuries.
“I decided to play for the sake of people who have always supported me,” shared Nalbandian.
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