Novak Djokovic vs David Nalbandian – Preview: Davis Cup World Group Semi-final 2011
Team Serbia will take on Argentina in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup World Group on Saturday and the world number one, Novak Djokovic, will play the first singles rubber matchup from Serbia against the former world number three,
David Nalbandian.
The highly anticipate contest will take place on the hard courts of Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia, with the home side being the hot favourite for winning. Serbia is the reigning champion of the Davis Cup and will take on the
strong Argentine squad in the semis on course to defend their title in from of an ever enthusiastic home crowd.
World number one, Djokovic, will lead the proceedings for his side and is clearly the hot favourite for winning against the out-of-form Nalbandian. Djokovic has been in prime for this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season
and has performed unmatchable feats with his racquet so far. The Serb is running an amazing 64-2 winning record this year and has already clinched 10 singles championship titles. Djokovic has bagged three of the four Grand Slam titles this season, which include
the Australian Open, Wimbledon Championships and the US Open.
The top ranked Serb is up against the former number three, Nalbandian, who has been struggling to get back his vintage form all this season. The Argentine has won only 16 matches this year, while suffered defeats in 10 singles
encounters so far. Although it is least expected that Nalbandian will be able to hunt down the belligerent top ranked Serb, but the Argentine has got all the skills to generate a surprise victory and can beat any top class player on his day.
Djokovic leads the all-time head-to-head series against Nalbandian by 3-1 and looks in a very strong position to extend his lead in the Saturday’s clash. Last time these two men faced each other at Cincinnati Masters last year,
with Djokovic inflicting a straight sets victory over the Argentine 6-1, 7-6(7) to move in to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Nalbandian has taken on Djokovic on hard surfaces on three occasions and has won one occurrence, which was in 2007 at Madrid Masters. Djokovic has a perfect hard-court season this year, winning the Australian Open and the US Open
tournaments, and it is very likely that the Serb will not have much difficulty in dispensing out Nalbandian from the opening tie this time again.
Djokovic is currently running a three-match winning streak against the Argentine and all the three wins have come in straight sets, depicting the belligerent form of the Serb in the past few months. If Nalbandian loses his opening
rubber against the Serb, he will bring his side under immense pressure, leaving it up to his fellow team mate, Juan Martin Del Potro, who will face the 16th ranked Serb, Viktor Troicki in the second matchup. Del Potro will also take on Djokovic
in the third singles rubber of the tie and it is very significant for Nalbandian to take down the top ranked Serb in the opening rubber to give Team Argentina a good start in the semi-final tie.
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