Roger Federer vs David Nalbandian – Third Round Preview: Wimbledon Championships 2011
Sixteen times grand slam champion Roger Federer will be meeting his old rival David Nalbandian in the third round of 2011 Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Saturday.
The rivalry between the two players dates back to the junior circuit, at 1998 US Open boys final, when Nalbandian defeated the Swiss to lift the title. The Argentine managed to get the better of his opponent afterwards as well,
clinching victories in the first five meetings on the ATP tour.
"With his game he was more successful earlier just because I still had some work to do, some figuring out how I was really going to play," Federer recalled. "I used to panic and run to the net against him because I felt I couldn't
hang with him from the baseline. That just made it difficult for me to play against him early on."
He further added, "I'm looking forward to the match. I think it's a wonderful third round. I wish I could have had an easier one maybe, but I know the danger against him. He can prove his point. If he's weaker or stronger than
three years ago or eight years ago, we'll find out."
Federer made it to the third round with a comfortable victory over Adrian Mannarino. Showing his devastating form, he required only 1 hour and 28 minutes dispatching his opponent. The Swiss did not even drop his serve and fired
11 aces in the match against Frenchman. Earlier in the first round play he defeated Mikhail Kukushkin displaying some high quality tennis. Federer, who has triumphed six times here at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, will be hoping to equal Sampras’s
record of seven Wimbledon titles this year.
Nalbandian has also made a good comeback this season after struggling with various injuries during the last year. Having a decent 11-5 win-loss record in 2011, he has got better with every match he has played. The Argentine battled
past Leyton Hewitt in five sets in the opening round of Australian Open. However he failed to progress further after he had to retire from the tournament due to an injury. Coming back from a long break, he is certainly short of practice and will be eying consistency
in his important clash against world number three Federer.
The two players have faced each other eighteen times on the tour previously with Federer leading the head to head 10-8. Although he lost his first five meetings, he came back strongly to win next ten out of thirteen matches against
the Argentine. Considering his recent form, Federer will be the favourite to emerge victorious from this encounter. However If Nalbandian can play his A game, combined with his vast experience in the ATP arena, he can certainly surprise Federer.
Tags: