Players: David Nalbandian and Roger Federer
- David Nalbandian. The talented Argentine was considered one of the best to never win a Grand Slam.
Davit Nalbandian was born in 1982 and was one of the most talented players of his generation, displaying smooth technique and a wonderful two-handed backhand. Highly successful as a junior, he made a name for himself in 2002 when he arrived Wimbledon final at age 20 (lost by Leighton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3, 6-2).
The following year, he lost to Andy Roddick US Open: semi-finals (6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-3), and in 2004, the Argentine reached the final four. Roland Garros (lost to Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 7-6, 6-0). He won the most important tournament of his career at the ATP Masters Cup in 2005, defeating Federer in the final (6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6).
In 2006, Nalbandian became one of the few players to reach at least the semi-finals in every Grand Slam when he reached the last four. Australian Open (lost by Markos Baghdatis 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4).
C:Considered one of the best players never to win a Grand Slam title, Nalbandian struggled with injuries for much of 2007. Ranked 8th at the start of the year, he dropped to 25th in October and made just one final. until this part of the season.
- Roger Federer. 12-time Grand Slam champion on his way to GOATness
Roger Federeraged 26, was world No. 1 without a break since February 2, 2004. Since 2003, he had won 12 Grand Slams. the Australian Open (2004, 2006, 2007), Wimbledon (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), and the US Open (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
In 2006, his best season, he won 12 titles, including three Grand Slams, the ATP Masters Cup and four ATP Masters Series. He had a record of 92-5, four of which came against his only serious rival at the time, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard was the main reason that Federer had not yet won the French Open. The Swiss genius lost to Nadal in the semifinals in 2005 (6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3) and in the finals in 2006 (1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6) and 2007 (6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6).
Federer started 2007 by winning the Australian Open without dropping a set, defeating Fernando Gonzalez (7-6, 6-4, 6-4) in the final. He then had a strange run in training in Indian Wells/Miami, losing twice against the same player, Argentine veteran Guillermo Canas, who was returning to the tour after a doping ban.
Returning to form in the spring, Federer won in Hamburg, defeating his Spanish foe for the first time on clay in the final (2-6, 6-2, 6-0). At the French Open, however, Nadal defeated Federer in the final. The Swiss took his revenge over the left-hander at Wimbledon, where he prevailed in the final after a five-set battle (7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2), and he secured his No. 1 spot by triumphing at Flushing Meadows (defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the final).
Location: MadridSpain
The Madrid Masters 1000 was established in 2002, taking the place on the calendar previously held by the Stuttgart Open. It was held on the indoor courts of the Madrid Arena, a venue that opened in 2002 and can accommodate 12,000 spectators. Previous Madrid Masters 1000 champions were Andre Agassi (2002), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2003), Marat Safin (2004), Nadal (2005), Federer (2006).
Facts: Nalbandian overthrows the Big Three
After playing well below his best for the past 15 months, nobody expected David Nalbandian to reach the final at the Madrid Masters 1000. After his drop in the rankings, he needed to beat both Nadal and Djokovic to reach the final.
However, the Argentine has always been one of the best players in the world when motivated and fit. In the quarterfinals, he eliminated the Spaniard in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. In the next round, he confirmed his excellent form, overcoming Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 to set up a final clash against Federer.
“This is a very important victory for me, because I didn’t have a good year,” said Nalbandian. according to atptur.com. “I had some physical problems this year, but I worked hard, I got my confidence back, and today I got the reward on the court.”
The Swiss knew how dangerous Nalbandyan could be. He had lost his first five meetings with the Argentine in 2002 and 2003, and although he now led their rivalry 8-6, his loss in the 2005 Masters Cup final was a reminder not to take victory for granted.
The world No. 1 started strongly, taking the first set 6-1, but then, overwhelmed by Nalbandian’s pace and accuracy, he began to concede more. After an hour and 49 minutes of play, the Argentine won 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. No one has ever beaten Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in the same tournament, and Nalbandian was only the second player in tennis history to beat three of the world’s top players in a row, after Boris Becker did it at the 1994 Stockholm Open.
“I was very focused, knowing I had to play incredibly well to win, and everything worked out for me,” Nalbandian said. “It was a big boost for me to beat a lot of good players here this week.”
“I think when you beat Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back, you go into the final better than ever,” Federer said. “Too bad I couldn’t stop him today.”
What next? Nalbandian also wins in Paris to cap off his latest fine season
Two weeks later, Nalbandian would accomplish another extraordinary feat, defeating both Federer and Nadal for the second time to win the Paris Masters 1000 and finish the year as world No. 9.
It would be his last season with a top-10 finish. Struggling with motivation and not as fit as in his prime, Nalbandyan would never again beat top-three players or reach the quarterfinals at another Grand Slam. In 2012 he was in charge after failing to make the final of the Queen’s Club Championship after unfortunately hitting a linesman in a fit of rage and would eventually retire in October 2013.
