24/06/2008
In Wimbledon, David said: I expected better than this.
David Nalbandian was dissatisfied with his performance in the traditional tournament of Wimbledon, where he lost in his debut to the Canadian Frank Dancevic. In a press conference, he said: “I am not 100%, but expected better than this, that’s for sure”. He was far from the level of tennis shown in the semi-finals in Queen’s a few days ago, and an inspired Dancevic knew how to take advantage of that. “I did not have many chances, I did not play well. I never thought it would be like this”, he stated. David has been suffering from physical feelings of discomfort since November, and has not played a single match without suffering from them. “I had some symptoms in November and then I have suffered pains and discomfort in all the matches”, he added. Is there a solution? “Let’s hope there is”, he answered.
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Q. Any idea why you didn't play well?
DAVID NALBANDIAN: You have that kind of day sometimes. I tried.
Every shot I miss, I miss by close. Important shots, important points are all gone.
[...]
Q. You seemed quite flat emotionally. Did you feel like that, or was it a physical thing?
DAVID NALBANDIAN: Maybe both, yeah.
Q. Were you flat mentally because of the physical problem?
DAVID NALBANDIAN: It's hard to tell which is first and which is second.
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23/06/2008
Nalbandian “Missed” his Debut in Wimbledon
The man from Cordoba David Nalbandian was eliminated in the first round of the traditional tournament of Wimbledon, when losing to the inspired Canadian server Frank Dancevic by 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4, in an hour and 36 minutes. David did not play well and let his opponent, who was in a great day, grow. Dancevic built his victory with a great serve (he fired 16 aces while the man from Cordoba only fired 3) and by permanently forcing the action at the net, while the man from Cordoba did never feel comfortable on Grass in the Cathedral (21 errors against 5 of the Canadian). It is the second time during David’s career that he says goodbye in the first round. The previous one was in the 2002 US Open, when he was starting to shine in the circuit.
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8.25 pm: He’s out! Nalbandian is out, in straight sets. French wild card Jeremy Chardy put him out of Roland Garros in the second round and now world no. 95 Frank Dacevic, from Niagara Falls, if you please, has set him packing here in the opener. That’s the biggest seed to fall so far.
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stats
07/06/2008
Wimbledon 2002: Nalbandian went down in History in his First Attempt
In June 2002, David was ranked 32nd in the world and was already a promise. But it could not be foreseen that his first participation in Wimbledon would shake Argentine tennis and would change the life of the brave tennis player from Unquillo, hungry for glory and owner of a tennis fit for the chosen ones. First, he defeated the Spaniard David Sanchez 6-4, 6-3, 4-6 and 7-5; then the French Paul Mathieu 7-6, 7-6 and 6-3. The Swiss George Bastl, who prevented him from facing Pete Sampras, fell into his clutches and lost 6-2, 6-2 and 6-2; then he knocked out the Australian Wayne Arthurs 6-4, 7-6, 2-6 and 7-6. "I don’t mind servers, in fact, I prefer them", he said at that moment. In quarter-finals he eliminated the Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti 6-4 in the fifth set, and suffered to knock out the Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-2 in the fifth set in a match interrupted by rain. In the finals, the dreamt match, he finished with an adverse result: 1-6, 3-6 and 2-6 against world number one, Lleyton Hewitt. But it didn’t matter, since then he has been Sir Nalbandian.
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20/06/2008
David already has his Opponent in Wimbledon: Dancevic
The Canadian Frank Dancevic, ranked 98th in the world, will be David Nalbandian´s first opponent in the centenarian tournament of Wimbledon, starting next Monday in the All England Tennis Club. They have faced each other once precisely in this tournament, twelve months ago, but in the second round. Argentine number one was victorious 6-2, 6-3, 5-7 and 6-3 in 147 minutes. The Canadian is a great server and will surely resort to this to crush Nalbandian´s greater position; he has recently made his run to semifinals in Queens. However, his performance has not been great this year and achieved only one victory in the ATP circuit. David has an accessible key: he will not face an important opponent till the fourth round (Baghdatis or Karlovic).
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Last year, David had to play his matches on outside courts without any media coverage. But this time, the tournament officials have decided to allow him back on the big stage!In the final match of the day, David Nalbandian and Ernests Gulbis continued their preparations at the Stoke Park Club in Buckinghamshire finishing off in style with an epic Championship tie-break. To complete a compelling day’s play, Gulbis fought back after dropping the second set to secure a victory 6-3, 6-7, 14-12.
Ernests Gulbis commented:
“I really enjoyed it out there today. I thought it was a really good match and I’m really happy with my serve ahead of Wimbledon. I love the grass courts here at The Boodles and every match is more experience for me – the more time I get on the grass, the better I can play on it."
[...]
Results from Thursday 19th June:
B. Bryan/M .Bryan bt R. Hutchins/J. Delgado 7-6, 6-4
N. Djokovic bt M. Baghdatis 6-4, 5-7, 11-9
D. Nalbandian bt E. Gulbis 6-3, 6-7, 14-12
15/06/2008
Nalbandian will be in the Olympic Games in Beijing
Although it was almost a fact that "King" David was to represent Argentina in the Olympic Games in Beijing- which will be played during the week August 11th, - the man from Cordoba was officially confirmed as part of the tennis team with Juan Monaco, Juan Chela, Guillermo Cañas and Gisela Dulko. Besides, the Argentina Association of Tennis (AAT for its acronym in Spanish) asked for invitations for the couples Nalbandian-Cañas and Calleri-Monaco, but the decision is up to the IFT, decision which will be made next 2nd of July. David set the Olympic Games as one of his main priorities this year, together with the Davis Cup (Argentina is in semi-finals) and a Grand Slam.
Not really surprising, perhaps that David likes this place a lot and comes back to play Boodles year after year...
In the second match of the day, former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian (ARG) defeated American Robby Ginepri in a close fought match coming through 3-6, 7-6 and 10-7 in the day's second championship tiebreak.
David Nalbandian commented:
“I found it very tough out there today but felt there was some great tennis on show. Coming straight from playing on the clay court circuit it certainly takes a bit of getting used to but it's great to be here again - that's the reason it's my sixth year at The Boodles. I'm sure over the week I'll go from strength to strength on the grass and really look forward to my next match.”
