(Rio Negro)
Soon, David will be on his way to Auckland, to play his first ATP tournament since May. And to start his 2010 season. But although it's clear by now what the first few months will look like for David, at least in terms of his schedule, the big question is of course - how well will he be able to do, playing on the Tour again?
His first test, at San Juan and the Copa Argentina, he passed and much better than I expected. Proving not only that his game, his old strengths are still there but also showing that he has done some work on his weaker shots, especially his forehand. He also proved that he was fit enough to play two matches, five sets on one day. And winning both exhibition events must have done his confidence a lot of good.
But still, he'll soon face much stronger opponents. Playing real matches in possibly difficult conditions. - A different matter.
I won't make any predictions about how far David might be able to go at these first few tournaments. But there are a couple of things that will be important in the coming weeks and months...
Ranking
If a year ago, someone had told me that at the start of this season David would be ranked #64, I would've been shocked. But after all that happened last year, #64 now really doesn't seem too bad. (That David has yet again moved up a place is, I believe, the result of Safin's retirement.)
However, there's still Sydney, which is to say David's victory there last year and those 250 ranking points that will come off directly after the week of Sydney/Auckland. In other words, unless David wins Auckland, he'll lose points. Maybe a lot of them, if he goes out in the first or second round. And in that case, he could still easily end up finding himself outside of the Top 100 after Auckland.
Draws
A bit of luck with the draw is always important for going deep at a tournament. At the start of this season, however, David's luck with the draws (or lack of) could very well end up playing a decisive role in determining the success of his comeback. - As he's not going to be seeded anywhere. Even if he uses his protected ranking to get into the main draw without having to play qualies. And that makes for some rather interesting possible scenarios. Especially at the Australian Open... Anything can happen, including a first-round match against Federer. Or anybody else inside the Top Ten. But also at the smaller tournaments, David will never be safe from meeting one of the top seeds in the first round.
Davis Cup
Always a factor with David. This year even more so with the difficult away tie against Sweden looming in the distance (March 5-7). And if David was very passionate about the Davis Cup before, it's now bound to get even 'worse'. With merely another two or three years of playing left, his desire to win the Davis Cup will probably grow only more acute.
But the good news is that in the meantime, Delpo has declared that he's planning to play the tie in Stockholm, after all. And after David already talked a number of times about how important Delpo is for the team, Delpo has by now returned the compliment.
"Nalbandian is doing well after surgery and he'll surely play a very important part on the team again. Therefore we can dream about winning [the Davis Cup] again." (Source. Thanks, tennisace.)Right now, it looks like the two of them will be playing for Argentina together again. And hopefully they'll find a way of finally overcoming their differences.
So - what does it look like, the road ahead for David?
I really don't know. But with a bit of luck with the draws (and if his hip remains to be okay), I think he might surprise a lot of people...
35 comments:
Well, besides joking about David winning the AO in the other thread (because the lack of seeding he'd play against top player in any round, with a rough draw... just like he enjoys ;) ), the first months, let's face, he'll drop in the rankings and probably he'll drop A LOT (not only the 205 from Sydny, but also the SF from BsAs). The good thing (let's call it that) is that he only will have to defend 2nd round in AO. Ok, the draw will be decisive here. But, after that and the SF and some points from the MS in March? HE DEFENDS NOTHING.
Often at AO there are a lot of players with problems because it's the beggining of the season and often they got eliminated early.
It's all about the draw.
And, of course, what will be David's play in competition (the phisycal stress is not the same).
But it's highly posible that he'll drop A LOT more.
That or he'll have a great performance at AO... It's Dave: the more complicated, the better ;)
Fingers crossed for some luck with the draws.
I'm so relieved to read that Delpo is going to play the first Davis Cup tie. It could have made things very difficult if he didn't. Now they will have a good chance to win that first tie and for their team spirit to grow!
Well, it's not confirmed that Delpo will play. More, he say "yes, I'll be there" after avoiding a straight answer to the question AND ONLY WHEN a journalist on tv (live interview at the Olimpia Awards) left him without any chance to avoid an answer. More the rumor is that he WILL NOT play unless he WINS AO. Only if that happens, he'll play. Take in consideration that a MS is 5 days away from that week and the lack of commitment showed in the past. I don't think I have to remind you the final and what he did there and before with the MC; or the first round when he was offended because the captain called him when David had that virus and couldn't play. Against Berdych & Co the schedule wasn't conflictive, so he went and didn't want to play the doubles neither...
So, taking all that plus the fact that he avoided the answer all the time and still does, and that only said Yes after being pushed on live TV, well... I think It won't be a surprise if he doesn't play. More... I wouldn't count on him for real. Honestly? I don't believe him.
It's true, Delpo hasn't confirmed yet, as in promised 100%, that he'll play. But he has said he's planning to play in Stockholm. That this is the idea. And he has said that on several occasions.
Of course there is no guarantee that he will play in the end. But I think he's well aware of the reactions he's bound to get if he skips that tie.
For now, I'll just go with what has said, i.e. that he'll play.
I understand you, Julia. But the problem is the ONLY time he said he'll play was during that interview, when he couldn't avoid the answer. I saw it, was after the Olimpia Award, all the media was there and he was on a live interview with one network (C5N) and a journalist started to ask him about the Davis. He didn't answer straight... he started to say "yeah, it's important" while the guy just kept pushing when he got only vague answers, It was REALLY forced. In other blogs, that was the reaction. And all the articules about Delpo playing are based on THAT interview. Don't know if you saw it, but it was like he didn't know what to do or say. It was, for him, really unconfortably, and for me really annoying, because say Yes or No (and act like a man if you say No) but don't act, again, like you did before the DC finale on 2008. It's like watching the same movie again. Only this deja-vú could left Argentina playing to keep the place at the World Group. It's not like Sweden has a lot of players more than Soderling (Bjorkman and Johansson don't play anymore). One thing is know that you have Delpo & Nalbi (who is someone that's just coming back) for sure than knowing, WITH TIME that Delpo won't be there, so you have to be really carefull and smart in how you play each point and what player you choose. I mean David will left his life there, like always but he won't be the single 1 because the ranking... so or you try to avoid the Soderling-Nalbandian match the first day and put David as 1 and other with less ranking as the other single player and, I don't know Mónaco ONLY (of course in papers) for the double; or you try to get that point the first day so you put David as the 2 single... or neither of those. Maybe Nalbandian only for the double, so he can play for the 1 or 2 single. But for that you must have time. And the really forced Yes from Del Potro, added to that the rumors (from the same source the past year said he wasn't going to play the first round) that he won't be there unless he wins the AO, it's like the DC finale all over again.
Sorry about the lack of optimistic view, but he wasn't reliable in the past about this.
I guess it's pretty clear that Delpo is not as passionate about DC as David. There's hardly another player who is. And I'm sure he'd be happy enough without that tie disrupting his preparation for IW/Miami. Just like he skipped last year's first-round tie against The Netherlands. But back then, it was pretty clear that Argentina would win that tie without him. This year, it's a different matter.
You see, I never expected Delpo to say yeah, great, I'll play that tie because I really want to. I'm sure he doesn't, really. The only thing that can make him play it is the Argentine public and their expectations. And if he feels compelled to say he's planning to play it on national TV then it means he's aware of those expectations. So I think there's hope that he'll play.
The problem with Sweden is not only Söderling but also that they still have some very good doubles players in Aspelin and Lindstedt. This will really be a difficult tie. And losing it would mean that Argentina would have to qualify for the World Group again, next year...
The thing that I'm affraid of, to be honest, is another "injury" like the final of 2008. Sorry but I didn't believe it then and still don't. He was peachy to train hours after the tie ended. He didn't have any problem after that for the pre-temp trainning, and also a lot of inconsistences about what he had. Neither Davin, his PF or his father gave the same answer plus, the injury didn't appear with the normal machine of the clinic they needed a HQ machine used only for his personal doctor. And the otehre members of the DC team didn't believe it either. I'm not saying this to bash Delpo, only to show why I don't trust him and why I doubt about his injury.
And the last thing we need now is someone abandoning the team in the last minute or worst, during the tie. I'd say we all learned about what happened in 2008, but a lot of people keep acting the same. And Delpo is one of them, sadly.
I don't know if Delpo does keep acting the same, I hope not. Things have changed for him since the 2008 final. He does now have that expectation from the public, and I would hope that will make a big difference to his attitude to the Davis Cup. Also, I know he has a reputation for quitting when things get tough, but maybe that US Open final was a turning point for him. He may just have grown up a bit.
Yes, the doubles could make things tricky, and I think it does mean that Delpo's participation (or not) will probably be what swings it one way or the other.
This is a mix of feelings for me. Because, even if the problem existed before that tie in 2008, the nail in the coffin (I think that's the expression) for David's hip was that match against Soderling. FOr the ones that couldn't watch it David was running in almost one leg that day I he came back after almost loosing the match. He ended crying that match. David NEVER cried before (not talking about celebrating or emotions like Shangai... I'm talking he started crying when he saw Sordeling's hit was out), it was like his energy went off and almost had to be dragged off the court. He didn't even celebrate like he always does. It was the first and only time that I saw him desesperated on a court.
So, after that what Delpo did, for me, was unforgivable. Not only for being a Nalby's but as argentine Not for him choosing his career. I respect that, but because he didn't say it because he was affraid of the reaction, so when he saw the chance of getting out (because Feliciano was erasing him from the court that day) he said "injury". There's a lot to blame in Mancini for this (he almost trow the double point and there was no other logical single, even knowing that David was injured at that time).
But, now David needs to take it easy, again against Soderling & Co (with all the memories that brings) and Delpo attitude, it's like a nightmare again. To be honest? I preffer Delpo saying NO and maybe changing his mind lately because the reaction than this Yes. Because if he says No and because the negative comments he ends playing, there's no way he could get "injured" again (he was going to keep playing until he dies, even if he gets really injured, because the public will kill him otherwise), than this Yes that sounds a lot like the DC finale 2008.
Well, I think these are different things and shouldn't be mixed together. Delpo had nothing to do with what happened during that last tie against Sweden, with that Söderling match and David's injury getting so much worse. For that, you can only blame David's very own DC "fanaticism" and Mancini, who always relied on him to win the ties for Argentina. Whether David was in the shape to do it, or not.
As for the 2008 final, I think the problem was what happened before the actual tie. Delpo injured his toe at Basel, he was visibly tired and exhausted at the end of the season. Had he skipped Shanghai, he would've been in better shape for the final. But he went to Shanghai and arrived at Mar del Plata in a state that wouldn't allow him to do much for the team (as the Lopez match showed). So even if he had played another match, I'm not sure it would've made much of a difference.
As I've said, it's clear that Delpo is not as passionate about playing DC as David. (Maybe no one is, really.) But I guess he's aware of the public's expectations. And I think he kind of said no, initially. By not vowing to play DC from the start. So I see this as a reaction to those expectations. Though there is, of course, no guarantee that he'll play in the end.
i think in 2008 final, they shoulve made Monaco play the tie against Felecino, emagine ur self u r david, and wu would you feel when his sitting in the court watching Del p playing agaginst feliciano like walking in the park, they did not allow him to play feliciano, i think if the Nalby Lopez incounter was to be held, lopez chances were going to be 0/100, everything went terrible at DC, acasuso didnt play his best, thoough he is a good player, almost was gonna destroy roger at RG, i wonder y they play like shit when they are representing their country, this is killing nalbandian 4 sure
Julia; of course the are two different things. Nobody except David could be blamed for the repercutions of playing that day against Soderling.I don't blame Delpo or even Mancini for that. But, at that time in de finale when you saw the sacrifices the players of the team made to reach the finale and how Delpo acted It was, for me, annoying (I repeat, Delpo was not at his best, but he did said that he was to "burn his physic to reach Shangai", and how he didn't want to wait and play on Sunday, like David wanted, because the sponsors and the whole goverment thing behind the tied being played in Mar Del Plata, and then he got injured but for some miracle, he was ok to play soccer two days after or to train as some people watched him in Mardel).
So, the thing that causes me the mixed feelings is, knowing how Delpo is not reliable in terms of commitement and how he abandoned the team in the middle of the tie when the matches weren't compatible with his schedule ( and the final, nor less) and thow David reacted before when the things got complicated and he could resolve the problem (aka the 4th point against Soderling), it worries me. Because David is only coming back. And the fact that is the same rival from that match on 2008, doesn't help with the big Deja-vú.
And to be clear, because seems in some sites that telling the things exactly how they happened and talking about how Delpo acted is being Anti-Delpotro; or someone who bashed Delpo all the time; a Delpo hater, etc.
Even when that tie left a sour taste and everytime I watch him play I can't help remember that, mostly because he still acts the same way. With all that? I couldn't care less about Delpo. Except for the Davis, he's just another player. The fact that he's argentine doesn't make me want him to win if he goes against other player that I like.
So, it's not about "Hating Delpo". It's a very specific point about his behaviour.
couldn't agree more Anna
Anna, I just think that what's done is done. Nothing will bring back that DC final or Argentina's chance to win it. And I've said all I have to say about Delpo and the final. I prefer to look ahead...
There is, I think, the danger that in case Delpo doesn't play in Stockholm, David will think he has to pull it off and win the tie all by himself. No matter whether he's fit enough or whether that's realistic etc. But that's exactly the kind of scenario where I hope that Tito Vázquez will do things differently from Mancini. That he'll keep David from taking all the responsibility. Or at least that he'll try to keep him from taking it...
As for David's deja vu of playing Söderling again, don't forget that the two of them played another match in the meantime, after that DC tie and the "injury match". Stockholm final 2008, at the same venue, on the same court where the next tie will take place. - Perfect for a deja vu. But a positive one.
Nothing could be done about the DC lost. I agree.
I remember that match, when David won the title. But my deja-vú is related to the DC more than Soderling.
I hope Vazquez can do different from Mancini. The problem? His comments when Argentina lost the past year, "With Nalbandian would have won that tie" and something about if he wouldn't have a surgery, Argentina probably would have beeing at SF... He didn't mentioned the fact that without a surgery, David couldn't have played probably.
So, watching how badly he planned that tie and how he couldn't bring a plan B when Monaco lost agaisnt Berdych (according to Vazquez, that was the 3rd point of Argentina) in the firt match of that tie, and how his "excuse" for loosing was "Nalbandian wasn't there" I don't have a lot of faith in Vazquez. More, I remember thinking in that tie that, at least, Mancini had a plan A (David winning his single and the doubles and the other argentine player winning the other single) and a plan B: David winning all. Vazquez didn't have plan B or a logical plan A because, let's face it, Berdych played like crap that weekend, against a "normal Berdych", Monaco loses in three set, like against Stepanek.
But let's not think about that tie. Maybe Delpo will play, maybe David will be ok or whatever... I preffer not think about that because it worries me a lot. :)
So, changing the topic, anybody knows if David is already in Auckland?
Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about Vázquez and Mancini and their plans and strategies. Vázquez did say that the team would've been stronger with David. But who can blame him for that statement, after all the reporters kept asking him about David and how important his absence was for the team.
But yes, let's leave it at that. At least for the moment. Until Stockholm... ;)
And no news about David arriving in Auckland yet. My guess would be Wednesday or Thursday, maybe. We'll see.
I want to say one last thing about that topic, only to left that point clear: I'm NOT in favor of Mancini's plans or lack of (because David winning all is NOT a plan). I just said that Vazquez didn't show a great intelligence in terms of strategy in that tie. I pointed that, at least in that ocassion, He showed less strategy than Mancini (wich is a looooot to say)
Now to Auckland, when will appear the draw?
Julia, your site looks great. A belated Happy New Year to you and all the good people who follow this blog. I too hope Delpo grows up and sees the importance of committing to the Stockholm tie. I agree he's got to be feeling the pressure from Argentine fans to play. For now I'm excited about Auckland, the Aussie, Buenos Aires and Acapulco. Vamos David.
Thanks, John. :) And yeah, first of all there's Auckland to get excited about. (For my part, I still refuse to think about the AO...)
Anna, the draw will be pulled Saturday. I'll try and post it as soon as it's available.
Congrats for the new layout...Julia, you did a great job as usually....Vamos David in 2010 !!!
Anna, can I ask you something? Why are you commenting on Delpo on a blog that is dedicated to David? What good does it do to talk about things that don't matter anymore? So, the tie was not won. Get over it!! Everyone else has (with the exception of Tito, who has practically made it his mission to "reconcile" David and Juan). To my mind, this so-called hostility between David and Juan is media-generated and deserves no more conversation. Thanks.
Tiffany: First, I don't talk about Delpo; I talk about a DC tie and some speculation about Delpo playing or not and how that can affect David's health if he gets all the responsability again (knowing how obsesive he is with the DC). And why I don't believe the answer Delpo gave. So it's related to David.
Second, that I commenting a post about David first months at the circuit. And there it was mentioned that Del Potro was going to play the tie for the 1rst roung of the DC. And, because all the things I said, why I don't think that "yes" was a real confirmation. So, again with what I said above.
Third, the fact that it doesn't matter to you, that doesn't mean the other people feel the same way. Read some tennis blog from Argentina, and even if we all celebrate the USOpen, the threads about the DC (when Spain won it again) showed that it was not over, mostly for what I explained (the same attitude from certain players).
And for last, where the hell I talked about the Delpo vs David thing?! Sorry, but I never did. I agree it's implied when you coment about how both players acted and act about the DC but there's a lot of difference between that and some "hostility". Also they played together and were ok. I didn't even mentioned the interview when David talked about his opinion of Delpo not playing the match against Verdasco (wich you can find in a book, by some spanish journalist). So let does make very clear.
What I said was that I found and still do, annoying how Delpo acted that time, mostly because he still is doing it. Without saying it. But all that related to how David's recovery could be affected with another behaviour from Delpo like at the DC final, knowing how Dave's mind works (or doesn't) when it about the DC.
So, I don't see where there's the whole talking about Delpo, when is all related at the end to David's recovery and how doesn't need the whole stress of getting all the responsability again in the middle of a tie again. And my english is horrible, but I think that was pretty clear.
Because a lot of people here are not from Argentina, I posted some of the behaviour I mentioned when I posted why I was affraid how that tie could affect David.
Nothing more!
Changing the topic, because there's no sense in talking about that until the team will be announced, I have a question:
I was watching and old interview of David at some network (just my luck, holidays and I got flu and have to be in bed for two more days): HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE AGAIN IN GUALEGUAYCHU FOR THE CARNIVALS... Ok, this was like three months ago, but still, knowing our beloved Dave, does somebody know when will he arrive for the tournament? Or if he's already there?.... because, this week started the Gualeguachu's carnival... ahem.... ;)
Hi everybody!
I haven't read all the comments, but the only one I read is the last one, from Anna, and I have the answer for your question:
David is leaving Buenos Aires tomorrow. In the evening he will take a plane from "Ezeiza" airport and will start the long travelling to Auckland.
(it's clear what I said? I feel I've just made a mess with the words!)
Heey, I just write wrong my name in the comment I left before, but I'm Tamar :)
And Julia... maybe, to have some fun and not beeing so structured, you might read this post I've made on my forum (in spanish):
http://nalbandianfans.foroactivo.net/la-carrera-de-david-nalbandian-f2/david-en-el-australian-open-numerologia-como-para-meternos-en-la-previa-del-australian--t80.htm
If you don't understand something, ask me ;)
Thanks a lot Tamar!
So, he will travel tomorrow... Why this doesn't surprise me at all? Well at least, with the time difference and all, he'll have like one FULL day to train and adjust before the tournament starts. He did it worst in the past arriving almost the day before he had to play (correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't Estoril 06 when he did it?) and he won it.
That's why I love the guy, you don't know if strangle him or kiss him! :)
And Tamar, cross your fingers for that post you linked ;)
Anna, what you said about not knowing whether to strangle David or kiss him is SO true - I think a lot of us are with you on that one. :-)
hahaha, I agree with you, Anna, about the same thing Istabraq said! It is SO true that!! Imposible to expresse better that feeling!!
David is now in the plane... (what I mean when I said "tomorrow" it was "today"... because when I wrote that here it was Wednesday late at night... so, it was Thursday. I think I expressed wrong :( ).
me 2, i agree about wut u sead Anna, 100% lol
Ah! Well, he will have like TWO days now! Jejeje
I always search for news of David on google and they had an articule about David dancing on Gualeguachu's Carnival this past weekend, anyone knows if that's true? (they mentioned with him was a model called Luli Fernandez)
thats so true Anna , i saw it on youtube, he was funny like hell
That clip is from last year. :)
(See the bottom of this post.)
He said he wanted to go again this year but there's no evidence that he did, no photos etc. At least I haven't seen anything.
omg julia ur right ,d vid i saw on youtube was 2009, i still think we r in dat year lol
Post a Comment