David Nalbandian

David Nalbandian is Argentina's top-ranked men's singles player, and something of a permanent fixture in the ATP top 10 over recent years. The brilliant Argentinean is one of the top all-rounders in the sport and has been unlucky not to have claimed a grand slam victory in his career.

Player Biography

David Nalbandian was born in Cordoba, Argentina in 1982. He was encouraged to play tennis by his grandfather, who set up a concrete tennis court in Nalbandian's backyard. Nalbandian performed well at the highest level as a youngster, winning the US Open boy's title in 1998, and taking a Wimbledon doubles title in 1999.

Career

David Nalbandian turned pro in 2000, and spent the year learning the ropes at senior level. The following year he again failed to claim a tournament title, but steady improvement saw the Argentinean earn himself a berth in the ATP top 50.

Grand Slam Record

David Nalbandian has never won a grand slam event. However he has come close on several occasions, most notably in 2002 when he reached the final of Wimbledon on debut, never having played senior professional tennis on grass.

Since his 2002 breakthrough, Nalbandian has managed to qualify for the quarterfinals of each of the grand slams twice, progressing through to the semi-finals of each of these tournaments on at least one occasion.

David Nalbandian's record at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals for four consecutive years between 2002 and 2006 indicate that his playing style is best suited to hard courts. This conclusion is born out by his four ATP titles on hard court and carpet, although versatility is also indicated by his three titles on clay.

Nalbandian's best performances have arguably come in Masters series tournaments on hard surfaces. The Argentinean has claimed three Masters titles including the Madrid, Paris and Shanghai Masters. These titles are also notable for the quality of opposition in the finals which saw Nalbandian beat Roger Federer on two occasions and Rafael Nadal once.

Playing Style

David Nalbandian is a solid all round player with an excellent two-handed backhand and aggressive back court game. His powerful shots are complemented by a low error-percentage and excellent manoeuvrability around the court. If Nalbandian displays any weakness it is in his serve which, although adequate, lacks the punch and penetration of the best.