The blog is back and don't worry it won't be on hold during the World Cup, even though that is where my interest will be during the grasscourt season, so those who are fans of what I do, there is no need to despair. This is where the violins come out.
Why write about David Nalbandian? Well how many more times do people need to hear about the Federer/Nadal rivalry, sure it's going on and there are more than enough people to talk about it and since they are the only 2 players that seem to be playing the sport. Yes, there will be an after match review of the final of Roland Garros, but that should be enough.
The other players have to step up to the plate and improve and they can see what the standard is they have to attempt to attain.
Nalbandian or Nalle as I will call him, is one very talented player. Is he best ever never to win a Grand Slam title? The obvious answer is no as he is nowhere near the class of Miloslav Mecir and Marcelo Rios, but he would come to close to Alex Corretja as the best not to win as of yet. He has made the semis of all the Slams at least once and his game translates well to all surfaces, though Rebound Ace is probably his best surface.
His double handed backhand is a great shot and his forehand is good and knows how to use the court very well and he is tactically aware when he is focused, which the same can't be said for many of todays who are one dimensional to the extreme. If they could spell dimensional then that would be considered a success, let alone change things up when not playing well. Players have to adapt to different situations, it's amazing how such talented players can ball strike as well as anyone, yet look like a chump when it's not going well.
Then where are the main problems with Nalle? The fitness is the main one and the lack of application towards it. Here he is in a Slam semi final giving Federer all sorts of problems and then he strains a muscle in his abdominals. Tennis is quite physical these days and this can happen, but at the same time he is not in the greatest shape he could be in.
It's not a bodybuilding contest where cuts are going to help him look better and get him over the line, but having a strong fitness base does help against injuries and helps recovery and he is lazy when it comes to this. At the same time this could be a reason that holds him back in making the next level and take a Slam title his game deserves.
Nalle has an interesting reputation and he has managed to alienate some members of the media. This is not such a bad thing, even though they will write shit about him, cause he doesn't play want to play ball. This of course does not impact on how he plays the game and he gives stupid questions the best treatment with a stupid answer
Nalle needs to make some choices with his tennis. It seems to be an ends to a means and that can be seen by his attitude to training and yes he has had some excellent coaches Markus, Infantino and Mastelli. What has he learnt from these people and has he used any of it in practice. If he is happy with going along like he is at the moment, then that is fine. It's a testament to his talent he has done as well as he has without being really dedicated to it.
Anyone who is familiar with Nalle knows his love for the Rally racing and I can understand that.
Since he is the owner of the "Tango Rally Team" , he could be playing tennis as a means to help with ongoing costs for the team.
Speaking of the team environment Davis Cup is something he loves and definitely puts 100 per cent towards and would love nothing more to win the Davis Cup for Argentina, as much as an individual he is. His committment to Davis Cup can't be faulted and there are some who would say it's higher than his drive for the normal circuit.
It would be good if he could win a Slam, but he has to want to do the work to get into better shape and not have these niggling injuries that keep stopping his progress. Unlike Davydenko he does not play 53 weeks of the year and that is a good thing.
I mean the key is that Nalle shouldn't have regrets once he finishes his tennis career. If he gave it his best and wasn't able to win a Slam, then that wouldn't be so bad, though this does not seem likely
As for his fitness, well this is one aspect that a player has greater control over than many others. Diego Rodriguez is a good guy, but not hard enough on Nalle to do the necessary work needed to improve his base.
6 comments:
Thanks for this excellent article. As someone who was once a huge fan of Nalle and got to know him pretty well as a person over my years following his career - I found it especially interesting. For personal reasons (of which the author is aware), it is very hard for me to write about Nalle in an unbiased fashion - so I tend to steer clear of discussions about him on the Internet. However - what I would say, is that he is undoubtedly one of the best players of this generation - but his lack of application means he has never really achieved what he is capable of - and sadly, probably never will. I don't blame him for making the lifestyle choices that he has - everyone must live their lives the way they choose, and losing his Father at a very early age certainly helped to lead David down the path of "live for today" and "enjoy the moment" and "there is more to life than tennis"...........as someone who also lost a parent at a young age I can relate to this and would never condemn him for it.
I condemn him more for his selfishmness off court and the fact that he does not give the people around him (and that includes his family, his support team and his fans) - the respect they deserve. It isn't only the Media who are treated somewhat unfairly by Sr. Nalbandian at times, and he did not win the infamous "Prix Citron" for nothing. That makes me sad and somewhat angry. Having said that - I would like him to win a Grand Slam at least once in his career, or else I fear he may wake up at the age of 35 and regret what might have been - and I wouldnot wish that on anyone.
Btw - can I please have some of those famous violins to help me through the boredom of this World Cup!!!!?
Great text, GWH, pretty much sums up all the situation concerning Nalba.
I mean, if he wants to keep going like this, it's fine as long as he doesn't end up playing whole-heartedly the Seniors Tour as a sort of compensation for his underachievement in his pro years.
Nalbandian does need someone to fire him up, though any final responsibility has to be with himself.
It would be disappointing if he didn't give it his all. The guy is an all courter and aren't many of those around at the moment, and look what he has done without being fully focused on his tennis.
I would like to see him win at least 1 GS title before he retires.
I was never a fan of Nalle. This, however, does not prevent me from respecting and appreciating his talent. For me, he is one of the best shot selectors (I don't know if that's an approved tennis term but I guess what I mean is understood) and his backhand should be taught in tennis schools.
Had Nalle used his talent to its full potential, Marat too for that matter, we wouldn't be talking about just a Rafa-Roger rivalry. All four of them will be up there, making tennis history as both Nalle & Marat, imho, are the only 2 players who have the weapons and game to equal/stop/challenge/dismantle the Rafa-Roger dominance.
I couldn't agree more with these 2 sentences:
"it's amazing how such talented players can ball strike as well as anyone, yet look like a chump when it's not going well."
"It's a testament to his talent he has done as well as he has without being really dedicated to it."
Sure, if he's satisfied by how things are going with his tennis then good for him. However, from the frustration he shows on court, I guess he's not. I think when you're bestowed with such talent, you owe it to yourself to translate that talent into something you can cherish when you look back and that talent is no longer with you.
When he retires, as Rosie said, even if he's not one of my favourites, I wouldn't want him to have personal regrets when he could have had delightful satisfaction. That would be a really sad end to a career that had so much promise.
It's a pity someone as talented as he is would not boast at least one slam before he retires. I really wish he will get one before he does.
Time to get fit soon Nalle, the game will pass him by if he is not careful.
Thanks for the comments about this piece and these are just observations I have of Nalle over a period of time.
He seems to be of the school, to do as well as possible with the least amount of effort and is more focused on the Tango team.
Just hope he doesn't play on the Seniors Tour cause he fucked up his game at ATP level.
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