Better Career: Nalbandian or Davydenko?

Better Career: Nalbandian or Davydenko?

  • Total voters
    102
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
They are arguably the two best active players on the tour to not have won a slam. Nalbandian gets praised for his skills, but dogged for his effort or lack of. Davydenko is a workhorse (or tour mercenary) with equally impressive skills.

Both have had their moments in the spotlight. Nalbandian has 2 MS shields and 1 MS Cup. Davydenko has 2 MS Shields and a Davis Cup title. Both have been as high as #3 in the world.

I'll let you guys debate this one.
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
The TMC is a bigger achievement than a Davis Cup title. Plus Nalbandian is really close of getting one of his own.

I believe the Wimbledon final is the one achievement that separates both players. Nalbandian is my choice.
 
MajinX

MajinX

Professional
davydenko can say he has ranked inside the top 5 for many many years in a row. Nalbandain can say he was ranked inside the top 5 and outside the top 20 for many years up and down.
 
vbranis

vbranis

Professional
Davydenko has a significant edge in career titles, 14-9. But on the other hand, he plays more small tournaments so it makes sense.

Overall, I'd still go with Nalbandian. Better Slam results, more impressive wins, and overall more talent.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
I feel Nalbandian peaked in early 2006. Ever since then he's been in a non-factor in slams, puts up erratic results for much of the year, and then somehow finds a way to get back to the top 10 with 1-2 great results.

Davydenko is not as gifted as Nalbandian, but he certainly made up for it with superior fitness, terrific defense, and more consistent results.

Both sucked at the slams this year, but at least Davydenko made RD 16 at two majors while Nalbandian didn't even make it past the 3rd round at any of them. And unless Nalbandian defends both MS events (99% sure he won't), he's going to fall out of the top 10. While Davydenko, down year and all, has all but ensured he'll be in Shanghai again.

Tough to decide. I like them both and would love to see them both taste slam victory.
 
tennis-hero

tennis-hero

Banned
Nalby deserves at least one slam

Davydenko puts the work in, but doesn't have the talent to merit a slam

a couple of masters are over achievments
 
O

OleNole

Rookie
Nadal_Freak said:
Which is why they give Nadal so much trouble.
Click to expand...

Davydenko is 1-15 against Fed and Nadal, that's not giving them trouble. It's possible you were being sacastic there, but
Nalbandian is 9-6 against Fed, 2-0 against Nadal. So I'm not quite sure what you meant.

I looked at career prize money to see, but it's a virtual tie.
Davydenko Career prize money: $8,784,862.00
Nalbandian Career prize money: $8,959,369.00
I'd like to see career rankings points, though that would probably be more difficult to find.
I'd expect average year-end ranking would go to Davydenko by a few points.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
OleNole said:
Davydenko is 1-15 against Fed and Nadal, that's not giving them trouble. It's possible you were being sacastic there, but
Nalbandian is 9-6 against Fed, 2-0 against Nadal. So I'm not quite sure what you meant.
Click to expand...

Nalbandian is 8-9 against Federer. That's still an impressive record though he's lost 9 of the last 12 meetings.

Nalbandian has finished in the top 10 5 years straight. Davydenko is on pace to do so for a 4th straight year.
 
DarkSephiroth

DarkSephiroth

Rookie
Alexio92 said:
I would love to see a match between both playing their best tennis, it would be soo close.
Click to expand...

Nalbandian would DESTROY Davydenko if they were both playing their best. At his best, he has easily destroyed the likes of Federer and Nadal in the same tournament... Twice in a row.
 
T

ThugNasty

Guest
Nalbandian is an amazing player. 2 B2B MS shields. 1 TMC. Wimbledon Final.SF in all other majors. On top of that he has caused federer much grief, unlike davydenko.
 
thalivest

thalivest

Banned
Nalbandian is better since even with his gross underachieving he has won a bigger title then Davydenko ever did (Tennis Masters Cup), and had much more success vs the greatest players such as Federer and Nadal. Davydenko has been a pushover for the big 2, and that along with the Tennis Masters Cup is the biggest thing that seperates them. Both have multiple times been in slam semis, but Nalbandian is more balanced having been in all 4 slam semis. Both have won 2 Masters titles I believe, and have alot of good performance in Masters. Career high ranking, reaching good ranking how often, are similar too. To be honest David's Wimbledon final doesnt impress me a whole lot considering that was a terrible year for grass court tennis, and as grass is his worst surface by far I really consider that a bit of a fluke in a horrible grass court field that year. Still it is a fact, so I guess you have to acknowledge that too.
 
Conquistador

Conquistador

Banned
DarkSephiroth said:
Nalbandian would DESTROY Davydenko if they were both playing their best. At his best, he has easily destroyed the likes of Federer and Nadal in the same tournament... Twice in a row.
Click to expand...

I cant agree with you..Davydenko is better than what most people think--He spreads the court out..He makes you run more than any player today-I think it would be a great match
 
thalivest

thalivest

Banned
DarkSephiroth said:
Nalbandian would DESTROY Davydenko if they were both playing their best.
Click to expand...

The only surface this might be true is indoors. On all other surfaces it would be quite competitive. As many others have noted indoors is the only surface Nalbandian has proven he can beat the likes of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic even at his best (2003 or earlier Federer does not count).
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
thalivest said:
The only surface this might be true is indoors. On all other surfaces it would be quite competitive. As many others have noted indoors is the only surface Nalbandian has proven he can beat the likes of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic even at his best (2003 or earlier Federer does not count).
Click to expand...
He would also own Davydenko on grass.

Nalbandian has a 22-9 record on grass (71% success)
Davydenko has a 5-14 record (26%)
 
Ripster

Ripster

Hall of Fame
Good thread. But like most posters I'm definitely going to vote Nalbandian. If you compare his record against the big 3 he beats Davydenko, they have similar career prize money and Davy has played way more tournaments, and Nalbandian has a MC victory and Grand Slam final while Davy has never achieved this feat (although he does have 2 Masters Shields).

I think if they were to play right now: Nalbandian would win on indoors, grass and hardcourts while Davy would win on clay.
 
wilfreb

wilfreb

Semi-Pro
610xz.jpg
 
lacoster

lacoster

Professional
Nalbandian, based on talent. Davydenko, based on work ethic.

Nalbandian played only 15 tournaments last year, while Davydenko played 26! Davydenko was out playing the Sopots, Poertshachs, Umags, and Amersfoots of the world, while Nalbandian was out eating chips and guacamole to gear up for indoor courts with A/C!
 
diegaa

diegaa

Hall of Fame
MajinX said:
davydenko can say he has ranked inside the top 5 for many many years in a row. Nalbandain can say he was ranked inside the top 5 and outside the top 20 for many years up and down.
Click to expand...

year end ranking, nalbo has been top ten for how long? 4 years?
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
akv89 said:
How so? Nalbandian won the YEC in 2005.
Click to expand...

Davydenko has 3 MS shields, 1 Master's Cup, 1 Davis Cup, 19 titles
Nalbandian has 2 MS shields, 1 Master's Cup, 0 DC, 10 titles

Personally, I admire Nalbandian's weapons and playing style more than Davydenko's. Still, Davydenko has kept producing while Nalbandian has really regressed.
 
Last edited:
kishnabe

kishnabe

Talk Tennis Guru
soyizgood said:
Davydenko has 3 MS shields, 1 Master's Cup, 1 Davis Cup, 19 titles
Nalbandian has 2 MS shields, 1 Master's Cup, 0 DC, 10 titles

Personally, I admire Nalbandian's weapons and playing style more than Davydenko's. Still, Davydenko has kept producing while Nalbandian has really regressed.
Click to expand...

Nalbandian will be back and much stronger. So who knows. Plus Nalbandian has a slam final so he is the better player.
 
A

asdfuogh

New User
Nalbandian is a fun-to-watch player with an entertaining playing style... and he's more talented in my opinion. Unfortunately, he's not as dedicated as Davydenko in joining tournaments and such, which is shown by the gap in their career prize money (around 3 million dollars).

I think I'd say Nalbandian had the better career, though. He's more widely acknowledged than Davydenko, probably because of his head to head records against Federer and Nadal, and although he's made less money than Davydenko, I doubt he had to work anywhere near as hard as him to earn that much.
 
lacoster

lacoster

Professional
It's funny how you guys have revived this thread that is over a year old. Nalbandian has not played all year bc of hip surgery so it would be interesting to see how his comeback will shape up.

Nalbandian has a 6-5 edge H2H, and interestingly enough, Nalbandian won both his singles rubbers against Russia (beating Davydenko in one) in that Davis Cup championship that Davydenko has under his belt.

2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo
Monaco Clay R16 Davydenko, Nikolay
6-4, 5-7, 6-3 Stats
2008 ATP Masters Series Paris
France Hard S Nalbandian, David
6-1, 5-7, 6-4 Stats
2008 ARG v. RUS WG SF
Argentina Clay RR Davydenko, Nikolay
3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-0
2007 Roland Garros
France Clay R16 Davydenko, Nikolay
6-3, 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(2) Stats
2006 RUS v. ARG DC Final
Russia Carpet RR Nalbandian, David
6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
2006 Roland Garros
France Clay Q Nalbandian, David
6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 Stats
2006 Estoril
Portugal Clay F Nalbandian, David
6-3, 6-4 Stats
2005 Tennis Masters Cup
Shanghai, China Carpet S Nalbandian, David
6-0, 7-5 Stats
2003 Barcelona
Spain Clay R32 Davydenko, Nikolay
6-3, 7-6(4) Stats
2003 ARG v. RUS WG Qtrs
Buenos Aires Clay RR Nalbandian, David
6-2, 6-2, 7-5
2002 Vienna
Austria Hard R32 Davydenko, Nikolay
6-3, 6-2 Stats
 
N

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
thalivest said:
The only surface this might be true is indoors. On all other surfaces it would be quite competitive. As many others have noted indoors is the only surface Nalbandian has proven he can beat the likes of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic even at his best (2003 or earlier Federer does not count).
Click to expand...




Own Davydenko on indoors? You've got to be kidding me.



Hello people, Davydenko has 2 master titles on indoor surfaces and a TMC that was played indoors. Not just that, he didn't beat a crippled Federer to win his title.




People seem to forget for some reason that Davydenko's biggest titles are on INDOOR SURFACES.
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
I'm going to have to go with Davydenko. He's been the more consistent performer, even w/o a slam final.

Not to mention the fact that Nalbandian hasn't made a slam QF since 2006, an embarassingly long stretch for someone who's supposedly a top level player.
 
obsessedtennisfandisorder

obsessedtennisfandisorder

Professional
David nalbandian has reached a slam final
, davy hasn't..."better career" is a smart way of putting it. At this stage nalby,
I think davy will quickly fade into obscurity again.
 
S

sh@de

Hall of Fame
Davydenko has achieved quite a lot this season, a masters title and the year end championship. Given their current achievments, I actually rate Davy ahead of Nalby.
 
grafselesfan

grafselesfan

Banned
Before the TMC I would have voted Nalbandian. I am now voting Davydenko though. Most people probably voted before the TMC was finished. This poll should be remade really.
 
tacou

tacou

G.O.A.T.
interesting thread to bring up. I think it's pretty clear Davy has had the better career, but we'll see how hungry David is next year. please, no hungry comments.
 
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