Nalbandian injured in practice

Virtuous

Virtuous

Rookie
...withdraws from Kooyong. Hopefully it's not serious and he'll recover in time for the AO.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_TENNIS/idUKSP15752420080109

Tennis-Injured Nalbandian in fitness fight for Australian Open

Wed Jan 9, 2008 4:23am GMT

By Simon Cambers

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - A frustrated David Nalbandian is fighting to be fit for next week's Australian Open after pulling out of the warm-up event at Kooyong because of a back injury.

The Argentine, who ended last year by winning back-to-back Masters Series titles in Madrid and Paris, suffered back spasms during a practice session at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

Nalbandian will have an MRI scan on the injury later in the day but has been told to rest for at least three days, leaving him just a couple of days to prepare for the first grand-slam event of the year.

"I think I am going to be OK, but you never know," Nalbandian told reporters.

"I had what they say is a distension in the back. I have four, five days to go. I will try to hit on Saturday for 30-40 minutes and see how it is."

Nalbandian was considered one of the favourites for the title at Melbourne Park, having ended the season on a high with his back-to-back Masters Series wins.

The world number nine was practising with former number one Marat Safin of Russia when he first felt pain.

"I started to feel some pain after about 30 minutes. I tried to keep going all the way with Marat -- we were playing points -- but I couldn't continue."

Nalbandian said he had arrived in Melbourne feeling fully fit and ready to bid for his first grand-slam title.

"I felt perfect," he said.

"I was just resting for two weeks, so for a month and a half, I have been practising. I feel great, fit and everything, so it was just bad luck today."

Nalbandian's place in the eight-man Kooyong field will be taken by Brydan Klein, who won the boys' title at the Australian Open last year.
 
C

Chauvalito

Hall of Fame
First of all, you have got to be kidding me. This is what Nalbandian gets for leaning so far back on his serve.

Secondly, Brydan kllein is going to get DESTROYED...they could not find any other willing pro's to replace nalbandian
 
Virtuous

Virtuous

Rookie
Nalbandian in serious doubt for Open
http://news.smh.com.au/nalbandian-in-serious-doubt-for-open/20080109-1kzx.html
January 9, 2008 - 4:13PM


Argentinian tennis star David Nalbandian's Australian Open campaign is in serious doubt after he suffered a back injury.

Nalbandian, who twice beat World No.1 Roger Federer last year, suffered back spasms while practising with Russian Marat Safin at Melbourne Park.

He was forced to pull out of this week's Kooyong Classic lead-up event and was awaiting the results of an MRI scan.

Nalbandian, ranked 10 in the world, said doctors had told him he would need to rest for at least three to four days.

"I was warming up this morning with Safin and I felt a pain in my back," Nalbandian said.

"I saw the doctor after and he told me it was a distension a little bit in the muscle so I need rest for three or four days and see how it goes.

Nalbandian said the spasm was debilitating at the time.

"It's hard to describe how much I feel but for sure I can't play, I can't even hit slowly with the ball so it's better to rest and have treatment to recover the muscle and see if I can start hitting in two or three days," he said.

Nalbandian said the spasms began midway through his scheduled one-hour session with Safin.

"I felt it after 25, 30 minutes and tried to keep going all the way with Marat," he said.

"We were playing points and I felt I couldn't continue so after that we saw the doctors and they told me it was better to rest."

He said he had not had a similar back problem before.

"No, it's the first time so actually it should be a maximum of four days - that's what the doctor said - so I shall wait," Nalbandian said.

"It's a disappointment because this tournament will be the first matches of the year for me...but I can't do much, just wait and try to be ready for Monday.

"I would have preferred to play three matches here and be ready for the Open with a good feeling.

"It will be a little tougher or a little different than (in past) years but that's the way it is," he said.

Nalbandian said he felt "perfect" as he began his Open preparations, having practised hard for the past six weeks.

"It's just bad luck but I have four days before the Open so I think I will be okay - you never know but it's better now than Monday."

Nalbandian defeated Federer twice late last year, in the space of five weeks, in the final of the Masters Series in Madrid and in the third round of the Paris Masters tournament.

He said the Swiss world champion's game elevated him to a new level.

"I like to play against him, I think we both enjoy playing each other," he said.

"It's motivation - he's the No.1 in the world and he just lost a few matches in the year so it's nice every time you go on court and play against him, he's at a great level."

© 2008 AAP
 
chiapants226

chiapants226

Professional
brydan klein did quite well against gonzalez today. i was at the match today, and he was getting heaps of support from the crowd, and was playing great tennis. he was actually competing with gonzalez in the first set, breaking him in the first game, but he eventually lost 7-6 6-4. it was a great match to watch, with lots of big hitting from both players.
 
S

Steve132

Professional
Nadal_Freak said:
There goes the Fed killer. :(
Click to expand...

Um...Nalbandian's record against Federer is 8-8. Is that a "Fed killer's" record?

Nadal, on the other hand, is 0-2 against Nalbandian. In the Madrid and Paris tournaments last fall Federer won 22 games in his two matches against Nalbandian. Nadal barely managed seven in his two matches, and was bageled.

If Nalbandian owns one of these two it isn't Federer.
 
Last edited:
edmondsm

edmondsm

Legend
Steve132 said:
Um...Nalbandian's record against Federer is 8-8. Is that a "Fed killer's" record?
Click to expand...

You have to admit though that it is a pretty great record against Fed. 8 wins has to be the most out of any player (I think Hewitt and Henman are close). And to be at 50% after all those meetings is acceptional. Maybe not a Fed killer but a Fed pisser-offer.:)
 
Nadal_Monfils

Nadal_Monfils

Semi-Pro
Hard courts are Federer's best surface while they are Nadal's worst. If Nadal had played Nalbandian on his best surface (clay) he would have won both matches.
 
V

Vision84

Hall of Fame
edmondsm said:
You have to admit though that it is a pretty great record against Fed. 8 wins has to be the most out of any player (I think Hewitt and Henman are close). And to be at 50% after all those meetings is acceptional. Maybe not a Fed killer but a Fed pisser-offer.:)
Click to expand...

Nadal is 8-6 against Federer. 6 of those are on clay though.
 
stormholloway

stormholloway

Legend
Nalbandian is 8-8 and has the last two matches against Fed. In Federer terms, he is a Fed killer.

If he isn't 100% at the Aussie, this will represent the biggest disappointment in the tournament.
 
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