Nalbandian Argentina's hero again
David Nalbandian produced one of his finest Davis Cup performances to put Argentina through to the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinals, after he won the decisive fifth rubber against Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets.
The Argentine had hardly picked up a racket in the last three months coming into the tie because of injuries, but he showed immense mental strength to beat his Russian rival in just under two and a half hours.
“I played great, much better than Friday,” commented Nalbandian. “I said I had to keep improving my game, and that is what I did today. We won so I’m so happy to be in the semifinals again.”
It was too tight to call a winner coming into the match. Youzhny had not lost a home Davis Cup singles rubber in five years, and had looked impressive in beating Leonardo Mayer on Friday. But Nalbandian was a completely different proposition and had beaten Youzhny in Monte Carlo in April, the last meeting between the two players.
The first set saw both players dominant on serve and with break points at a premium and it wasn’t surprising that it went all the way to a tiebreak. Nalbandian and Youzhny both had chances to take control, but it was the Argentine who eventually took it to move into the lead.
The second set was equally as tight, but in the ninth game, Nalbandian was finally able to break his opponent, which left him to serve out for the set and move into a commanding lead.
Youzhny had a mountain to climb, and his Argentine opponent took a massive stride towards victory in the first game of the third set, as he broke the Russian. There was to be no way back for the Muscovite as Nalbandian eased to victory, and ended Russia’s 14-year unbeaten home Davis Cup record.
amazing how he jst comes bak and beats him in straight sets but that David for ya lol i suppose Davy hasnt had many matches bak at all tho as well.
