Safin not the most overrated player, Nalbandian is

[mightyrick]

In terms of groundstrokes, IMO Nalbandian was better than Federer in that department. When Nalbandian was actually focused and disciplined about training, diet, and workouts (which was right out of the juniors and then sporadically after injury returns)... he was wiping the floor with Federer. When you watch in-form Nalbandian, he runs Federer around on a string like he's puppet. Nalbandian was Federer before Federer was Federer. It might hurt the feelings of Federer fans, but David Nalbandian was a primary reason of why it took awhile for Federer to find success on the tour after juniors.

Nalbandian was Roger Federer with a two-handed backhand.

All of that being said... raw talent and groundstroking ability is no substitute for consistency, diet, fitness, and mental fortitude. Those were all things that Nalbandian lacked after a few years on the tour.

I don't think Nalbandian is overrated at all. Out of anyone in the last 15 years on tour, I can't think of anybody who had greater potential than Nalbandian. The guy has beaten way too many slam winners on their favorite surfaces to be overrated.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

raising a doubt about the existence of this omnipotent and undefeatable godbandian creature is one of the things i'm always scared to do on this forum (along with sharing my -shameful?- total lack of appreciation for the aesthetism of graf's game !).
but he was a solid top-10 player during a good string of years... and got great results at all the slams in addition to his WTF title.