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Nalbandian remembers Shanghai Masters win one decade on

Xinhua, November 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Argentinian tennis player David Nalbandian remembered the "craziness" that surrounded the title he won 10 years ago in the Tennis Masters Cup (now known as the ATP World Tour Finals) played in Shanghai, China, where he beat the Swiss Roger Federer in five sets. 

   "How the story began was craziness. I was ready to go fishing because as a substitute (in the tournament) there was almost no chance that I would be going to Shanghai. It ended up being an unexpected and incredible tournament," said the former sports star. 

   During an interview with local daily La Nacion, 33-year-old Nalbandian remembered that he entered the tournament after U.S. player Andy Roddick became injured. 

   "Since the first minute I felt good and very comfortable. Obviously I was tired after the journey but I was happy with the surface and the ball. I got better every day," said the Argentinian. 

   The retired tennis player explained that during his career, the different surfaces never changed his game however time changes affected him a great deal. For that reason, he always asked the tournament organizers to let him play in the first matches of the day. 

   "If the tournament was in Europe, with four or five hours of difference (between Europe and Argentina) then I got away with it. However, in Shanghai it was crazy," added Nalbandian.

   The Argentinian competed in the Red Group in the Masters 2005, where he was defeated in the first match of the tournament against then No. 1 Federer. However, he recovered in the next two matches by beating fellow countryman Guillermo Coria and the Croatian Ivan Ljubicic. 

   In the semifinals, the player, who was born in Unquillo in the northern province of Cordoba, defeated the Russian Nicolay Davydenko and in a historical final, he beat Swiss Federer coming from two sets behind. 

   "This final is among the five best matches of my career. Maybe not for the level, because it was a strange match, but for winning the Masters final, beating Federer and for the whole atmosphere," said the Argentinian.

   Nalbandian, who became the No. 3 seed in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ranking in March 2006, formed part of the so-called "Argentinian Legion" that burst onto the scene in the 2000s winning various important titles. 

   In his career he won 11 ATP titles. Despite never winning a Grand Slam, he did make it to the Wimbledon final in 2002 and the semifinals in Australia (2006), Roland Garros (2004 and 2006) and in the U.S. Open (2003). 

   With his win in Shanghai, Nalbandian became the second Argentinian to win a Master Tournament after Guillermo Vilas won the title in 1974 when it was known as the Masters Grand Prix.  Endi