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Journalism of Courage
David Nalbandian enhanced his reputation as Roger Federer’s nightmare opponent by upsetting the world number one again with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) win in the Paris Masters Series third round on Thursday. He then followed that up with a win over Spaniard David Ferrer on Friday in the quarter finals.
The Argentine, who dropped out of the hunt for tickets to the season-ender in Shanghai on Thursday advanced to the semi-finals but was made to work for it. The unseeded Nalbandian needed three sets and nearly as many hours to down Spain’s David Ferrer 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-2 in a ferocious contest featuring thrilling rallies.
Fifth seed Ferrer, who has already qualified for Shanghai, matched his opponent’s power and determination for two sets but then ran out of steam and Nalbandian wrapped it up with an ace to set-up a semi-final against Murray or Gasquet.
This had followed a much more inspiring performance the night before. Eleven days after beating Federer in the Madrid Masters final, the Argentine showed more composure when it mattered to oust the elegant Swiss.
“Of course, it’s disappointing to lose to a guy two times in a couple of weeks, especially indoors, one my favourite surfaces, but we knew the qualities of David,” Federer said.
“I wish conditions were a bit faster because indoors is supposed to be fast,” he said. “Not here, I guess.”
Nalbandian took a perfect start, opening up a 5-2 lead. Federer fought bravely and had saved five set points when Nalbandian eventually took the set with a superb cross-court forehand winner.
The Argentine stayed on top in the second set and served for the match, leading 5-4, but Federer managed to break him and force a tiebreak, in which he survived a match point before hitting a forehand long to enable his opponent to win it 7-3.
In the other quarter final played on Friday, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis ended Tommy Robredo’s Masters Cup hopes by beating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-4. The winner of the quarter final between Briton Andy Murray and Frenchman Richard Gasquet later Friday is now certain to knock Robredo off eighth place in the ATP Race.
The 2006 Australian Open runner-up meets either Spain’s Rafael Nadal or Russian Mikhail Youzhny for a place in Sunday’s final.
