Del Potro Soars Above Nalbandian?
Juan Martin Del Potro won both his singles matches against Russia to propel Argentina into the Davis Cup Finals against Spain in late November. After David Nalbandian lost the doubles match on Saturday and his singles match on Sunday, Del Potro convincingly defeated Russian, Igor Andreev, in the decisive fifth rubber. These wins moved Del Potro even closer to the top of the Argentinean tennis ladder. Del Potro’s summer success seems to have continued and that bodes well for both his future prospects, as well as
those of Argentinean tennis. On the other hand, David Nalbandian seems to be sliding in the opposite direction after losing the doubles and a winnable fourth rubber against Nikolay Davydenko. For Nalbandian, who has played some of his most inspired tennis the past few years in Davis Cup ties, these losses had to have stung, especially on front of the home crowd in Buenos Aires. Coupled with Del Potro’s wins, the pressure will increase on Nalbandian this fall as he seeks to defend the points he won and therefore his current top ten ranking at the fall tournaments. Last year, Nalbandian beat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic during his string of fall ATP tournament victories. With Del Potro “on his heels,” Nalbandian will either raise his game and fulfill his potential in the next year or two or else he may continue his slide… let’s hope it’s the former and that Del Potro and Nalbandian push each other to higher heights.
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