Rafa Nadal beat David Nalbandian Indian Wells Masters 2012

Nalbandian Video Ranking: 5 / 5

Nalbandian on his Way to Emulating McEnroe

The world of tennis has seen many ‘super brats’, with former American player John McEnroe being one of the foremost of the brats to have graced the tennis court. Age, however, had mellowed the fiery American down somewhat but if he wanted to leave a legacy of his fiery temper on court, he has been highly successful with Argentine tennis player David Nalbandian, who cites the former 7 time Grand Slam winner as one of his boyhood idols, is well on his way to becoming the latest ‘super brat’ at Wimbledon.

Having been ejected from the Queen’s barely 10 days before the first ball was hit at the All England Club for kicking out at an advertising board and causing hurt to a line judge, people expected the 30 year old former world number three to be at his best behavior against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, especially with the police still continuing the investigations over the circumstances that led to his clash with the line judge. Read more »

David Nalbandian Kicks Line Judge And Gets Disqualified-Aegon Championship HD(17/06/12)BBC Queens

Nalbandian Video Score: three / 5

Nalbandian sees red

David Nalbandian is an experienced player. Turning pro in 2000 and now 30 years old he is a veteran of the tennis world. He has a range of titles under his belt; Washington, Sydney, Paris and the ATP Championships to name a few and he also secured a career high ranking of number 3 in 2006. For someone of his proficiency and expertise, no one could have predicted his rage induced actions during the final of the AEGON Championships which are under investigation as assault.

Throughout the AEGON, Nalbandian was playing sublimely and advancing through the rounds with ease. The tournament saw him contend with Pospisil, Bemelmans, Roger-Vasselin, Malisse and finally Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals who he defeated in straight sets to take him into the final to face Marin Cilic.

The final began in Nalbandian’s favour, and after a tough and feisty battle, he took the first set 7-6. The second set continued neck and neck with both players defending their serves admirably it looked to be a fight to the bitter end. This was until Cilic managed to break the Argentinian’s serve in the 7^th game of the second set. Nalbandian, who could not contain his frustration at his personal performance lashed out; booting an advertisement which a line judge was perched on top of. To the line judge, crowds’ and Nalbandian’s horror the advertisement flew into the line judge’s leg causing him to severely bleed from a long gash on his shin. After much confusion, speculation and bewilderment it was decided Nalbandian was to be disqualified, a desperate and disappointing end to what was in the making of an enthralling final.

Not only has Nalbandian lost his $56,000 prize money, he has also lost his dignity. The Argentinian was full of remorse for his actions, but he has severely dented his reputation, and from a round one loss at Wimbledon, his confidence appears to have also taken a knock.

NALBANDIAN DISQUALIFIED

This year’s Queen’s Club tournament in London has been filled with bizarre results and strange occurrences, but the manner in which the final ended surely tops the list. The match between 6^th seed Marin Cilic and 10^th seed David Nalbandian began normally enough, the closely fought first set seeing Nalbandian playing marginally the better tennis.

The Argentine duly took the first set on a tie break, making his tie break tally 4-1 against Cilic over their careers. Marin managed to force a break of serve in the second set, which his opponent was clearly frustrated to give away. And then with the score at 3-4 to Cilic, Nalbandian suffered a moment of absolute madness which lost him the match and with it the championship.

Cilic had just hit an excellent winner on a break point, and started to make his way to his chair for the change of ends. But as he was doing so, Nalbandian kicked out viciously at the advertising board positioned directly in front of the baseline line judge. The board was only centimetres in front of the match official Andrew McDougall’s seat, and the board caught him in the leg, opening up a sizeable gash. McDougall reacted angrily, clearly stunned by the Argentine’s actions, and had to sit on the floor as a colleague supplied him with a tissue to stem the bleeding.

The umpire immediately discussed the situation with ATP supervisor Tom Barnes, and decided that the only course of action available to them was to disqualify Nalbandian, meaning he forfeited the match and with it the chance the win the Queen’s title. The rule here is clear – if an official of any kind is injured by a player in anger then that player forfeits the match. The crowd, many of whom could not see the injury clearly were angry that their spectacle was ending prematurely and began booing the umpire, but the deed was done, and Cilic collected the cup in circumstances other than those he was expecting.

David Nalbandian Practice – Australian Open 2012

Nalbandian Video clip Rating: 5 / 5