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Former Argentine tennis player David Nalbandian admitted he had no answer for Roger Federer at the start of the 2007 Madrid final, but was glad he was able to find a way to turn the match around after a slow start. Federer started the 2007 Madrid final strongly, winning the first set 6-1.
Nalbandian, a former World No. 3, recovered from a set down and beat Federer 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to claim his first and only title in Madrid. "It was another unbelievable match. I think I lost the first set (6-1) and then I started to play better.
He played very well at the beginning. I didn't find a way to turn that match around, but eventually I did," he said. Nalbandian on ATP Tennis Radio, according to Sportskeeda. Nalbandian has faced Federer 19 times and actually had a pretty decent record against the Swiss.
Nalbandian lost 11 of those 19 meetings, but beating Federer eight times is a great stat. "I always think that I can beat Federer because we always played from juniors. So every time he came out on the court, he knew that he (would have) a lot of chances.
He also knew that he didn't like playing against me. They both know it's going to be a very tough game. They both know that the one who plays better will win. I don't respect Roger Federer like everyone else because we've been playing since we were juniors.
We don't have that respect. And that's a big plus for me," added Nalbandian. Nalbandian, 40, retired in 2013. Federer, 40, is still active on the Tour. Nalbandian says that the fact that Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are still active is a positive for the game.
Federer will be back in a few months
Roger Federer's ongoing absence from the ATP tour has led to many doubts about his eventual comeback, or, a successful comeback. “Time will tell how I want to deal with this, how often I keep looking for interest.
I think about that now sometimes, but not often. My main focus is on how to make my comeback in tennis. I work hard on that and I think about it every day," said Federer, who is set to play at the Laver Cup and the ATP Basel Open in September/October.
"What feeling you get and how you react after such applause and standing ovation, I still don't know that in advance. Novak (Djokovic) also said that: a lot of us are nervous before such a parade. We don't do this every day either, we never get used to it.
It remains uncertain, while all you have to do is walk a bit and say a few words. And I was quite emotional, although not everyone has seen that,” the Swiss great said on the same.
