Too Good and Very True.

2007 BNP Paribas Masters Champion

David Nalbandian

Nalbandian def. Nadal 6-4 6-0

04/11/07 - 18h15
Nalbandian too good and very true

The 2007 BNP Paribas Masters was captured by David Nalbandian who stole the show in a one way final won by the Argentine 6/4 6/0 in an hour and nine minutes against Rafa Nadal. Like Marat Safin in 2004, Nalbandian does the double with back to back wins in Madrid and Paris.

At 1-1 love 15 Nadal hit a winner forehand approach, followed up by a determined fist pump. A sign of determination so early on showed that the Spaniard was not kidding around in the finals of the 2007 BNP Paribas Masters. To not kid around is also one of the favourite on court hobbies of the Argentine David Nalbandian (pictured). Who since the beginning of the Madrid Masters Series has displayed a level of tennis even too good for Roger Federer, whom he beat here and there.

Servers held their own until 4-4. At which point for the first time in the match did a server find himself down love thirty. Before he knew it, Nadal was defending his first break points down 15-40 to an untouchable David Nalbandian. One opportunity was enough for the Argentine, who, with a winner forehand return down the line seized the service game of his younger opponent and gave himself a chance to serve out the first set.

The point of the match

At 15-0, Nalbandian through Nadal a drop shot. The Spaniard ran it down and did the exact same thing to Nalby who replied with an extreme crosscourt backhand that slid on the tape and ended on the Spanish side of the court, again picked up by Nadal but so far out of position, the Argentine just needed to put the ball back in the middle of the court to win THE point of the match. Nalbandian followed up with a winner first serve which gave him 3 set points. A wide backhand passing shot by Nadal gave the Argentine the first set 6/4 in 41 minutes.

When the wave finished cruising through the jam packed bleachers (12 300) of the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (POPB), Nadal was on serve to kick off set number 2. But the momentum was still on the Argentines side who immediately broke Nadal and consolidated to go up 2-0.

Triple break !

Up 40 love in the following game, Nadal was once again trouble. The first break point was erased by a shanked forehand from Nalbandian. On the second one Rafa served the first double fault of the match to give the 2005 Masters cup champion a double break advantage. Which quickly became a triple break advantage after the Spaniard dropped his serve once again. 2 numbers to illustrate the domination, Nadal was only able to win 18% of points after a second serve. Nadal only won 7 points in the second set versus 26 for Nalbandian. Two aces and a forehand approach of the tape gave Nalbandian the title and Nadal the BAGEL! 6/4 6/0 in 1 hour and 9 minutes.

Masters Cup or not ?

David Nalbandian is clearly the best player on tour in this end of season. He finishes the year ranked 9th at the Race and will be the first alternate for the Masters Cup. That was the case in 2005. He was the first alternate and squeezed in thanks to a Roddick withdrawal. He ended up beating Roger Federer in 5 sets in the final.

Could history be in the remaking?

這一個月看小班打球，心裡的疑問一直在擴大。
以前的小班，我記得是：發球很爛，回球很軟，就是利用跑不死的精神在底線抽球再等對手失誤，心理素質差，一不爽就會兵敗如山倒，劇場天王...
可是，這兩場大師賽打下來，這...他真的是小班嗎？
即便一發依然稱不上多猛烈，ACE球卻變好多，反手拍華麗，正手拍強勢，回球角度刁鑽，除了吊小球失敗率高了些，幾乎沒有破綻。同時，心理素質提升到一種很詭譎的地步，該拿的分絕不手軟，要下殺手時也不再拖泥帶水。面對逆境時再也不會慌亂，專注沈著的態度，堅毅的眼神，以前一落後就擺臭臉還自暴自棄的樣子完全消失。
我說那個新教練，你到底是給小班施了什麼法？他根本整個人系統重灌了阿!!
就算只看馬德里到巴黎，這短短兩星期，小班也不斷在進步。光一發就很有針對性的提高成功率，這點讓我很吃驚。馬德里時可以看出他從頭到尾都很緊繃，是一種不成功便成仁的氣勢。巴黎則是化緊繃為專注，感覺也很能享受比賽的節奏，有自信但不隨意的面對任何對手。
所以說，真的可以期待明年賽季的爆發囉？？
小班自己也說了：明年法網見。不只是對地主觀眾的問候，背後的含意代表著"明年法網看我的！"
現在大家都在惋惜他不能去上海，靠這兩個冠軍年終排名衝到第9，只要前8位選手有一個退賽，小班就有機會重演2005年的奇蹟...who knows? Let's wait and wait and see...
我個人是比較在意他能否維持狀態到明年啦，畢竟大滿貫才是王道。明年要是能拿下一座大滿貫，那...我不敢想了XD 低調低調低調...

還記得之前在馬德里，小班曾經~~左擁右抱~~的跟球童們合照嗎？
這次來到歌舞昇平的巴黎，酒店大亨再進化...以下照片算是18禁吧，服用請小心...