Few players can claim to have the ability to go toe to toe with the world No. 1, and arguably the greatest tennis player of all time - Roger Federer - and come out on top.


David Nalbandian is one of the very few. The Argentine, anointed 'El Rey' (The King) back in his homeland, is still seeking his first Grand Slam title. And should Nalbandian finally realise that dream at this year's Australian Open, he would have to do it the hard way, with likely encounters against David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic and Federer before he even reaches the final.

However, it's not the first time in recent months that Nalbandian has been asked to climb a steep mountain and reach the pinnacle in triumph. The back end of 2007 turned what would have been a largely disappointing season into a re-awakening of Nalbandian as an elite player. The Madrid and Paris Masters titles were secured in quite wonderful fashion.

'Nalbandian put paid to a host of names at the top of the tennis world, and in doing so became the first player to beat Federer and Nadal in an ATP final'


Nalbandian put paid to a host of names at the top of the tennis world, and in doing so became the first player to beat Federer and Nadal in an ATP final. He also became only the third player since 1994 to beat the world's numbers one, two and three in the same tournament. That feat was also previously achieved by Boris Becker and also Djokovic (again in 2007).

While the talent has never been in doubt, it's Nalbandian's failure to win when it has really mattered at Grand Slam level that has so far held him back from the very top of the game. The mental side of the sport is equally as important, if not more so, than the technical aspects of the game, and it's those mental frailties that have seen Nalbandian succumb in four Grand Slam semi-finals.

In two of those matches (against Gaston Gaudio and Marcos Baghdatis) Nalbandian failed to live up to the expectancy of winning. In the other two (against Federer and Andy Roddick) Nalbandian led in both semi-finals, before having to retire with injury against Federer and letting slip a two set lead against Roddick at the US Open in 2003. In fact Nalbandian had match point against Roddick, but the American slammed the door shut with an ace and never looked back.

Winning back-to-back Masters titles has removed some of the doubt about whether Nalbandian is really ready to hit such heights and make good on his talent, but winning Masters titles is one thing, winning Grand Slam titles is still a step above. Not in terms of the competition, as the pool of players you must conquer at the elite level are the same, but in terms of the historical significance of winning a Slam and the pressure and nerves that beset the mind in such circumstances, the two are worlds apart.

If Nalbandian wants to taste success in Melbourne, he will almost certainly have to take Federer out in the last four and would then most likely be the favourite in the final against whoever he faced, including Nadal, who he dispatched with relative ease in Madrid and Paris.

So how and why is it that Nalbandian can play with Federer on equal terms where most others can only dream of doing so?

In recent times, under the guidance of Martin Jaite, Nalbandian's serve has improved considerably. It has long been an aspect of his game which garnered him few free points and often left him vulnerable to attack. That has now changed, Nalbandian is serving with far more fluency and timing, helping him to close out games on serve in a more efficient manner and enabling him to conserve his energies over the course of a match.

When it comes to returning serve, Nalbandian is arguably the best returner of serve in the game at present, or at the very least high up in the discussion. Comfortable on both wings and with the ability to strike the ball so cleanly and early, Nalbandian is able to constantly switch from forehand to his beloved two-handed back hand down the line. The Argentine has feasted on Federer's second serve and would look to do so again in Melbourne should the pair lock horns for what would be the 17th time in their professional careers (the head to head stands at 8-8).

Time will tell whether Melbourne proves to be the location for Nalbandian to break his Grand Slam duck.