David Nalbandian is the biggest export from Argentina since Gabriela Sabatini was queen of the WTA in the early ninties. Having spent a month of the year out with injury, Nalbandain has wasted no time in coming back to form on the ATP tour and defeating the best on his way to success.

Now the Argentinian has just turned 26 he is getting no younger. But can he fulfil his quest for Grand Slam glory, No. 1 ranking and world domination? He may well be able to achieve a Grand Slam victory at the least, but he is one of a host of tennis stars chasing Roger Federer and battling to be the best.

The likeable Argentinian has been so close to Grand Slam success throughout his career. He has reached the semi-finals or better in every Grand Slam during his time on the tennis circuit, and has been in a total of 10 quarter-finals or better at this level.

'He is set to have a great season in 2008 and should be full of confidence coming into the remaining three grand slams of the year'


His closest brush with tournament victory was at the 2002 Wimbledon championships where he came from nowhere to reach the final, only to be thrashed by a dominant Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets. Federer has since been the player frequently to stop Nalbandian from reaching any more Grand Slam finals. 

Regarded as a clay court player in his earleir years on the ATP tour, Nalbandian has adapted his game well and is now seen as a true all-rounder in the game. His favoured surface is now hard courts and he has seen recent success indoors. 

He loves big tournaments and before 2007 Nalbandian had reached Masters series finals in Rome, Madrid and Montreal and he won the season-ending Shanghai Masters Cup in 2005, a tournament reserved for the best eight players of the season. He has spent the last five years ranked inside the world's top 10 and has been one of the most consistent players on the tour. He is a fighter.

Laast year was not as successful for Nalbandian until his last couple of tournaments of the year. Threatened by not fiinishing in the top 10 at the end of 2007, Nalbandian had a point to prove to his fans and the other ATP players - and boy did he send out a message.

In the Masters tournament in Madrid, he defeated in succession the world's top three players in to pick up the sixth title of his career. He destroyed Rafael Nadal in the quarters, Djokovic in the semis and came from a set down to beat Federer 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the final to show the world he could beat the best.

Extrodinary as this this was, Nalbandian was about to cause even more suprises in Paris. Again indoors Nalbandian continued his terrific form by destroying the field again. He defeated a host of top players including Carlos Moya and David Ferrer before knocking out once again the world's top two players, both in straight sets!

Nalbandian was on the top of his game and ensured his top 10 ranking for the season. Unfortunately he was not able to gain entry into the Shaghai Masters, narrowly missing out. If he had I'm sure he would have been a contender for the elusive prize for a second time.

A bad defeat in the third round of the Australian Open was a comedown for the Argentinian at the start of this year, but since then the world No. 7 has reached the final on the clay of Acapulco and won his home tournament in Buenos Aires. 

He is set to have a great season in 2008 and should be full of confidence coming into the remaining three grand slams of the year. He has been rakned as high as No. 3 in the world back in 2006 and if Nalbandian can have an injury free season he looks set to repeat the feat again. He really deserves his succes and i for one wish him well.