The upset of the year in the season’s most gripping final came to the rescue of a troubled ATP Masters Cup which was rocked by high-profile withdrawals and complaints over the playing surface.
David Nalbandian’s shock, come-from-behind win over hot favourite Roger Federer in a pulsating five-setter drew a line under the farcical early days when five big names dropped out and one player grumbled that the court was like ”ice”.
It was only Federer’s fourth defeat this year, snapping a record 24-final winning streak and, agonisingly, stopping him just one match short of equalling John McEnroe’s 1984 season of 1982-1983.
For Nalbandian, it was the 23-year-old Argentine’s first major victory and biggest payday after just one title this season and three in five years as a pro.
As well as $1,4-million in prize money, he took his record against Federer to 6-4 and finally landed a big title after reaching the 2002 Wimbledon final.
”Of course it’s given me a special feeling to win like this and of course for the next important matches and big moments I will be different in the future,” said the world number 12.
But Nalbandian would not have been here at all if the injured Andy Roddick had not joined Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt on the sidelines, raising concerns among organisers before a ball had been struck.
Worse was to come when Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal and US veteran Andre Agassi withdrew within minutes of each other on day two, leaving Federer as the only top-five player in the tournament.
Shanghai officials, who splashed out $200-million on the 15 000-seat Qi Zhong Stadium to host the Masters until 2007, rounded on Agassi and criticised the crowded tennis calendar.
Fears of a Federer stroll to his third consecutive title — even on his return from an ankle injury — were compounded when the 24-year-old world number one trounced Gaston Gaudio to love in the semifinals.
But Nalbandian, despite losing the first two sets on tie-breakers, rallied to draw level against the struggling Swiss and broke to halt a Lazarus-like revival when he was serving for the match.
It was only Federer’s fourth defeat of the year, ending a 35-match winning streak going back to his four-set loss to Nadal in the French Open semifinal five months ago.
He also lost in five sets to Safin in the Australian Open semis and was upset by French teenager Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals at Monte Carlo.
However he could look back on another vintage season with 11 titles, including his second straight victories at Wimbledon and the US Open, taking his career tally to 33.
”I feel like I’ve had a great year and a great tournament. Disappointment is always there because I don’t lose very often,” said Federer, who has been number one for two consecutive years.
”There’s also pride in there because three weeks ago I was on crutches. Now to be back playing at the highest level, I’m very happy about that.”
Nalbandian, who has reached the last eight at three Grand Slams this year, played a masterly final, dropping shots short to expose Federer’s lack of conditioning and playing to his weaker backhand.
He became the first Argentinian to win a year-end final since Guillermo Vilas in 1974.
But the eighth seed, who came from two sets down against Britain’s Andy Murray at Wimbledon, also had Roddick’s injury to thank for giving him his chance.
”I need to thank him. Because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. – Sapa-AFP