Just Because I Can: Nalbandian in 4 (+185)

**HeeeHAWWWW** · 11-21-08, 08:23 AM

Hard to see otherwise, although Ferrer does have a good record against Fat Dave (6-3, although skewed by 4/4 wins on clay).

Ferrer's last win against a top 100 player: Roddick on clay, Davis Cup semis in Sept. Before that, Ginepri in Canada, Soderling in Gstad (the Sod on clay, painful to watch), Andreev at Wimbledon (claybunny on grass

). Before that was about his last decent performance, winning Hertogenbosch, including a win over Del Potro (who isn't exactly the best on grass either, really clumsy).

You have to go way back to find his last half decent indoors or hard court performance, to the Aussie Open. Made the quarters, beating Del Potro again, then Spadea and Ferrero before getting whupped by Djokovic. Nothing much to impress there tbh, so you could actually go back to the 2007 masters cup, back in his end of season burst of form: made the final there, the quarters in Paris (loss to Nalby), won Tokyo, US Open semis.

That's a long period of form deterioration, and now he has to face Dave, at home, on his best surface.

**ZXCVBNM** · 11-21-08, 09:42 AM

Haha, I was about to put some on Nalbandian 3-0/3-1 cause I have no doubt Nalby wins this easy, Ferrer has been HORRBILE as of late and Nalb is flying high. Thinking about doing the -6.5 games too, I can see Nalb easily blowing him out one set maybe 6-0 or 6-1.

**veto** · 11-21-08, 10:05 AM

watchin the cup...they just said nalbandian lost 6 of 9 to ferrer and lopez beat del porto last time they met. maybe it wont be as easy as we all think. but hopefully it is.

**ZXCVBNM** · 11-21-08, 10:22 AM

3-1 Nalby aLready

**EaglesPhan36** · 11-21-08, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by veto

watchin the cup...they just said nalbandian lost 6 of 9 to ferrer and lopez beat del porto last time they met. maybe it wont be as easy as we all think. but hopefully it is.

You always have to look at the context/history of when they played though. Ferrer was a much different and better player when he was winning, plus as Hee Haw pointed out - it was on clay. Lopez beat Del Potro early in the year before Del Potro really got into his groove from the summer through now. Lopez is the one I think will provide more trouble, but unless Del Potro is ailing from something still - he should find a way to win.

**ZXCVBNM** · 11-21-08, 10:41 AM

Damn, it went from a 50-50 battle on Nalbandian's serve to an easy break, 5 and probably 6-2 first set. -6.5 is looking very good. Nalb looks on his game, he's hitting all those tough angle shots.

edit.. aw damn, broken.

**veto** · 11-21-08, 10:56 AM

thanks for helpin me not throw up on my laptop. ive only been watchin tennis for like 3 months, and both the aforementioned argentin players have looked really strong. those numbers just threw me off a little. hope they roll.

**EaglesPhan36** · 11-21-08, 11:11 AM

Probably overestimated Ferrer's ability to win a set.

Figured it'd be 3-0 or 3-1. Took the better price at 3-1. Doesn't look promising unless Nalbandian falls asleep for a set or bet on himself? Yeah, let's go with that!

**ZXCVBNM** · 11-21-08, 11:20 AM

Ferrer is a straaaaaaaaaaange dude.

Every time he breaks he gives it right back next game, and without a fight!

**HeeeHAWWWW** · 11-21-08, 11:44 AM

Ferrer has totally lost it recently, I think it's a mental thing. Problem for him is he doesn't have natural power, so was always red-lining his game to play at top5 level. While he was mentally in the zone this worked, but when the form went just slightly his game flopped horrendously.

Davydenko does something similar when he's off, can play some horrorshow tennis.