"After beating all 3 in a row, you feel like you're going to beat them every time" - David Nalbandian recalls beating Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Federer to win 2007 Madrid Open
David Nalbandian has said that beating the Big 3 of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer once made him confident that he could do so every time he faced them.
The Argentine is the only player to beat Nadal, Djokovic and Federer (in that order) in the same tournament. He did so during one magical week in the Spanish capital in 2007 en route to the title. In the process, he became the lowest-ranked player to win the Madrid Masters.
Back in Madrid with his ward Miomir Kecmanovic, the Argentine opened up on his surreal run that week. Nalbandian revealed that he started slow before playing his best tennis against the Big 3 at the business end of the tournament.
Remembering Nalbandian in Madrid 2007: Beat Nadal, Djokovic, & Federer in succession for title. Had that talent.
In a podcast on ATP Tennis Radio, Nalbandian said:
"Beating all three guys (in the same tournament), didn't happen before, didn't happen until now. Was incredible week. I was honestly playing very good last few months before arriving here. Didn't get lot of results. Here I struggled in the first few rounds. I saved match points, I think, second or third round. And after that everything was going unreal. I played incredible incredible tennis."
Asked how he felt after beating the world's top three players, Nalbandian said that it made him confident about defeating them anywhere.
On this day, in 2007...David Nalbandian completed an unprecedented sweep of the Big Three—Federer, Nadal and Djokovic—to win the Madrid Masters.
@joeldrucker on @nalbandiandavid's magnum opus: tennis.com/news/articles/… https://t.co/biGDkcUT5c
"After beating all three in a row, you feel like you're going to beat them every time. If you win here, why not next week. That makes you full of confidence."
Nalbandian ended his career with a 8-11 record against Federer, 2-5 against Nadal and 1-4 against Djokovic.
David Nalbandian on how he beat Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at Madrid 2007
Continuing on his exploits that week in Madrid, Nalbandian said that he adjusted well to the altitude and the fast indoor surface. Back in 2007, Madrid was an indoor hardcourt tournament held just before the Paris Masters.
He described how his success in Madrid led to success in Paris as well.
"Here there's a little bit altitude high. Where I live, it's a little high as well. I got used to playing in those conditions. Event before was indoors, hardcourt, so I felt even better. I played some of my best tennis that week. I won here, and I won Paris as well. It was incredible."
Speaking about his victory against Nadal in the Madrid quarterfinals in 2007, Nalbandian said that the faster conditions suited him more than his opponent.
"I knew against Rafa, if I had the chance to beat him, it was here..indoors, fast, indoors, altitude. The conditions were much better for me than for him, for sure. That year, he didn't play a lot last few weeks (coming into the tournanemnt); he was a little bit out of rhythm. I think I didn't miss a ball."
Following his stunning 6-1, 6-2 win over the Spaniard, Nalbandian ran into a 20-year-old Djokovic. Serving well against the up-and-coming Serb, Nalbandian coasted to another straight-sets victory, riding on the confidence of his Nadal win.
"I played once before against him, which I lost. The conditions were better for me than (they were) for him. I was already playing a great level, with a lot of confidence after beating Rafa. I knew that serve was going to be very very important...one break in the first set..second we didn't break..I think. I was ready to fight. I played better the important moments than him. I played amazing amazing tennis."
Nalbandian faced his toughest test of the week against top seed Federer in the final as the Swiss took the first set 6-1, dominating the early proceedings. However, Nalbandian regrouped to beat Federer in three, winning his first Masters 1000 title in the process.
"It was another incredible match. I think I lost the first set (6-1) and then I started playing better. He played very good in the beginning. I didn't find a way to turn around that match, but I made it finally."
Nalbandian added that familiarity with Federer's playing style helped him a lot in his career.
"I always think I can beat Federer because we play juniors all the time. So everytime I went on court, I knew I (would have) a lot of chances. I knew he didn't like to play against me as well. Both know it's going to be a very tough match. Both know whoever's going to play better will win. I don't respect Roger Federer like everybody else because we played from juniors. We don't have that respect for each other. And that's a huge advantage for me."