This was one of those matches that really cemented Federer at the top. Nalbandian was one of those players who'd caused Federer a lot of trouble in the past. He'd won their first five meetings, including defeating Federer at the US Open two years previously in 2003, and at the 2003 Australian Open. Federer will have been very keen to get revenge. Nalbandian actually also beat Federer in their following match in Shangahi a few months later, taking their head to head at that point to 6-3 in Nalbandian's favour.
I think their meeting at the 2004 Australian Open was much more significant. By this time Federer had been the undisputed best player for the best part of two years.
@NamTran-xc2ip the question: Can Nalbandian play world class tennis throughout the year? I don't think he can. Prime Federer is way more consistent and if they were to play 10 matches, I would assume Federer would be playing top class tennis in 9 of them while Nalbandian might play great tennis in 3 or 4.
@@user-cy6xl3vd3f I agree , I remember Novak had had a few issues with his food which was affecting his tennis game. once he found out the problems the rest is history
Modern tennis fans don’t understand. Djoker & Nadal wouldn’t be as successful on the older-faster playing courts. The long exhausting rally’s you see today would be much less common.
@@TheRafaelBond True, but prime Fed is definitely better than all of these guys on hardcourt, grass and clay. Nalbandian at his best was a beast though, especially indoor he had the potential to destroy everyone including Medvedev, Zverev and Tsitsipas.
At first I thought back in those years players didn’t hit as hard because it looks like Federer easily gets to all the shots. Then I realized nah Roger was just ridiculously fast back then.
Man. Imagine if Nalbandian had a big serve, he’d have been a great great player. Flip side, if Federer didn’t have that big serve to bail him out, he’d have been an also ran probably.
Nalbandian didnt really turn up to this match! Seemed overwhelmed by the situation maybe? He played so passively! Something which he remedied in their match at the masters final!
He does look like the lights were too bright. But players were always trying different strategies to try to figure Federer out. His may have been to give less pace, be patient, lull Fed to sleep, let him try to force something.
We don't have enough data to ensure if courts kept getting slower after the mid 2000s. But one thing is sure, players hit harder nowadays and their strokes are faster and more powerful. If courts were sped up right now to be as fast as in the 90s, matches would be summarized in countless aces and 2 shots rallies. We certainly DON'T want that as it would kill tennis.
@@user-cy6xl3vd3f the tennis courts slow down the speed in 2009 with the change of surfaces and rules, carpet court was banned and the surfaces were more smiliar
Yeah it's fairly slower than today's game but the stroke quality is still amazing and Federer's game in motion is incredibly beautiful. I think the evolution of racket technology + the influence of the big3 progressively led to a faster baseline game.
