Argentine Has Had Better Days At a Major
It was another random moment in men's tennis, and as a result, David Nalbandian will not be providing his home nation, Argentina, with a welcome distraction from its troubles at this Grand Slam event.
Last month, Nalbandian became one of the most surprising Wimbledon finalists in history in a tournament that has more history than any other. Yesterday at the United States Open, his attacking baseline game, sturdy legs and higher profile were not enough to win even a set against Sargis Sargsian.
At the All England Club, Nalbandian celebrated his semifinal victory by throwing his head back and shouting with delight into the moody sky over London. Against Sargsian, after watching an ace get past him early in the third set, he threw his head back and muttered a series of oaths.
'It was not one of my best days,' the 16th-seeded Nalbandian said after his 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 loss. 'Actually, I think it was one of the worst of my life, and I certainly never played worse this year. But I guess everybody has their good days and bad days, and part of being a grown-up is to accept that.'
Fans of men's tennis certainly have to accept it. Yesterday's upset artist is tomorrow's upset victim, and while that is a clear reflection of the prevailing depth, it is also a way to disorient the audience.
'I think what we do need more of is the best guys doing well consistently,' Patrick McEnroe, the American Davis Cup captain, said when asked what might help stir interest in the men's game in the United States. 'I think that has been a problem for the men's game this year.'
If only the fans could be certain of who the best players are. Thomas Johansson of Sweden made the leap from solid professional to Grand Slam winner by taking the title at the year's first major, the Australian Open. He has not won another ATP Tour event and is not playing here because of an injury. In the last seven Grand Slam events, only Lleyton Hewitt has been a finalist twice, and Hewitt, who beat Nalbandian at Wimbledon and is the only man who bears a resemblance to commander in chief, was beaten in the first round in Toronto last month and won only one round in Indianapolis this month.
No wonder there was an audible absence of buzz when Nalbandian took the court yesterday. The Grandstand, the third biggest of the Open's three show courts, was barely half-full when Nalbandian, the grandson of an Armenian immigrant, played an Armenian who came to the United States and won the N.C.A.A. men's singles title at Arizona State.
A woman in the fourth row with her salt-and-pepper hair in a bun was much more interested in her crossword puzzle than the recent Wimbledon finalist, and it is doubtful that what she saw between clues yesterday piqued her curiosity. Looking heavier, slower and more irritable than usual, Nalbandian, who won the junior title here at age 16 and reached the third round last year at 19, could not get his groove back.
'I think every player sometimes plays really bad,' Nalbandian said. 'Sampras and Agassi. Many players lose. Why can't I lose?'
He can, and he did, and it was hardly the first time since Wimbledon. The day after losing in straight sets to Hewitt on Center Court, he left for Switzerland to play in a clay-court event in Gstaad. He lost to Andrei Pavel in the first round, then lost in the first round again the next week in Croatia.
After he had reached the Wimbledon final, there was a party in Unquillo's streets, and friends carried his father, Norberto, down the Avenida San Martin on their shoulders. The family celebrated by roasting a goat. When Nalbandian returned home to a hero's welcome, he was presented with a racket that was considerably larger than he is. It now stands at the entrance to Unquillo: a year-round testimony to his tennis success in a town with five courts.
'Three clay, two hard,' he said.
Which means no grass, and he certainly did not look like a grass-courter against the big-serving Sargsian, sometimes parking himself as much as eight feet behind the baseline to return.
Near the end of the match, Nalbandian windmilled his arms toward the crowd in an attempt to generate some support, some energy, some hope. He got a loud cheer in return but despite controlling the ensuing point, he could not ride the small, isolated wave, dropping to one knee after a botched volley and looking quite a bit older than 20.
Four points later, Nalbandian smacked a backhand long, raised his racket menacingly as if to bounce it off the court but settled for shaking Sargsian's hand instead. It has still been a summer to remember, but this was definitely a summer day to forget.
TENNIS