Tennis: Argentine creates his own history

By STAN HEY

Argentine David Nalbandian became the most unlikely Wimbledon finalist in the modern open era yesterday, when he ran away with the final set of his semifinal against Xavier Malisse of Belgium.

The 20-year-old from Cordoba, who is playing in only his fourth Grand Slam event, also created history by becoming the first Argentine man, as well as the first South American since Peruvian Alex Olmedo, to reach the final at the All England Club with his 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 6-2 win.

You were left in no doubt what the achievement meant to him, as he slumped to his knees and broke into tears just after 2.20pm.

Once he had taken an hour or so to regain his composure, Nalbandian emerged in the interview room with the broadest of smiles.

"It's impossible for me to explain [what this feels like]," he said.

"It's something ... I don't know. For me, this is a dream. It's the best week of my life."

Nalbandian has rewritten history during these championships. At 20 years and six months, he is the youngest finalist since Boris Becker in 1985.

He is the first in the open era to reach the final on his debut in the event.

"I don't know what to say," he smiled.

"Maybe I am never going to play in a final again, so I want to be happy.

"I don't have much time to enjoy this moment because I must prepare for the final, but these records are everything to me."

Nerves, as much skill, tend to settle the outcome of a fifth-set decider, particularly when a place in the Wimbledon final is at stake.

And so it proved yesterday, as Malisse, a player who suffers from a heart condition and nearly had to forfeit the tie, struggled to handle the pressure.





Nalbandian did particularly well to cope with the confusion surrounding Malisse's ailment.

The Belgian was off court for the best part of 10 minutes at one stage without Nalbandian being told what was going on.

But he kept his cool.

"I didn't know exactly what the rules were," the Argentine explained, "but they do apparently say that if the doctor has to take one hour with a player, he can do it.

"Xavier had to take time because if he has problems with his heart, something very bad could happen on court."

This was very much a match of three parts.

Act One consisted of the first two sets, during which Nalbandian was in complete control and Malisse looked to be on the brink of collapse.

The 21-year-old Belgian had to leave the court on two occasions to receive medical attention.

Act Two started after Saturday's rain break, as a refreshed Malisse raced through the third and fourth sets when bad light intervened.

The Third Act lasted just 32 minutes, as Nalbandian's greater composure steered him to victory.

* Nalbandian played in the Heineken Classic in Auckland in January and was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

- INDEPENDENT