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  • Copa Telmex preview: Nalbandian vs Fognini

    2/20/08 9:15 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - Argentine star and tournament favorite David Nalbandian continues his quest for his first title of the year when he takes on Italy's Fabio Fognini.

    David Nalbandian can be brilliant - just ask Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, each of whom he thrashed just 6 months ago. When he is playing well, he can beat anybody. For most of 2007 however, he had dismal results. Until the Madrid Masters event, he had not won a single title, and hadn't made it past the round of 16 in any of the Grand Slams. But when the indoor season rolled around, he was suddenly brilliant again. He won the Masters event in Madrid, and then won the Masters event in Paris, knocking off Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in both tournaments. The 2008 Australian Open once again produced disappointing results; he lost in the third round to Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets.

    Fabio Fognini is having a stellar year, and despite his 78 ranking, he will not be an easy opponent for the Argentine. He has already reached the quarterfinals of Vina del Mar and the semifinals of Costa Do Sauipe in 2008. He's beaten Albert Montanes and Juan Ignacio Chela, and will for sure be one of the young clay court players to watch in the future. This will be the first meeting between the two players, due in large part to the fact that this is Fognini's first foray onto the professional circuit. Drawing Nalbandian in the second round is bad luck for the young Italian. Nalbandian is playing in front of the home crowd, has immeasurably more experience and is simply the better player.

    In order for Fognini to have any chance of winning this match, he will have to hope that Nalbandian has an “off” day. Because if Nalbandian is playing even 70% as well as he's capable of playing, Fognini will not stand any chance. The Nalbandian ground strokes will be too difficult for him to handle, and the Argentine will push Fognini around the court all day long. Nalbandian in 2.

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