Nalbandian Captures 11th Title In Washington

© Getty ImagesDavid Nalbandian won his 11th ATP World Tour title.

David Nalbandian ensured that the Legg Mason Tennis Classic trophy stayed in Argentine hands for the third straight year after defeating eighth-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 7-6(4) in Sunday’s final in Washington D.C.

Nalbandian’s victory follows Tandil native Juan Martin del Potro’s brace of victories in 2008 and 2009. The Cordoba resident was contesting his first ATP World Tour final since winning his 10th trophy in Sydney (d. Nieminen) in January 2009.

Currently down at No. 117 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings, Nalbandian is projected to rise back into the Top 50 at around No. 45 next week after receiving 500 South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking points. He is the first player this year ranked outside the Top 100 to win an ATP World Tour title.

"It’s really important because we were working very hard," said the Argentine. "It has been a year and a half fighting with the surgery and the recovery; we are so happy and this victory made me feel very good again...not only with the rankings, with my game, with everything. It was a good win."

The 28-year-old Nalbandian was contesting just his fifth ATP World Tour tournament of the season after making his return to action in February following ninth months on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery. He also missed over two months between April and July with a hamstring injury.

Despite his lengthy spell on the sidelines, Nalbandian looked to be nearly back to his best this week in Washington where, as a wild card entrant, he lost just one set en route to his first ATP World Tour title on American soil.

"I didn’t expect to win the first tournament when I came," said Nalbandian. "When I started hitting the ball and I hit good after the first match and the second one, I really feel good. But in the beginning, if I had to bet, I would bet on myself, of course."

The right-hander had been in blistering form as he crushed fourth seed Marin Cilic in the semi-finals on Saturday night and carried that same form into the final as he broke serve twice in the first and seventh games to race to a 5-2 lead against Baghdatis in the first set.

After closing out the first set 6-2, Nalbandian was denied the opportunity to break serve immediately in the second set as Baghdatis followed a double fault with a timely ace before holding serve. Baghdatis was then gifted his first service break of the match courtesy of successive double faults from Nalbandian in a rare loose service game from the Argentine.

Neither player was able to hold on to a lead in the second set, though. No sooner had Baghdatis broken did Nalbandian immediately hit back with more devastating groundstrokes, before then breaking the Baghdatis serve again to lead 3-2. With the Argentine beginning to fatigue in the searing afternoon heat, though, Baghdatis benefitted from a spate of unforced errors to draw level at 3-3.

Baghdatis held a set point chance in the 12th game after rifling an inside-out backhand return winner, but was denied as Nalbandian once again produced more potent groundstrokes, particularly off the backhand side, to alleviate the danger.

In the ensuing tie-break, Nalbandian rediscovered his form from the first set as he powered into a 5-0 lead. Baghdatis rallied to win the next three points, but could not prevent Nalbandian from securing victory on his second match point in just under two hours.

"I think I played very good throughout the week here," said Nalbandian. "I had a few moments in some matches where I did not play too good. In the rest, I had great moments, great matches. And then the win and I’m so happy for it."

World No. 25 Baghdatis slipped to a 4-5 record in tour-level finals, 1-1 this season. In January he won his fourth ATP World Tour title in Sydney with victory over Richard Gasquet. The 25-year-old Limassol native continued his return to form this week after going winless in three tournaments during the grass-court season before winning one match last week to reach the Los Angeles quarter-finals (l. to Tipsarevic).

"I will never forget where I come from," said Baghdatis. "I was ranked 150 last year and now I maybe touched Top 20 this year. I am looking forward to the future and playing better."