Wednesday, February 17, 2010

David Nalbandian wins Buenos Aires after hip surgery

David Nalbandian wins Buenos Aires after hip surgery

David Nalbandian defeated Potito Starace 6-2 7-6 in the first round of the Buenos Aires Open.

This was Nalbandian´s first competitive match in nine months because of a hip surgery. The former world number 3 said the victory was a weight off his shoulders and answered his own questions as to how he would cope.

“You don’t know how you’re going to react in particular situations like being 4-4 or having your service broken,” Nalbandian said. “It’s more that uncertainty than playing well or badly (that concerned me),” he added.

David started his comeback on Monday night but his match was suspended due to rain. He said playing in front of his home crowd helped to counter the fact that clay was not his favourite.

“Yesterday I hit my (service) returns better, today the ball was faster and the wind did not help,” he said. “But it was a good comeback. I hesitated very little, hardly at all. I’ll take things day by day. I’ll need four, five, six tournaments to (start) getting the rhythm of the circuit.”

Nalbandian made a confident start, winning the opening set 6-2 with four breaks of serve, before rain halted play. Starace held even with the Argentine through the second set as he saved two break points, but was eventually beaten in the tie-break.



Source ATP/Reuters