King David's Memories: "If I had beaten Baghdatis, I think I would have won the Australian final against Federer"

Carlos Navarro | 16 Dec 2025 | 17.59

Could David Nalbandian win that Australian Open 2006? Source: Getty

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Few more talented players have been seen in recent times than David Nalbandian. Not everyone can boast of being recognized as 'The King', a nickname that paid tribute to his ease in opening the court, drawing diagonals, keeping up with the pace of the best players, and doing it with insulting elegance and ease. The only man to overthrow the Big Three in the same tournament, a genius and figure of Argentine and world tennis, still has much to say... and many memories to dust off.

The albiceleste's career is filled with memories of highly emotional nature. Some very positive; others, perhaps, he would want to forget. His figure is linked to the Davis Cup, his great unhealed wound and at the same time the driving force of his sports career. "The Davis Cup was a different feeling, a different pressure, a different enjoyment. Another thing. You represented your country, you feel more involved with the people, and vice versa. It had something spectacular, today with the new system, the home advantage is not felt as much," explains a candid Nalbandian about his feelings towards the current competition format.

I don't like it, no. If I were playing today, it is true that I wouldn't see it as bad in terms of the schedule, as I spent a lot of time getting ready for the Davis Cup, missing out on many tournaments. I always did. Now it doesn't take as much time away for improving the ranking or rest. I planned my season around the Davis Cup: I experienced a feeling that I would never experience in any other tournament." David was always somewhat countercultural: a different one who closely witnessed the rise of the Big Three and anticipated possible changes in playing style that would come later. Therefore, it is not surprising that one of his most interesting confessions relates to how he approached each match.

"In Grand Slams, I always aimed to tire the opponent in the first set. I didn't care if I won it or not. I was aware that my opponent would run many more kilometers than me in that first set. When the second set started, I was fresh, and he had used up his energy. I would ease off and not hit winners to make my opponent more tired." A powerful confession that sometimes cost him dearly: David never managed to win a Major... despite having some good opportunities.

The missed opportunity of Australia 2006, a memory embedded like a thorn in Nalbandian's memory

Defining Nalbandian's prime is difficult: he had unforgettable isolated tournaments but struggled to find a consistent form that would last for several months. One of his best moments undoubtedly takes us back to the end of 2005, when he won the Masters Cup after an unforgettable final against Roger Federer: a couple of months later, the Argentine reached the semifinals of the Australian Open 2006 and defeated Marcos Baghdatis by two sets to zero. In the final, his old friend Roger was waiting: it seemed like the perfect opportunity... but everything faded away.

His memorable triumph in Madrid and the debate about the Big Three

Beyond his victories and defeats in Grand Slams, a significant part of the public's memory of the Argentine revolves around his relationship with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. He is the only player in history capable of defeating all three in the same tournament: the Masters 1000 in Madrid remains vivid in the minds of all tennis fans, and no one better than him to recount what happened during that magical week.

"In 2007, I was coming off a tough year, I was injured. I remember I was in the top 30, but I had points to defend... if things didn't go well, I would drop to #40 in the world. In my second match, I faced a match point against Berdych. I survived that match, I was playing very well, coming from a good performance in the US Open, losing to Ferrer in five sets. I knew I would have a good chance to play well indoors.

In the quarterfinals, I faced Rafa. I had never played against him. In Madrid, with the crowd... I started playing and felt comfortable from the first minute, Rafa wasn't at his best, struggling a bit with the altitude, and I took advantage. I had lost to Nole once in Montréal: I knew it would be a tough match, but I had good feelings, was playing well, and I beat him in two sets. With Roger... it was the classic, I played the most matches against him of the three. He had beaten me a lot, but that... that was a great match. It was a fantastic match. These are things that happen once in a lifetime, and I experienced that week".

Few men are more authorized, therefore, to offer their opinion in the debate about who is the best in history. Who does King David choose? "I believe there is unanimity, but also different tastes. Undoubtedly, Nole is the best. By results, numbers, everything. Now, you might like Roger and Rafa more, who are slightly behind in numbers, but were much more symbolically significant for people. For me, Djokovic is the best, undoubtedly. You may like him more or less, but for me, there's no doubt. In addition, Nole helped Roger and Rafa to keep improving and set new goals. Among the three, they boosted each other." Signed by King David, one of those modern tennis geniuses who, perhaps, had the talent to compete more frequently against all of them... but, as a wise man from Manacor said, "if, if, if, doesn't exist".

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los recuerdos del Rey David: "Si le hubiese ganado a Baghdatis, creo que habría ganado la final de Australia ante Federer"