What’s up with David Nalbandian?

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The Argentine tennis star, who stunned the world as a young Wimbledon finalist in 2002, had fallen precipitously out of tennis’ top 20 this year, complaining of injuries. The press was full of speculation that he was out of shape and less interested in practicing his volley than racing cars and enjoying the global cool circuit, in the company of escorts such as Sofia Zamolo, the sultry Argentine model. Then something happened.

Nalbandian has scored consecutive Masters victories in Madrid and Paris, on both occasions defeating tennis’ top two players, Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain. In Madrid he also vanquished the world No. 3, the Serb Novak Djokovic, becoming a rare player to beat the world’s top three in consecutive rounds.

On Sunday, Nalbandian dismantled Nadal in straight sets in Paris, finishing the match in slightly more than an hour. The muscle-bound Spanish idol had no clue.

‘Since the U.S. Open I feel my tennis is coming back,’ Nalbandian said in Clarin. But, he added, ‘I never imagined this.’

Posted by Patrick J. McDonnell and Andrés D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires

Photo: David Nalbandian after beating Spain’s Rafael Nadal in Paris.

Credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images