Nalbandian Wins First Title in 3 Years at ATP Munich
Posted on May 2, 2005David Nalbandian made his return from a virus a quick one Sunday at the ATP stop in Munich, defeating No. 5 seed Andrei Pavel 6-4, 6-1 for his first title since Basel in 2002.
In addition to the winner's check the 23-year-old Argentine drove home a new silver BMW Z4 convertible for collecting the BMW Open title, the third title of his career.
"I knew when I broke back to 3-4 in the first set it would be tough for him to keep playing at the level he did," Nalbandian said. "This year I started very good in Australia and I then got a virus. Right now I'm trying to get back to my best level. Rome and Hamburg are coming and then Roland Garros. It's nice to start off well on the clay courts by winning here."
Pavel led 4-1 in the first set before dropping 11 of the next 12 games.
"He showed that he is a Top 10 player right now," Pavel said. "I had to play fast against him because my body wasn't 100 percent after yesterday's semifinal and the problems with my stomach. I thought that he would give me some free points but that was not the fact."
In the doubles final Mario Ancic and Julian Knowle won their first title as a team, defeating the German team of Florian Mayer and Alexander Waske 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
In addition to the winner's check the 23-year-old Argentine drove home a new silver BMW Z4 convertible for collecting the BMW Open title, the third title of his career.
"I knew when I broke back to 3-4 in the first set it would be tough for him to keep playing at the level he did," Nalbandian said. "This year I started very good in Australia and I then got a virus. Right now I'm trying to get back to my best level. Rome and Hamburg are coming and then Roland Garros. It's nice to start off well on the clay courts by winning here."
Pavel led 4-1 in the first set before dropping 11 of the next 12 games.
"He showed that he is a Top 10 player right now," Pavel said. "I had to play fast against him because my body wasn't 100 percent after yesterday's semifinal and the problems with my stomach. I thought that he would give me some free points but that was not the fact."
In the doubles final Mario Ancic and Julian Knowle won their first title as a team, defeating the German team of Florian Mayer and Alexander Waske 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.