David Nalbandian Looks to Continue Torrid Run Against Rafael Nadal in Paris Finale

Two impressive runs will collide in Paris today as the championship final of the BNP Paribas Masters takes place in the French capital. World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will try to remain perfect in Paris, having gone 21-0 at Roland Garros (winning it the last three years) and now 4-0 here (in his first attempt at this tournament).

David Nalbandian, currently ranked No. 21 but formerly the world’s No. 3-ranked player, is trying to become the first player to beat Roger Federer and Nadal at the same tournament twice while the pair is ranked No. 1 and No. 2 (he achieved the feat en route to winning his first ATP Masters Series shield in Madrid two weeks ago). Perhaps fittingly, that was the first time Nalbandian and Nadal had ever played, and the Argentine was a straight-sets winner. On Sunday, he will chase his second ATP Masters Series title while Nadal will seek his 10th (and fourth of the year).

NALBANDIAN FASTFACTS

Making third appearance here; fell second round in 2002 (l. to Safin) and 2005 (l. to Haas);this year, d. Almagro, No. 14 seed Moya, top seed Federer, No. 5 seed Ferrer and No. 10 seed Gasquet en route to his second consecutive AMS final 2007 Highlights: W: AMS Madrid (d. Federer); QF: Barcelona (l. Ferrer).

Comes into final of AMS Paris with 30-18 season record (22-10 on hard).

Made best performance of season two weeks ago at AMS Madrid, becoming just second player since Becker at 1994 Stockholm to d. Top 3 players at same tournament (d. No. 2 Nadal in quarterfinals, No. 3 Djokovic in semifinals and No. 1 Federer in final, snapping a four-match losing streak against the Swiss superstar); was first AMS shield; the next week, rose from No. 25 to No. 18 in ATP Rankings but fell first round at Basel (l. to Wawrinka).

Had reached just one quarterfinal in 15 tournaments going into AMS Madrid, at Barcelona (d. Moya en route; l. to Ferrer); has won back-to-back matches at six other events, however, reaching fourth round at Australian Open (l. to Haas), AMS Indian Wells (l. to Ljubicic) and Roland Garros (l. to Davydenko), and third rounds at Wimbledon (l. to Baghdatis), AMS Canada (l. to Djokovic) and US Open (l. to Ferrer in five sets after holding match point).

Is 3-0 against Top 2 players this year, beating Federer and Nadal at AMS Madrid two weeks ago and Federer again this week; he is 8-11 lifetime against the Top 2, five of those victories coming against Federer, one against Roddick, one against Hewitt and one against Nadal.

Comes from Cordoba, the second-largest city in Argentina; his Armenian grandfather built a cement court in his backyard, where David learned to play against his two older brothers.

Compiled outstanding junior results, winning 1998 US Open title (d. Federer) and finishing runner-up at 1999 Roland Garros (l. to Coria); won 1999 Wimbledon doubles title (w/Coria).

Biggest of six career ATP singles titles came at Tennis Masters Cup in 2005 (l. to Federer in round robin portion but made it to final anyway, then d. Federer in fifth set tie-break after coming back from two-sets-to-love down) and AMS Madrid two weeks ago (d. Federer in final); has seven career wins over Federer (is 8-8 lifetime against the Swiss, which began as 5-0 but Federer has won eight of their last 11 matches).

NADAL FASTFACTS

Making tournament debut; after first round bye, d. unseeded players Volandri, Wawrinka, Youzhny and Baghdatis in second round, third round and quarters and semis, respectively 2007 Highlights: W: AMS Indian Wells (d. Djokovic), AMS Monte-Carlo (d. Federer), Barcelona (d. Canas), AMS Rome (d. Gonzalez), Roland Garros (d. Federer), Stuttgart (d. Wawrinka); F: AMS
Hamburg (l. Federer), Wimbledon (l. Federer); SF: Chennai (l. Malisse), AMS Canada (l. Djokovic); QF: Australian Open (l. Gonzalez), Dubai (l. Youzhny), AMS Miami (l. Djokovic), Queen's Club (l. Mahut), AMS Madrid (l. Nalbandian).

Another incredible season from the 21-year-old Spaniard, maintaining his World No. 2 status throughout (has not budged from the No. 2 spot since first rising to it on July 25, 2005).

Comes into AMS Paris final 68-12 on the year (29-9 on hard), with six titles in eight finals.

Best results have come on clay courts, going 31-1 (capturing five of his six season titles at AMS Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, AMS Rome, Roland Garros and Stuttgart; his only loss on the surface came to Federer in Hamburg final, snapping a record 81-match clay court winning streak; has won 93 of 94 clay court matches since April 2005); won Roland Garros for third straight year, becoming first to do so since Bjorn Borg won four in a row from 1978-1981.

His only non-clay court title this year came at AMS Indian Wells, his fifth career hardcourt title and breaking a 12-tournament drought (hadn’t won a title since 2006 Roland Garros).

Two-time runner-up, at Hamburg (l. to Federer; see above) and Wimbledon (l. to Federer).

Two-time semifinalist, at Chennai (l. to Malisse) and AMS Canada (l. to Djokovic).

Five-time quarterfinalist, incl. Australian Open (l. to Gonzalez in first career quarterfinal at Australian Open, completing his full set of career Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances) and AMS Miami (l. to Djokovic just two weeks after beating him in AMS Indian Wells final).

Has fallen prior to quarterfinals only three times in now 19 events, two of the losses caused by retirement (Sydney first round, AMS Cincinnati second round) and the other defeat after winning three rounds (falling to Ferrer in fourth round at US Open).

Has ranked No. 2 for a record 118 consecutive weeks (since July 25, 2005).

Has a 133-13 career record on clay (18 titles) and 97-37 mark on hard courts (5 titles).

In 2006, became the first Spaniard to reach Wimbledon final since Santana won it in 1966.

In 2005, won a teenage record 11 titles and became first teenager to finish No. 2 since Boris Becker in 1986 and highest year-end ATP Ranking ever by a Spaniard.

Has a sparkling 23-5 career record in finals (9-2 in ATP Masters Series) with four of the losses coming to Federer ('05 Miami, '06 Wimbledon, ’07 Hamburg, ’07 Wimbledon). (ATP Digital Services)