The man who conquered the Big Three but never won a Grand Slam
In short: David Nalbandian holds a unique distinction in tennis history. He is the only player to have defeated all three members of the 'Big Three'—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—in a single tournament, yet he remains widely considered one of the greatest players to never secure a Grand Slam title.
Born in Unquillo, Argentina, in 1982, Nalbandian’s career was defined by both brilliance and frustration. He was a formidable right-handed player known for a two-handed backhand that was considered among the best on the professional tour. His ability to dismantle the era's most dominant players was most evident in 2007 at the Madrid Masters, where he defeated Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer in consecutive rounds to claim the title.
This feat made him the third player to defeat the world's top three players in one tournament, following Boris Becker and Novak Djokovic. He further demonstrated his dominance by winning the Madrid and Paris Masters back-to-back, a feat achieved previously only by Marat Safin in 2004. In 2005, he also became the first player to win the Tennis Masters Cup without having previously won a Grand Slam or Masters Series title, defeating Roger Federer in the final.
Despite these achievements, the ultimate prize eluded him. His best Grand Slam result was reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2004. His career, which spanned from 2000 to 2013, saw him reach a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3 in March 2006. Beyond his individual accolades, he was a key member of the Argentine Davis Cup team, reaching the World Group finals in 2006, 2008, and 2011. Since retiring from professional tennis, Nalbandian has transitioned to the world of rally racing, competing in Rally Argentina.
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