Return Winners: A look back at the 2005 ATP Finals

With a long on-court history extending back to their junior days, Roger Federer and David Nalbandian battled in an epic encounter with history on the line.

The Result: David Nalbandian def. Roger Federer, 6-7 (4), 6-7 (11), 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (3)

The Setting: In the Australian Open semifinals in 2005, Roger Federer lost to Marat Safin, 9-7, in the fifth set. On clay in Monte Carlo, Richard Gasquet upset the world No. 1 in the quarterfinals. At the French Open, Federer lost to Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, allowing the Spaniard went on to win his first major title. And that was it for losses for Federer on the year going into the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The best bet at stopping Federer in 2005 was injury—which actually did for a while. He tore ligaments in his ankle during the indoor season and resurfaced at the year-end championships. He dropped a set in each of his round-robin matches, then blasted past Gaston Gaudio in the semifinals to set up a final against someone he knew quite well on court, David Nalbandian.

The Argentine had defeated Federer in their first five encounters as professionals and was successful against him in the juniors, as well, beating him in the final of the 1998 junior US Open. Federer turned the tide against him at the 2003 Tennis Masters Cup and won their next three encounters, including a victory in the round-robin stage the same week in Shanghai.

The Final: The first two sets of the match, as expected, were a battle. Federer came through in both tiebreaks, including a 13-11 marathon in the second. Nalbandian, a former Wimbledon finalist, had developed a reputation as being one of the most naturally talented players and stormed back to take the next two sets. The Argentine kept up the pressure and actually broke Federer twice in the fifth set to take a 4-0 lead. The Swiss star fought back from the brink and the match went to a deciding tiebreak. This time, though, it was Nalbandian who came through for the biggest title of his career.

81

The matches Fededer won that year. He lost just four, falling one victory short of John McEnroe’s all-time best 82-3 mark.

24

The number of consecutive finals Federer had won prior to this match, dating back to 2003.

4

This was Nalbandian’s fourth career singles title.