DAVID NALBANDIAN was probably the greatest tennis gamers on the earth and reached the Wimbledon closing.
However now he has swapped rallying on the lawns of the All England Membership for the tracks of rally racing in a harmful profession change.
David Nalbandian reached a career-high world No3 within the tennis rankingsCredit score: Graham Hughes – The Occasions
He’s now competing within the Argentine Rally ChampionshipCredit score: https://www.instagram.com/nalbandiand/
Nalbandian has been concerned in a number of scary crashesCredit score: Twitter
And he even cheated demise with a spectacular crash whereas competing in his native Argentina in 2021.
Nalbandian and his co-pilot managed to stroll away unharmed regardless of rolling the automotive FIVE occasions in a terrifying second – his third main crash since taking the wheel.
It’s a far cry from his 13 years as a tennis skilled on the ATP Tour.
The 41-year-old from Unquillo was a profitable junior star, beating Roger Federer within the US Open boys’ singles closing, and made the step as much as the seniors in 2000.
And simply two years later, he competed in his solely Grand Slam closing at Wimbledon the place he misplaced comprehensively to prime seed Lleyton Hewitt 6-1 6-3 6-2.
Nalbandian went on to achieve an additional 4 main semi-finals, gained 11 profession titles together with the 2005 year-end ATP Finals and made a career-high world No3.
Nevertheless, many tennis followers will bear in mind a well-known incident at Queen’s which noticed him disqualified in dramatic circumstances.
The Argentine ace – who went to Qatar to look at his nation win the World Cup – reached the 2012 closing and took the opening set towards Marin Cilic.
However after being damaged to path 3-4 within the second, he kicked out at a wood panel in entrance of a line decide’s chair, inadvertently crashing it into their shin and chopping it open to attract blood.
The outburst price him £36,114 in misplaced prize cash plus a most £8,000 high-quality and he was docked 150 in rating factors.
Total, although, Nalbandian loved a high-quality tennis profession and hung up his racket in 2013 following shoulder surgical procedure earlier than making the swap to the Argentine Rally Championship to finish a lifelong dream.
He stated: “Tennis was my job and racing is a interest. It’s very totally different.
“I don’t have strain right here. I’m studying and attempting to do my greatest however not as knowledgeable.
“Rally is one thing I at all times wished to do, and now I’ve the time to do it.
“I benefit from the conventional rally essentially the most, over rallycross, these are fully totally different.
“Tennis and rally racing are two very totally different specialities, virtually unattainable to check. The adrenaline within the automotive is even troublesome to elucidate.”
Nalbandian was thrashed 6-1 6-3 6-2 within the 2002 Wimbledon closing by Lleyton HewittCredit score: AP:Related Press
He was disqualified from the Queen’s closing in 2012 after kicking out and injuring a line decideCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
The Argentine retired from tennis in 2013 and likewise trimmed his hairCredit score: https://www.instagram.com/nalbandiand/
Nalbandian is retaining lively in his retirementCredit score: https://www.instagram.com/nalbandiand/