Get A Lather Going: One of the things I like about Nalbandian is how relaxed he is when he starts a match. He doesn’t force anything in the first couple of games and eases into the action. I think a big reason for this is that when he walks onto the court he already has a sweat working. His body is warm and loose. Sometimes when you’re a little tight at the start of a match, your feet can be sluggish. This can lead to poor positioning and shot execution, and a quick two- or three-game donation to your opponent. A good thing to do right before a match is to take a short jog or run for 5 to 10 minutes on a treadmill. The release of energy will get your heart pumping and your body ready to go.
Choose Carefully: Like any player, Nalbandian is capable of making physical errors, but he rarely commits tactical mistakes. He takes what his opponent gives him and doesn’t force a situation that isn’t there. This is an important lesson for the recreational player. I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Whether you hit a screaming winner or your opponent flubs a backhand, it’s still worth one point. If Nalbandian is pushed deep or wide, he plays the ball back safely and solidly and stays in the point until he gets an opening. What I really like about his style, though, is that while he’s willing to wait until the 15th stroke of a rally, he’s not afraid to pull the trigger on the second ball if there’s an opening. Sometimes your best opportunity comes early in a point, like on a shaky serve, and you’ve got to be ready to pounce on it.
Use The Down-The-Line Backhand: When he does get a short ball in the middle of the court, Nalbandian likes to open things up with a shot down the line.
He’s solid off either wing, but his two-handed backhand is fantastic. In fact, he has one of the best down-the-line two-handers in men’s tennis. It starts with good preparation, in which he almost always gets his body down nice and low. He also uses his left (nondominant) hand to shape and control the shot. And Nalbandian rarely overswings, instead using a fluid stroke that massages the ball close to the sideline. Remember, you don’t have to hit an outright winner when you open up the court; you only need an effective setup shot for finishing the point on the next ball.