David Nalbandian Lifts Washington Title

David Nalbandian won his first ATP title since January 2009 when he lifted the Legg Mason Tennis Classic crown in Washington after seeing off Marcos Baghdatis.

Nalbanidan has been plagued with injury problems in recent years and the Argentinean underwent hip surgury in 2009 and had another set back when he picked up a hamstring problem earlier this season.

But the former world number three showed that he was back to his best this week as he raced through the draw producing a string of great performances.

He blasted Marin Cilic off the court in the semi final and when he broke Baghdatis to love in the opening game of the final it looked like he was going to pick up where he had left off.

A break in the seventh game saw him move even further ahead to lead 5-2 as Baghdatis had no answer for the inspired play that Nalbandian was producing.

5-2 soon became 6-2 and Nalbandian had swept to the opening set in impressive style. But the Cypriot came out all guns blazing at the beginning of the second he broke Nalbandian's serve, which was quite against the run of play to open up a 2-0 lead.

But Baghdatis' advantage didn't last long as Nalbandian hit back in the next game to get the second set back on serve. Baghdatis looked more comfortable on court and was beginning to match Nalbandian from the back of the court.

Nalbandian broke for a second time to lead 3-2 but the Argentinean's level did begin to drop and his first serve began to desert him.

The serving errors were dogging his game and Baghdatis was benefiting from the rising number of errors and he broke straight back to level at 3-3.

The pair stayed locked together until 5-5 when Baghdatis held his serve to move within a game of levelling the match. As Nalbandian served to stay in the set Baghdatis fashioned a match point, but was unable to convert.

Nalbandian held and a tie break was needed to settle the second set. And it was the Argentine who picked up his game in the breaker as he opened a 5-0 lead.

And while Baghdatis did battle back Nalbandian was not to be denied as he wrapped up the match 6-2, 7-6(6-4) to win his eleventh ATP Tour title.

Speaking to the ATP after the match Nalbandian said: It’s really important because we were working very hard. It has been a year and a half fighting with the surgery and the recovery; we are so happy and this victory made me feel very good again...not only with the rankings, with my game, with everything. It was a good win.

I didn’t expect to win the first tournament when I came," said Nalbandian. "When I started hitting the ball and I hit good after the first match and the second one, I really feel good. But in the beginning, if I had to bet, I would bet on myself, of course."

Nalbandian is back in action this week at the Toronto Masters where he will play David Ferrer in his opening match.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw