Verdasco knocks Nadal out of Australian Open
The first-round exit was 2009 champion Nadal’s first at Melbourne Park and only his second at a grand slam
Fernando Verdasco sent shockwaves through the Australian Open on Tuesday by defeating Rafa Nadal 7-6(6) 4-6 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 to send the former world number one crashing out in the tournament’s opening round.
The first-round exit was 2009 champion Nadal’s first at Melbourne Park and only his second at a grand slam.
Down 2-0 in the final set, Verdasco dragged himself off the canvas with a barrage of booming forehand winners, breaking Nadal twice to storm to a 5-2 lead.
He broke his compatriot a third time, sealing the match with a cross-court winner that left the Rod Laver Arena crowd stunned late in the day session.
“I just hit everything. I think I played unbelievable in the fifth set from the break,” Verdasco said in a courtside interview.
“I just started hitting winners. I don’t know how. I was closing the eyes and everything when I was coming in.
“I kept doing it so it went well.”
After shaking hands with his opponent and the chair umpire Nadal strode quickly off the court, barely pausing to acknowledge the crowd with a wave.
Also Read
-
World tennis rocked by match-fixing allegations
In a confidential report for tennis authorities in 2008, the inquiry team said 28 players involved in those games should be investigated Sports -
Tennis star Andy Murray helps Syrian refugees with every ace scored
Murray, who is ranked world number two, announced in September he would donate 50 pounds for every ace he hit until the end of 2015 Sports
