Fernando Verdasco surprises Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
King of Clay, Rafael Nadal of Spain, failed in his quest of recapturing the title, as he was beaten by countryman, Fernando Verdasco, in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 5-7 in the third round at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain on Thursday.
The Spaniard was thrown out of the competition after a gruelling fight of three hours and 10 minutes.
Verdasco put Nadal under pressure from the beginning of the contest, breaking him in the second game to go up 2-0 but the latter bounced back to level the score at 2-2. Verdasco did not lose confidence, winning four of the next five games to capture it 6-3.
The 28-year-old was erratic on the second serves, committing three double faults and losing nine of the 15 points on them. Nevertheless, he compensated that by clinching 20 of the 28 first delivery and five of the seven second return points.
Almost stunned by getting defeated in the opener, Nadal made a positive start in the second set, as he hit a blow to his opponent in the fourth game and held his following serve to attain a 4-1 advantage. Verdasco struck back in the seventh to reduce the trail to 3-4 but Nadal played aggressively to claim two in a row and seal it 6-3.
The Spaniard came attacking in the decider, as he broke his compatriot in the third and fifth game to race to a 4-1 lead. Verdasco pulled one back but Nadal struck again in the seventh to stretch his advantage to 5-2. However, he failed in his two chances to serve out the match, evening out the proceedings at 5-5. Verdasco carried on the winning momentum and snatched two more games to win 7-5.
A dejected Nadal said, after the match, "I knew I was in control of the match [at 5-2 in the third set]. I lost because I deserved to lose today, even if I was winning 5-2. When the moment came to close [out] the match I didn't know how to do it. I made a big mistake with a smash at 5-2 and 15/0, but that is just anecdotal. That's what happened, he played better than me and he beat me."
Nadal threatened that he would not participate at the Mutua Madrid Open if event organisers continue with the blue clay. He said, "If things continue, [there] will be one less tournament in my calendar. The movements are important for me and here I cannot move so I cannot hit the ball the way that I want.”
Verdasco is pitted against sixth seed, Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic, in the quarter-final.
Tags: