Fernando Verdasco to feature in Apia Sydney International 2013 – Tennis News
Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, will hunt for a rhythmic start to the new season in January. He plans on warming up his skills and body for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, at the Apia Sydney International.
He will join some big names who will feature in the tournament. The top seed of the tournament will be the eighth ranked Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Other participants include the likes of talented French duo of Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet whilst the hopes of the local crowd will be ridden by the 52nd ranked Bernard Tomic. The number one American, John Isner, has also confirmed his participation in the next edition of the Apia Sydney International and his inclusion has definitely strengthened the squad a lot.
Verdasco who turned 29 in the last month had a decent current season. However, the lack of consistency kept his chances of winning an Association of Tennis Professionals on the lower side. He just managed to feature in one final during the Abierto Mexicano Telcel at Acapulco. He commenced the tournament as the eighth seed player and dismissed the second seed compatriot Nicolas Almagro in the quarter-final before facing the top seed Defending Champion, David Ferrer. It was obviously a very difficult task for the 24th ranked Spaniard to beat his compatriot who was the second best in the country.
Verdasco faced a shock opening round exit at the Australian Open at the hands of the local hero Bernard Tomic. He survived two rounds at the French Open without a lot of problem but couldn’t dismiss the inferior seed Andreas Seppi in the following stage that ended his dream of capturing the maiden Grand Slam title. Three rounds at the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open trashed his dreams for yet another season.
Verdasco did not take part in this year’s edition of the Apia Sydney International event. He was contesting in the Hopman Cup at Perth and decided to travel to Auckland to participate in the Heineken Open after that.
However, the New Year has brought a different combination of warm-up tournaments. Let’s hope he improves his results at the Grand Slam events.
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