Rafael Nadal vs Fernando Verdasco US Open preview
Fernando Verdasco fought his way back from the brink of defeat in the fourth round only to find himself facing an even more Herculean task in the quarters: a match against world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
The pair may be Davis Cup teammates for Spain, but Nadal has shown no mercy on his compatriot in the 10 matches they’ve played previously, where he’s amassed an unbeaten record.
Their most recent clash came in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 during April, when an imperious Nadal allowed his 26-year-old opponent just one game as he recorded his most decisive victory over Verdasco yet.
It’s true that most of Nadal’s victories over the world No. 8 have been fairly straightforward, but it was only at the 2009 Australian Open that they produced a match for the record books, with their five hours and 14 minute semi-final the longest match recorded in the tournament’s history.
The clash of countrymen delivered high-quality tennis for the duration as each player showcased the full range of power and precision, finesse and flair available in their arsenal. Remarkably, the standard of the match remained strong until the very last point, and the performance rightly earned plaudits as the match of the tournament.
Verdasco will know that’s the level of tennis he’ll need to produce for the duration if he’s to manage a massive upset in this match, while the eighth seed’s comeback from a two-set deficit against David Ferrer in the round of 16 to win the match in a tiebreak is indicative of the fight Verdasco will have to show once again against the US Open’s top seed.
History shows, however, that he won’t do it. Verdasco seems destined to be a player for whom the big victories remain tantalisingly out of reach and there could hardly be a better example of that than at last year’s World Tour Finals.
Each of Verdasco’s round robin matches – against Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Murray – was decided over the three set maximum, and two of them in tiebreaks. Verdasco was on the losing side of the court in every one of them.
While there are doubts about whether Verdasco is a big-match contender, there is a certainty that Nadal was born to play on the big stage. The Majorcan has come to Flushing Meadows with the aim of completing his career Grand Slam, and so far has given every indication that’s just what he’s going to do.
Nadal has not yet dropped a set all tournament, nor has he been broken on serve. The 24-year-old’s at times fragile body too has in four matches in New York stood up to the punishing physicality of his game, though his opponents haven’t been able to manage it so far.
Everything seems to indicate that Nadal is on course for his first final in Flushing Meadows, and Verdasco isn’t going to stand in his way.
Prediction: Nadal in straight sets.
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