Sam Querrey upsets Fernando Verdasco to reach fourth round of BNP Paribas Open
World number 24 Sam Querrey of USA upset world number 9 Fernando Verdasco of Spain in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 in the third round at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.
In the opening set, the American broke Verdasco in the 11th game, taking a 6-5 lead. He held his next service game to win the first set 7-5.
Querrey hit a single ace and 64 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. While, Verdasco served better than his opponent as he fired in 5 aces and 69 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. The Spanish saved 2
of the 3 break points he faced in the first set. Whereas, Querrey saved all the 3 break points he faced in the opening set.
The American broke Verdasco in the first game of the second set. He consolidated on the single break of serve, winning the second set 6-4.
The 23-year-old American fired in 7 aces and 64 per cent of the first serves in the second set. He won 78 per cent of the points on his first serves. On the other hand, Verdasco delivered 2 aces and 75 per cent of the first serves
in the second set. The Spanish missed all 5 chances to break his opponent’s serve. The match lasted for 1 hour and 34 minutes.
With this win, Querrey improved his win/loss record to 5-5 in this year. The American started the season at the Medibank International Sydney, where he lost to Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets 4-6, 3-6 in the second round.
He was upset by Lukasz Kubot in five thrilling sets 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-8 in the first round at the Australian Open.
The right handed American will next face world number 28 Tommy Robredo of Spain in the fourth round. The Spanish beat world number 143 Donald Young of USA in straight sets 6-0, 6-4 in the third round.
This will be the second meeting between Querrey and Robredo. The Spanish leads Querrey 1-0 in the head-to-head record. He defeated the American in four sets 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1 at the Australian Open in 2007.
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