Verdasco sealed the four hour and 41-minute classic in style, breaking Nadal’s serve for a third time in the set with a flashing crosscourt victor.
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And his unprecedented early exit was a reverse of their epic, five-hour, 14-minute semi-final they fought in Melbourne six years ago.
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal has been left searching for answers after a shock first-round exit at the hands of Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open. “I just kept doing it and it went well”.
RAFA NADAL CRASHED out in the first round of the Australian Open after losing a five-set thriller to his fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. But in the third and fourth sets, Verdasco was suddenly ferocious.
“I just started hitting winners, I don’t know how”, a jubilant Verdasco said afterwards. I started coming inside the court, being aggressive and it went well.
Andy Murray, a four-time finalist who is seeking his first win in Melbourne, dispatched Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in hot conditions to move into the second round.
Murray did not win a grand slam title in 2015, but ended the year on a high after leading Britain to their first Davis Cup title in 79 years by beating Belgium in the final.
“That was the biggest issue for me today”, Nadal said.
The 32-year-old, however, played fearlessly in the decider and blasted a cross court forehand service return to inflict only Nadal’s second opening round defeat at a grand slam and book a second-round clash with Israel’s Dudi Sela. “But I feel like I’m hitting the ball well enough to go out there and give him a good run”.
“This year was a completely different story – I had been playing and practising great and working so much”.
Miracles do happen and for Verdasco, the player was deemed a tough opponent this season- he undeniably smashed 90 winners and 91 unforced errors in Melbourne Park this time.
He was playing awesome in the last set.
Of course at the beginning of the fifth I was thinking about that semi-final.
Temperatures are forecast to be slightly lower than a sweltering day one, when the mercury rose to 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit). Murray had Amelie Mauresmo, a new mother, back in his coaching corner this week and was happy not to get any mid-match news from home. I hope the next time I can compete better than what I did today, because I was playing good.
“A tad unusual feeling, but I’m trying to soak it up as much as possible”.
Australian favourite Lleyton Hewitt extended his career by another match after he beat compatriot James Duckworth 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 6-4.
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Also safely through to the second round were Canada’s Milos Raonic and Frenchman Gael Monfils.
