SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
Search:
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Latest News
Featured News
Book Reviews
Videos
ATP Singles
ATP Doubles
WTA Singles
WTA Doubles
News
Scores
Rankings
Lucky Letcord Podcast
Shop
Pro Gear
Pickleball
Gear Sale
Popular This Week
Medvedev Plays Illuminati Card in Madrid Win
Medvedev Has Mixed Emotions on Premium Tour
Nadal Pumped to Partner Alcaraz in Olympics
Nadal on Roland-Garros: Hope Will Decide if He Plays
Sinner: Dreaming Big on Dirt
Alcaraz: Pain-Free but Unwilling to Hit Forehand wit...
HJTEP 52nd Annual Gala Set for NYC, Tickets on Sale ...
Net Posts
Industry Insider
Second Serve
Add to Flipboard Magazine.
AO Flashback: Nadal and Verdasco’s Epic 2009 Encounter
It is one of the greatest Australian Open matches we’ve ever seen. And it became part of one of the most impressive title runs that
Rafael Nadal
has ever made. Six years on, as we prepare for another Nadal-Verdasco battle in Melbourne, we look back at this magical slice of “Armada” history, remembering just how epic this encounter between
Fernando Verdasco
and Rafael Nadal was.
First thought:
Man was Verdasco a beast back then.
Second thought:
As good as he was, Nadal was even better.
And, not unemotional. “Today was one of these matches you gonna remember long time, no?” Nadal said. “Well, the emotion was big, because in the last game with the Love-40 I start to cry. Was too much tension, no?”
Verdasco, who had defeated
Andy Murray
and
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
, was playing the tennis of his life at Melbourne in 2009. But even his most intense, impressive shotmaking was not enough to get by Nadal in his prime.
“Fernando was playing I think his best level in his career,” Nadal said. “He continues like this, he's gonna have chances for be in any number of the ranking, no?”
Nadal would end up victorious in the five-hour and 14-minute encounter, and Verdasco would never again get so close to a major final. It’s a moment that Nadal remembers fondly as the match that springboarded him to his first and only Australian Open title. As he prepares to play Verdasco in what could prove to be a very tricky first-rounder, Nadal reflected on the win.
“Obviously that match gave me the chance to win the only Australian Open that I have won,” Nadal said. “It was an unforgettable memory for me. I think the level of tennis was fantastic. There were some spectacular points. Many people always ask me about that match. It was a tough one, but a great experience.”
Posted:
Latest News
Tough Stuff: Nadal Wins 3-Hour Madrid Marathon
Red Swarm: Swiatek Storms into Madrid QF vs. Haddad ...
Madrid Week On, By the Numbers: Collins, Alcaraz, Ry...
15-Love: Collins Scores 15th Straight Win in Madrid
Alcaraz Continues Madrid Dominance with Win over Sey...
Rybakina Rides Hot Hand Past Sherif in Madrid
TENNISNOW.COM
News
Blogs
Vlogs
Forums
Arcade
Members
TENNIS NOW TV
Daily News Vlog
Gear Guide
Catching Up With...
Feeds
News Feed
Blog Feed
TV Feed
ON TOUR
Scores
Player Profiles
ATP Calendar
WTA Calendar
TV Listings
PARTNERS
Instructional
Find Tennis Lessons Near You
Tennis Lessons Online with Tom Avery
Fuzzy Yellow Balls - Video Tennis Lessons
Tennis Gear
Tennis Express - Racquets, Shoes, and Apparel
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links Directory
|
Privacy Policy