Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open after just one match.
Going five sets with Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne for the second time in as many contests, Nadal could not come out on top this time around. The world No. 5, who outlasted his fellow Spaniard in an epic 2009 semifinal, fell 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 after four hours and 41 minutes.
“He was playing amazing in the last set,” Nadal assessed. “If you decide everything in one set, the opponent is ready to hit all the balls at 100 percent, then you are in trouble. He had a lot of success hitting all the balls full power in the fifth. I have to congratulate him…. He played better than me. He played more aggressive than me. He [took] more risks than me, and he won. Probably he deserved.
“But I am not happy about the way that I played the first. In the fourth I was not very bad, but he played better than me, too. I had my chances in the fourth.”
Nadal had a few highlights, too, before the match got away from him.
The 14-time major champion converts set point in the second set in amazing fashion:
at least he did this pic.twitter.com/VKQsNcv5HO
— Ricky Dimon (@BloodDimon) January 19, 2016
Verdasco blasted 90 winners to Nadal’s 39. The underdog fired 17 more winners than his opponent throughout a jaw-dropping final set–21 to four, to be exact.
“I played unbelievably in the fifth set,” Verdasco assured. “I don’t know how I did it. I closed my eyes and everything went in.”
Verdasco forehand at 2-2 in the fifth, which Brad Gilbert called “the biggest I have ever seen”:
Verdasco was just too good pic.twitter.com/EbiIfQlUsm
— Ricky Dimon (@BloodDimon) January 19, 2016
Verdasco converts match point with a forehand return winner:
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[polldaddy poll=9278359]
commiserations to Nadal fans
Really sad for Nadal but holy crap Verdasco hit 90 winners? I gotta say he deserved this match if he hit nearly triple digit winners. Pretty big blow for Rafa though. He and Halep out on day two. Wow. The question is will Verdasco actually win his next match or make a run or anything? He really should be able to at least make the fourth round or quarterfinals. Sela is a pretty good draw for him because the Israelite isn’t that consistent (like Verdasco) and Verdasco has won all six sets against Dudi. I actually don’t know who I’m picking for that one though. I wouldn’t be that surprised if he lost to Sela but I think it’s a good matchup for Fernando so I’ll probably vote him in four. Need some time to think about that one though.
Rafa teed the ball up for him 180 times and Verdasco turned 50% into winners and 50% into unforced error. Most in his position would have hit more winners.
Nando will be lucky to win his next match.
Hawkeye, I watched some highlights of Rafa’s Tokyo 2010 matches and realized just how good Rafa was back in 2010.
I have forgotten how good he was then. He was so quick around the court, his shots were more penetrating and his serve very much better than now and most importantly, he was moving up the court and playing with more attacking mindset. In fact I would say that Rafa would have no problem playing against the 2011 or 2015 Novak. Sadly, after his thigh injury at AO2011 when he was going for 4 slams in a row, he wasnt the same confident player anymore, not helped by Novak’s ‘breakthrough’ in 2011.
I wont call Rafa a counterpuncher during 2008-2010 and 2013 when clearly he was playing a more aggressive game by moving forward and taking control of points, not staying back to counterpunch.
Rafa is trying now to move forward inside the court, ie trying to find his 2008-2010 and his 2013 game again; no wonder Toni was saying that. In addition, Rafa is working on his BHDTL and his ROS. Clearly Rafa is not there yet hence his FH short balls that Verdasco could take advantage of.
To get out of counterpunching mode, Rafa needs to be confident with his game just like during 2008-2010 and 2013. This AO loss may be a setback but at the same time, this is a wake up call, that Rafa has to learn to put what he practised into his matches. He should start doing that during the SA clay events; rebuilding his confidence takes time and hopefully by the European clay season he’s confident enough to play like his 2010/2013 when he’s at his most aggressive.
PS. I think Verdasco has good chance of reaching at least the fourth round where he may meet Monfils. Let’s see whether the quickest counterpuncher around the court could deal with an aggressive going for broke Verdasco.
Thanks for the commiserations. Rafa fans need it now.
I am very sad for Rafa. He was up two sets to one and still managed to lose.
I have no idea if Nando can capitalize on this win or not. The thing that gets to me is that Rafa had such a good draw. The best possible draw, considering he was the #5 seed.
Yep. Really thought Rafa was on the right track with a good enough draw to get to the final. I’ve been this wrong before – too many times to remember.
About Hot Sauce, I dunno about him. And my track record picking Dudi Sela is: pick him and he loses. Don’t pick him and he wins. Neither of these guys were on my radar to get through the 1st round. Let’s see what happens. Sela in 5.
Nny, I fell asleep. Had been watching several matches. Again, sincere commiserations to you and Rafa fans. At least you can get back into the matches and what’s left of AO. Tennis is a way to escape for me. If I’m too into one player, it’s no longer an escape. It’s a trap. Already I fear more than I’d like for Aga, I’ll admit. In WTA players – Aga, Halep, Petra K., have a soft place in my heart for some reason. Have to prepare myself in case Aga loses to Bouchard later. But there are so many good matches on…
“Tennis is a way to escape for me. If I’m too into one player, it’s no longer an escape. It’s a trap.”
ratcliff nailed it. Shaaamon!
It works for me, hawk. Sometimes it’s not easy to stay out of the trap.
I don’t think I ever fell into it.
I’ve always been able to continue to watch and enjoy tennis after my favourite lost.
I did lose a lot of interest in tennis after Sampras retired up until 2006 when Rafa became a serious and consistent threat on more than just clay.
For me, it was just no fun watching one guy win everything for three years with no consistent opponent challenging him in finals.
Me too. I’ll continue watching without worrying about my fav player after he lost, at least for the time being. At the same time, I’ll look out for how his main rivals play and think of how Rafa could counter them next time.
Taking Nando in four somewhat reluctantly.
I think Nando and today’s generation’s new game has passed Sela’s game by.
Nando in five.
Lol verdasco just beats nadal and people voting a low ranking player to take out verdasco. I got verdasco winning by a large margin. You don’t blast nadal off the court just to lose to someone much less skill level. Verdasco can get some serious cash and ranking points now that nadal is out of the way.
Dj – I have my reasons.
1) Dudi is extremely fit and if he can push Verdasco to 5 sets, Nando may feel the wear and tear at age 32 from the heavy lifting he did in his win over Rafa.
2) It’s kinda a jinx/ anti-jinx experitment.
Sela could have beaten last night’s shadow of Rafa.
ratcliff,
I see things much the way you do. Also, it seems that someone has forgotten how many times a player beats Rafa and then loses in the next round.
We will see what that five set match took out of Nando and if he’s got anything left against Sela.
Nope Verdasco is inconsistent I could definitely see him losing. I’m picking him in four but hesitantly. I wouldn’t really bet a lot on that match though honestly.
Agreed. Hard to take anyone that seriously who just won a match with almost 100 unforced errors.
Good point! There was a lot of talk about how many winners Nando had, but the number of UE’s was kind of forgotten. That’s not great tennis.
I have no idea if Nando can do something here. It’s not like he was doing anything in slams before this. Rafa has a way of making his opponents looking like tennis Gods and then they lose in the next round.
it happens all the time
I will be VERY surprised if Verdasco wins
Why isn’t our tourneytopia pool updated. Still just showing results from Day 1!!!!!!
Tennis Channel, you cannot be serious!!!
Ah. They must have heard me.
Hawkstradamus is in 1st where I belong.
You will all bow to Me.
#Humb1e
Very good I see, Hawstradamus 😀 Looked over your bracket and it’s more in the green than red.
To the semifinals Nicky!
Team Kyrigos!
Saw your message but I’ve no idea how to post or reply there.
Scroll down to the bottom of my bracket and there’s a place to comment. Or scroll down the Tenngrand Home Page until you see the comment section. Go Hawkstradamus! When you register for the next tourneytopia GS you can also change your username to “Hawkstradamus” or HumbleHawkstradamus lol…
Oops forgot the home page link:
http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketAussieOpenATP/TheGrandstand2016/default.aspx
Scroll to bottom of that page.
Rafa’s words in his presser were a real downer.
Just basically saying he is going to continue to practise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
I went on VB and tried to watch Rafa’s presser, but seeing the pain and sadness in his eyes got me upset all over again. I just stopped watching. I can’t take seeing him like that.
If by your logic verdasco is old at age 32 will wear down easy then where does this lead serena and federer who both are even older. I agree that verdasco can be inconsistent but verdasco should realize he has a real shot to make it to at least the quarter finals and will want to put his best ever effort into this run. At age 32, his old age should be motivation enough as this is probably his last chance to make a deep run in a major.
What makes you think he’ll magically become consistent when he’s been struggling to do that his entire career?
True. I’ve always said he was a wasted talent even tho I like him as a player. Still he really has never been consistent. Let’s hope for a late career surge??
Exactly. This is big opportunity for him.
Serena has never had to bounce back from a five set match whereas Federer loses them almost loses them as often as he wins them, and he doesn’t bounce back so great when he does.
Last time it happened, he beat Monfils in five at the 2014 USO and lost in straight sets to Marin Cilic.
The time before that, he beat Simon in five at the 2013 FO and lost to Tsonga in straight sets.
The time before that, he beat Tsonga in five at the 2013 AO and lost to Rafa in straight sets.
In 2012, after beating Benneteau in five in the 4th round he beat won Wimbly.
In 2012, after beating Delpo in five sets in the QF French Open, he lost to Nole in straight sets in the semis.
So, not as great as you think.
If Federer or Serena had just won a 5 set match like that? I would not pick them either. But they quite possibly have even more miles on them than Nando.
I doubt Serena would have all the titles she has if WTA GS were BO5. But that’s pure speculation and my opinion on her endurance. BO3 – she’s good. As for this win being motivation – agree there. We’ll see. Dudi has his own motivation, pretty sure – and he will be ready to run, run, run. It could go either way.
But mine are not expert picks DJ, and I rarely bet, just to be clear.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/game-set-fixed-match-reports-rampant-tennis-corruption-article-1.2501154
I was just watching the daily news on TV and there is a heated investigation 16 top tennis players are investigated for throwing matches and a total of 70 players are suspected so I googled it.
Typical!!!!!!!!
Verdasco loses to Dudi Sela in four sets. Only caught the deciding tie-breaker but it was enough to see Verdasco had reverted to his usual style of play after playing the best tennis we’ve seen from him in several years.
Typical!!!!!!!!
Verdasco loses to Dudi Sela in four sets. Only caught the deciding tie-breaker but it was enough to see Verdasco had reverted to his usual style of play after playing the best tennis we’ve seen from him in several years to bring down Rafa two days ago.
Rafa enabled him.
Sela didn’t.
Verdasco looks old and isn’t very good.
The last eight players who’ve beaten Rafa have lost their next match.
Other than Stan none of them are very good.
Rafa’s just hit short and made them look much better than they are.
But this has to sting Rafa even more. Its like, unheralded players are beating the hell out of him and getting their backsides handed to them by other unheralded players. What is Rafa doing losing to players like these? So Verdasco could handle Rafas forehand, penetrate Rafa’s defense, be mentally stronger than Rafa and failed in all these departments against Sela! Sela who?
Until very recently, it was the player who beat Roger that won the Grand Slam. This is like Rafa gets the wooden spoon!
I was planning to go to Indian wells to catch Rafa in action but I am not sure he would be in the quarters and even if he is he may be butchered by the djokovics and murrays
vmk1, I know exactly what you mean. I was very tempted to go to Doha when I was in Dubai but I didn’t want to spend all that money and run the risk of Rafa not going deep in the draw. Two years ago, that would not have even entered my head.
yeah, I planned to go to Doha for vacation just to be able to watch Rafa’s matches…then again, the same thing I did years ago in Miami and got to see Novak vs Murray final whereas Rafa was kicked out of the tourney in the quarters…So, I gave it a second thought and decided to not go because I would not be able to stand the disappointment if I went through all that trouble traveling etc. just to not see Rafa play…
So I guess deep inside we are no more convinced Rafa would do well in the tourneys…although I always expect Rafa to win and I always articulate it with fans of other players that I hang around with, I seem no longer certain Rafa can and will survive first rounds let alone the semis…and it was only a 250 tourney…that’s so sad…
yesterday, Novak’s fan teased me (knowing how much I like watching AO): “some of us get to watch AO till the end and some are done watching already in the first round”…I said I would continue watching for other players and that as long as Rafa is on tour I will believe he will be back to his best…but yeah, Nole’s fans get to make fun of Rafans…and I can’t blame them either…
It was such a treat to see Rafa live in Abu Dhabi go through the rounds and end up with the winner’s trophy. Sadly he fell in the Doha final and didn’t even start in Australia.
I haven’t given up. I won’t give up until he hangs up his racquet.
Vamos Rafa!
Glad to say when I went to Doha in 2014, Rafa was champion, beating Monfils in the final.
Vamos Rafa!