PETER ZIEBRON
Rafael Nadal addresses the media in Cincinnati. Peter Ziebron Images
The twelfth installment of Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco took place at the 2011 Western & Southern Open. Two and one half years prior, the two Spaniards played for five hours and ten minutes in the 2009 Australian Open semifinals. It would be the last set Verdasco would win against Nadal until this encounter in Cincinnati as he would would lose in straight sets in four consecutive events during the next thirty months.
On August 18, 2011 in the round of 16 in Cincinnati, Verdasco would win a set and battle Nadal for three hours and thirty eight minutes. On that day, I was fortunate to watch the entire match from the Center Court photo pit alongside Ricky Dimon @Dimonator. We watched as Nadal took the opening set in a breaker 7-5. Next Verdasco levelled by winning the second set 7-4 in the tiebreaker. Finally, Nadal would secure victory with a 9-7 final set tiebreak win.
Nadal d. Verdasco 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 7-6(9)
Following the match, Nadal had this to say:
"Was important victory for me. Wasn't an easy match. I think for moments I played well; for moments I played not that well, especially with the 5-1 of the tiebreak. I played a few really bad points.
I'm very happy I'm through; I'm in the quarterfinals. It's positive result for me. I need to spend hours on court. I would like to have one hour less than what I have, but was positive. It was a positive one.
Probably this match will help me for the -- I don't think for this tournament, but for the next one (US Open) yes. For this tournament, probably tomorrow I going to be a little bit more tired than what I would like to be. These kind of matches feel this pressure, finally winning one match like this when I had a few mistakes, when I had the match under control, even after I suffered a lot, because the end of the match was very close and emotional for me.
Was a positive thing to end with the victory. Hopefully I will be ready for tomorrow. I will try my best. He's playing really well. I think this kind of matches helps a lot for the US Open."
Verdasco was asked about the similarities between this match and the Australian Open semifinal from 2009:
"Every match is different, and there was five sets match, also very close. Just the difference of today it was in the tiebreak of the last set; there it was no tiebreak.
No big difference, because he played the same style as in Australia, and I also tried to do the same as I play in Australia.
So just there are many points during one match, so there are many situations. Every match is different."
Nadal's victory that day resulted in a 12-0 H2H mark against Verdasco. Today, it stands at 17-3 with Verdasco's most recent win in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open - a match that also went five sets.
To be honest, this is one of the most memorable matches we have ever seen. Just seconds after the final point, and before Verdasco came to the net to shake hands and honor his friend's victory, Fernando Verdasco watched the last ball go by, turned away from the net, faced the baseline and spit on Center Court in Cincinnati. It was a cathartic moment for Verdasco. It looked like a gypsy curse was being cast. Thanks for reporting on this match....
Posted by: Karl Corbett | 03/18/2021 at 02:22 PM