Australian Open - Superb Verdasco beats Tsonga

Eurosport - Wed, 28 Jan 16:39:00 2009

Spain's Fernando Verdasco advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 at the Australian Open.

TENNIS Fernando Verdasco Australian Open quarter-final 2009 - 0

The 14th seed showed no ill-effects from the gruelling five-set victory over Britain's Andy Murray in his previous match as he overwhelmed Tsonga in a little under three hours with the roof closed on the Rod Laver centre court.

"It was not easy. It was pretty hard," Verdasco said. "I was feeling much better (during) the third and the fourth (sets) than the first and second.

"I was more lucky than him in the tiebreak... there was nothing easy in this match."

Tsonga made the final at last year's Australian Open but failed to take his opportunities against Verdasco, converting just two of 13 break points in the match, while his opponent cashed in on each of his four break points.

"I think Fernando played better than me. He was more aggressive," Tsonga said.

"He served better than me and that's it. Every time I got the possibility to make a break, I missed or Fernando played a good point."

Verdasco has been one of the most improved players in men's tennis over the past year and by reaching the semi-finals in Australia, he will break into the top 10 for the first time.

The 25-year-old credits his improved performance in Australia to the confidence he gained from the experience of helping Spain win last year's Davis Cup final in Argentina as well as meeting up with his childhood idol Andre Agassi.

"That Davis Cup, I've said too many times, changed my life," Verdasco said. "It gave me a lot of confidence and mentally made me much stronger for these matches here... and also the pressure.

"That tie in Argentina made me grow up a lot as a tennis player."

Buoyed by the Davis Cup win, Verdasco spent the off-season training in Las Vegas with Agassi's former fitness coach Gil Reyes and came away inspired.

"Agassi was my idol when I was young," Verdasco said. "He gave me some advice about what tournaments I need to play or which weeks I need to practise and be ready for the big tournaments.

"Also, about tactics, about my game, how he thinks that I should play more and take more advantage of my game... he really helped me so much."

Verdasco's semi-final opponent will be his fellow Spanish lefthander Rafa Nadal, number one in the world and yet to drop a set after beating Gilles Simon of France 6-2 7-5 7-5.

"I'm feeling pretty good and I just think that I can beat anyone," Verdasco said.

"I'm playing with the best players in the world, so of course they are always tough matches. But I believe in myself that I can win these matches.

"I'm not putting a limit on this tournament."

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Reuters

Comment 31 - 50 of 50

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  1. I'm sorry for that guy.I'm happy that he got so far but let's get real ... vs the world No 1 ( NADAL ! ) No real chances of success.

    From kaloyan93, on Thu 29 Jan 3:58PM

  2. sorry Fernando,i forgot how to spell your name on the last post,oooooooops

    From carlos480bc, on Wed 28 Jan 11:42PM

  3. Things did change for Vadasco in the Davis cup final against Acususo,instead of crumbling under the weight of his own expectations,as he did many times at crucial moments before,it seems having the expectations of a whole nation of countrymen and women on his shoulders ,was a load he could handle,and the feeling of winning it in the final rubber,and then absorbing he adulation of millions,really does seem to have changed the man.If he does fall to Nadal, he can still believe that he deserves to be there,and that he can mix it with the best on the big stage. Suarte Vadasco,que te lo pasas bien.

    From carlos480bc, on Wed 28 Jan 11:38PM

  4. IT all depends on which Verdasco turns up,if its the new one,then he is well capable of taking it to Nadal and upsetting the form book again,if its the old Verdasco ,then yes alcock,i would agree on straight sets.Verdasco has proved he can take on and beat the top players(murray Tsonga)so you never know,especially at the AO,where there is a history of surprise finalists(Clement Schuttler Bagdatis johansson) Would be nice to see a real seesaw battle between the two countrymen.

    From carlos480bc, on Wed 28 Jan 10:58PM

  5. nadal and federer final

    From somieibi, on Wed 28 Jan 10:57PM

  6. Nadal in three straight sets 6-4 7-5 7-6

    From Nicholas, on Wed 28 Jan 8:44PM

  7. Post 44
    Nice comments Alison.......

    From Nicholas, on Wed 28 Jan 8:43PM

  8. Verdasco is a solid player, however he does not have the spark that nadal has a well as the solidity. Only a truly special performance from ANYBODY will be able to conquer nadal, and verdasco will not be able to achieve this.

    From Thomas, on Wed 28 Jan 8:28PM

  9. James W, I think I love you.

    From catalina, on Wed 28 Jan 7:41PM

  10. No, I just dislike his big guy attitude. He hasn't done much, thus he doesn't deserve neither the high praise of british and australian press. He just rubs me the wrong way.

    From catalina, on Wed 28 Jan 7:18PM

  11. WE SHOULD HAVE A VERY GOOD MATCH FERNANDO VS RAFA HOPE ITS A CRACKER. GOOD LUCK TO BOTH PLAYERS.

    From AJ, on Wed 28 Jan 6:56PM

  12. Comment 41. You know him well then?

    From webbski, on Wed 28 Jan 6:20PM

  13. Webbski comment 36. Your comment makes no sense, idiot.

    From webbski, on Wed 28 Jan 6:19PM

  14. I'm so happy thant Fernando beat Tsonga. I can't stand the guy.

    From catalina, on Wed 28 Jan 6:03PM

  15. if he (Verdasco) can sleep with Ana Ivanovic , then he can beat Nadal lol.
    Anyway,he plays good tennis and I wish him all the best.

    From Faton, on Wed 28 Jan 5:59PM

  16. An impressive tournament for Verdasco! I'm glad that Tsonga Monkey is out!
    Congratulations, Verdasco!

    aaditya,
    it's time to disappear!!!

    From big mouth, on Wed 28 Jan 5:05PM

  17. Watching the press conference of Verdasco speaking about possible duel with Nadal I mean the boy was hardly catching his breath. He lost long before he went out there. If Roddick will not overcome Federer the dream final is guaranteed. Frankly, I guess Nadal has more chances.

    From risimko, on Wed 28 Jan 4:42PM

  18. Roddick has about as much chance to beat Federer as Federer has to beat Rafa at Rolland Garros:) Dream on. The man has found his focus again and he's motivated, partly because so many people write him off at the ripe old age of 27... the Federer haters are doing him a favour, you're pissing him off!

    From YiannisP, on Wed 28 Jan 4:41PM

  19. Nadal hasnt the game or mind to beat nadal. Roddick has more chance against federer.

    From webbski, on Wed 28 Jan 3:17PM

  20. Nadal too good for Verdasco. Verdasco must take his game to the next level if he must win.

    From pat, on Wed 28 Jan 3:00PM
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