Friends or Foes? Lopez and Verdasco Renew Rivalry at US Open

By Scoop Malinowski

Every US Open I make a point to watch Feliciano Lopez play as his aesthetic game is one of my favorites. Also his fitness level may be the very best as I’ve seen him endure and win multiple four and five set matches in afternoon heat marathons which were barely bearable to sit through in the courtside media box.

The opponent of Lopez yesterday was his old “friend” or former friend Fernando Verdasco. Both Spanish lefties grew up together and apparently played throughout childhood and teens. And also on the ATP Tour they have met now nine times. Verdasco won the first meeting in Kitzbuhel in 2004 62 63. Then Lopez won the next two matches on hard in New Haven and Marseille both in 2005. Then Verdasco won three in a row on hard Sydney (2008), Miami and Canada (both 2009).

Then Feliciano won the last two in Quito (2015) and Eastbourne (2013). Overall they had split eight meetings at 4-4 and yesterday’s US Open second round clash was to be the tiebreaker.

Though there rankings are similar – Verdasco at 43 and Lopez at 35 – Verdasco has struggled lately. I was told by an insider that Verdasco has “lost confidence” with subpar results and also has been dealing with the death of a beloved grandfather. His work ethic is lacking and his serve has been average and the lack of confidence in the second serve has hurt the aggressiveness of his first serve. He practiced last week with Gilles Simon and Pablo Carreno Busta but looked uptight and frustrated with his lost prowess.

Lopez has been consistently solid over the last few years, winning a big title at Queens Club most recently.

It was quickly apparent that Lopez was the better player. His serve was far more effective. Lopez was better at the baseline as well, mixing up his varied shots – the hurtful forehand and the nasty slice. Lopez attacked the net far more and rarely misses a volley or overhead.

Lopez was dominant in building a 63 62 lead and Verdasco looked helpless at times. I thought he might even retire after the second, that’s how bad he was being beaten. As frustrated as he was, Verdasco, 33, never stopped giving 110% effort though, which was impressive to watch. But it was clear that Verdasco really was out of his league yesterday.

Verdasco’s coach Emilio Sanchez, tried to non-verbally motivate Verdasco before the third from his side court bleacher seat, across from Verdasco’s chair, with those head shake exhortations. And the inspiration and hard effort was rewarded as Verdasco suddenly began to look like the vintage Verdasco of 2009, clouting forehand and backhand winners all over the court. The nearly full crowd on court 13 roared in approval and respect for Verdasco’s refusal to roll over and tank and remarkable ability to summon his very best after playing possibly his worst.

One of the beautiful aspects of this match was how hard both competed on every single point they gave everything they had. Running, fighting, stretching, lunging, crushing every ball. Both were using defense primarily but the instant an opportunity arose for offense, they seized it.

Lopez endured the storm and regained control in the fourth set. The most memorable point, of which there were many with these two athletic powerhouses, was a scrambling, grunting, physical exchange ended by a lunging low volley converted by Lopez backhand which inched over the net and dropped for a winner. The two old “friends” did not acknowledge each other at all after this point or at any stage of the match, which was curious. I wondered if they were still friends or something, some kind of drama or competitive incident had soured the friendship?

Lopez was up 5-1 in the fourth set and about to close out the win when he chattered something to his box. I asked a Spanish guy next to me if he had understood what Lopez said because it seemed strange that he would say something in a bit of a sarcastic tone. The man said that he was not sure of who Lopez was directing the comment at, either himself or Verdasco, but he said he or himself “is the worst player in the draw.” Then he added, “we will have to see their handshake” about how friendly they are to each other.

Considering the fine performance by Lopez it would be impossible to believe that he was mocking himself at that point. Lopez of course closed out the win comfortably 63 62 36 61. And the handshake of the two was very quick and typical for two players who were strangers but not long time friends since early teens.

Lopez, 35, now leads the head to head with Verdasco 5-4 and now advances to play Roger Federer in the third round.

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