Former Australian Open semifinalist and top ten force, Fernando Verdasco has not won a meaningful match in years. The 40 year old lefthander has been grinding it out in 2023, trying to achieve one last hurrah on the ATP World Tour.
But Verdasco was not able to revive his game or career and plummeted down the rankings to his current status of 651. Verdasco’s last match was in September at Seville Challenger as a wildcard, a disheartening 61 61 loss to world no. 99 Hugo Gaston of France.
That was the fourth first round loss in a row for Verdasco, who has not won a match since July in Segovia Challenger where he beat Ricardas Berankis and Dan Added. In the QF of Segovia Verdasco was defeated by world no. 150 Nicholas Morena de Alboran 63 62.
Before that run in Segovia, Verdasco had lost four matches in a row.
In 2009 Verdasco was ranked 7 in the world in singles. He was also ranked 8 in doubles in 2013.
Verdasco beat Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo SF and Rome QF both in 2010 and Rafael Nadal at 2012 Madrid second round. Both Djokovic and Nadal were ranked no. 2 when beaten by Verdasco, who was 0-12 vs. world no. 1 ranked players.
Another interesting statistic of Verdasco’s career was that he played 67 straight Grand Slam main draws until 2020 US Open. He won 2013 Nitto ATP Finals doubles title (w/ David Marrero) after playing singles there in 2009, making him one of two active players to compete at year-end championships in both singles and doubles (also Jack Sock who retired in September at US Open 2023).
The physical powerhouse who clinched the Davis Cup for Spain in 2008 and 2009 won seven career ATP singles titles and eight more in doubles. Perhaps Verdasco’s most memorable match was in his first Grand Slam SF at 2009 Australian Open, the five hour and 14 minute loss to no. 1 Nadal.
Fernando Verdasco Biofile Interview
adidas · AO · Davis Cup · Fernando Verdasco · Spain
