By Scoop Malinowski
DOB: November 15, 1983 In: Madrid, Spain
Tennis Inspiration: “I was always dreaming to be a tennis player. And dreaming to be playing this kind of big tournaments. Watching my idol was Andre Agassi when I was 11, 12, 13, I was looking to him, always thinking to be like one of these great players in these tournaments. And try to be the best player I can. I was always trying to be a great player like Agassi, Sampras, Bruguera, was my motivation to one day play this kind of tournament.”
First Tennis Memory: “I don’t remember but I have a video when so young – two-years-old. When I was five, my first club in Madrid, practicing – the first memory that I can remember. My first tournament in Madrid when I was ten – it was so special for me. I think I will never forget. It was strange because I couldn’t play the first round because I had to go to the town of my mom that is like three hours away by car. So I was in the tournament where you lose in the first round (consolation) and I won that tournament. I remember this first tournament I played in my life and it was good memories.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “In general, I like all sports. See Real Madrid when I’m in Madrid. When I stay in the U.S. if I can go to see an NBA match I go for sure. I saw Lakers match two times and Heat match two times too. I would like to go to an American football match or baseball. I like a lot all sports. When I’m at home, out of tennis, go to cinema, stay with friends, family, not do strange things [smiles].”
Current Car: “I have Mercedes, I have Audi and I have Lambourgini.”
Last Book Read: “I read two at the same time. One was DaVinci Code because everybody was telling me it’s so good, so good. So I read that one. And I read Pilares de La Tierra – it’s a book like a thousand, 300 hundred pages.”
Favorite Movies: “I love Gladiator and Braveheart and I like Notting Hill but maybe sounds like too lovely [smiles]. It was so good movie, I saw it when I was 15.”
Musical Tastes: “Gwen Stefani, U2, Enrique Iglesias, Juanes from South America. I like a lot of music, almost everything. No like techno, boom boom boom. No. But disco, R&B, slow music I like a lot.”
Greatest Moments: “Winning the Davis Cup in 2008 (defeated Argentina’s Jose Acasuso to clinch) – it changed my life so much. And gave me a lot of confidence and mentally made me much stronger for these matches. Davis Cup made me much stronger mentally that tie in Argentina makes me grow up a lot like a tennis player. Winning Davis Cup again in 2009 (d. Czech Republic, won clinching doubles match with partner Lopez). And how I played in the matches in Australia (2009), I was playing unbelievable, when I won against Murray and Tsonga. Another special moment for me was at Wimbledon I was feeling pretty good when I won third round against Thomas Berdych 4-4-0. And also with Ancic, the first two sets I was playing unbelievable. And when I beat Ferrero in Valencia, and after I won the tournament he was #3 in the world. And when I beat Roddick in Miami. He retired but for me it was like nothing, I was up 7-6 4-3 up and he retired. So, for me, it was like a huge victory. Of course against Andreev in the finals of Umag (’08) – 7-6 in the third and my second title. Another one so good I have was in…I have one more but I don’t remember [smiles]. I don’t know. So much. But there were a lot.”
Most Painful Moment: “One of the most was against Ancic in Wimbledon, fourth round, two sets to one, 4-2 and serve up in fourth and lost 13-11 in the fifth. And against Stepanek too I was two sets to one and 3-love in the fourth up and I finally lost too in five. In Wimbledon too, both in fourth round. I think it was two of my most sad moments in my career. I also have other ones too but these two was really…”
Closest Tennis Friends: “I have a good relation with almost all the Spanish players. Feliciano Lopez is maybe the closest one for me because I am so close with his family. I was practicing with his brother when I was young, with his father. We are so close friends. I also know Robredo from like ten years ago. Also Ferrer. Nadal is a big friend. Almost all the players around my age. I’m also very good friends of Djokovic, Seppi, Bolelli and I have good relations with Federer and Blake also.”
Funniest Players: “Djokovic is always making jokes [laughs]. We are always saying to each other stupid things. I have so much fun with Djokovic.”
Toughest Competitor: “Nadal of course. His focus is always there. You need to win the point three or four times more than against all other players. The top players – Djokovic, Federer. But there are also many players so tough to beat in general – Argentine players. They are so much fighters, they like so much to fight. And are so tough to play against them, they always fight.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “This I don’t remember. When I’m in the match and maybe the other guy make a joke, I don’t pay much attention. I’m focused and I don’t think about that too much.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “I like to watch almost every player. Every player has his good things and his bad things. I like to watch everyone – to learn and improve.”
Favorite Tournaments: “Like tradition – Wimbledon I think is great, unbelievable. I like to play in Madrid, my hometown. And it’s a huge tournament too. Miami I like so much. Roland Garros. U.S. Open. There are a few tournaments so good.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like normal people with good heart. I’m like so family-oriented person, I like people who like to be with family. How to say caranoso in English (affection). When you like to be with your family, you like a good person. Like lovely person [laughs].”
Hartt · June 4, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Verdasco comes across as a charming guy, very positive. It’s interesting what a big impact playing Davis Cup had on him. Years ago I had a book with a cartoon character who had a sort of fuzzy face and Verdasco always reminded me of that character. Now I have other things to relate to him. 🙂
El Dude · June 4, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Greatest active Spanish players:
1. Rafa Nadal
2. David Ferrer
3. Tommy Robredo
4. Nicolas Almagro
5. Fernando Verdasco
6. Feliciano Lopez
7. Roberto Bautista Agut
There’s obviously a huge gap between 1 and 2, and then again between 2 and 3. 3-6 are all pretty close, but I think the order is relatively clear. I could see Pablo Carreno Busta edging up into the 4-6 territory eventually.
Scoop Malinowski · June 4, 2017 at 8:32 pm
I was surprised how nice. I wonder if he was talking to me like i was his grandma as the players are taught at atp university. Like all the top spaniards Verdasco is a class person class player.
catherine · June 5, 2017 at 2:22 am
El Dude –
Well, men players 🙂
I know women’s tennis has always been a bit of an also ran in Spain – but it would be good to see a Spanish woman really dominate for a while rather than win a title or two and then just melt away.
El Dude · June 5, 2017 at 5:17 am
My apologies, Catherine. You are right, of course. To be honest, I don’t follow the WTA all that much, so am largely ignorant of it other than maybe 20 players and who wins the big tournaments.
That said, one of my favorite WTA player is the Spanish #1, Garbine Muguruza. She first caught my eye at the 2014 French Open when she beat Darth Williams, and thereby catching the eye of every casual WTA fan. And then of course she won the French Open last year, but has been a bit disappointing since. Still, she’s only 23 and should be one of the contenders in the post-Serena world.
Scrolling through the rankings, I’m surprised to see only four Spanish women in the top 100, and two of them outside the top 50. Hopefully the youngster Sara Sorribes Tormo can bloom into something. She’s 20 already and just inside the top 100, but even women seem to be peaking later.
Scoop Malinowski · June 5, 2017 at 8:46 am
Paula Badosa Gibert is another highly touted Spanish teen who won RG junior 2-3 years ago but she has struggled the past few years.
catherine · June 5, 2017 at 9:08 am
El Dude
No need to apologise – I’m just puzzled how some of the Spanish girls seem up and coming and then sink back down to mid-list players and remain perpetually ‘promising’.
Don’t know if it’s coaching, mental attitude or just accidental.
Unfortunately Suarez Navarro made a fast exit today to Simona, which isn’t likely to inspire other players.
El Dude · June 5, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Catherine, that seems to be trend across other nationalities. How long has Bencic been up and coming? What about Bouchard, Keys, Vanderweghe, Townsend, etc? And wasn’t Azarenka supposed to be the next dominant WTA player, then fell back? It seems that the WTA hasn’t had a truly dominant player break through and maintain a high level for more a year or two since, I don’t know, Justine Henin? Kvitova, Halep, Azarenka, Radwanska, etc, have all been close but not dominant. There’s Serena, and then a dozen or so very good players, then everyone else. The WTA needs a new superstar or two, perhaps more badly than the ATP needs fresh blood.
Scoop Malinowski · June 5, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Bencic ranking has dropped far outside top hundred now – she has been a big disappointment – I think the next big star will be Anisimova and she could get up there pretty quick –
catherine · June 6, 2017 at 2:00 am
Yes – that lack of a dominant player has always been a feature of women’s tennis when the reigning ‘queens’ retire.
In the past we segued from King/Court to Navrilova/Evert and then to Graf/Seles and maybe Henin Klijsters but latterly it’s really just been Serena. Maybe the skill level has flattened out a bit ?
El Dude · June 7, 2017 at 3:05 am
Don’t forget Martina Hingis. I know she only had a brief moment there, but she was really dominant for a couple years – more so than Henin/Clijsters. Anyhow, I don’t know about the skill level – just not qualified enough, in terms of my level of interest – but I’m guessing that we’re going to see someone emerge in the next year or two that will be the next “queen.” Maybe Scoop is right…I’ll be watching for Anisimova.