Verdasco upsets Nadal in a battle of south paw

In a battle of southpaws, Fernando Verdasco defeated compatriot and tournament’s fifth seed, Rafael Nadal, to register the first major upset in Melbourne this year.

Right-handed players have difficulties playing against the likes of Nadal and Verdasco. When lefties face themselves, however, they have greater challenges.

Nadal’s set-up shot of pulling opponents wide to their left side was fodder for the lethal forehand of Verdasco. At key points, Nadal succumbed to the power of his opponent’s forehand, struck with awesome power and accuracy.

In the second match in Rod Laver Arena, Verdasco took the first set tie-break. Nadal took the second set and the third; breaking his opponent’s serve to clinch the third.

Serving first in the fourth set, Nadal saved five break points but lost the opening game of the fourth set. Nadal fought hard to break Verdasco but a forehand shot landed out to give his compatriot a 2-0 lead.

Nadal earned the break in the ninth game of the set, which ended up in a tie-break taken by Verdasco to level at two sets apiece.
Nadal broke Verdasco in the opening game of the fifth set and consolidated by winning his game for a 2-0 lead. Verdasco held serve and broke Nadal in the fourth game. He did not lose any other game as he raced to clinch the deciding set at 6-2 to hand Nadal his first ever first-round loss in Melbourne since winning in 2005.

The second women seed, Simona Halep of Roumania, lost the first four games of the first set to China’s Shuai Zhang. When she broke Zhang’s serve (24 minutes into the match) to take the ninth game, the crowd roared to encourage her.

Halep held her serve to reduce the tally to 4-2 and fought gallantly to take the seventh game, but her opponent fought back from 0-40 down to deuce and take the game.

Halep held her serve and broke Zhang in the ninth. Serving for the set at 5-4, the Chinese lady raced through points and won it 6-4. She dominated Halep in the second set, winning 6-3 to cause the first major upset of the Women’s Draw.

She is a 23-year old lady to watch in the future.

It was a day when the mighty fell. South Africa’s Kevin Anderson retired in the fourth set when scores stood 6/7; 7/6; 6/3; in favour of American Reggie Ram.

Greg Muller of Luxembourg defeated Fabio Fognini (victor over Nadal in 2015 US Open) in a titanic battle that ended 7/6; 7/6; 6/7; 7/6. There were many seeded women players sent out in the first round. Top on the list was 8th seeded Venus Williams who lost 4/6; 2/6 to J. Konta of Great Britain. Her compatriot, Madison Keys seeded 15th, lost to Z Diyas of Khakistan.

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