Match report

Mardy Fish © Tennistalk.com
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
2nd round
4/29/09 1 2 3 Tot
us  Mardy Fish 4 7 3 1
es  Fernando Verdasco 6 5 6 2
Fernando Verdasco © Tennistalk.com

  • Verdasco survives Fish in Rome second round

    4/29/09 6:25 PM | Ricky Dimon
    Fernando Verdasco outlasts Mardy Fish in three sets on Wednesday afternoon to reach the third round of the Masters Series Rome. Next up for Verdasco is either Richard Gasquet or Ernests Gulbis.

    Fernando Verdasco defeated Mardy Fish 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the second round of the Masters Series Rome on Wednesday afternoon. Verdasco needed two hours and 21 minutes to survive a host of rough stretches in the match and book a third-round encounter with either Richard Gasquet or Ernests Gulbis.

    Heavily favored on clay against Fish, who has never been fond of the slow stuff, Verdasco dominated the first set even more than the 6-4 scoreline suggests. The No. 6 seed lost a mere four points in five service games. He only capitalized on one of six break-point opportunities, but that one was enough to take a one-set lead thanks to his dominance on serve.

    The most recent previous meeting between Verdasco and Fish, which came in the final of last season's ATP event in New Haven, featured nothing short of dismal tennis. Wednesday's clash deteriorated into more of the same as Verdasco began to stoop to his opponent's level in set two. The two players exchanged a pair of breaks as the second set progressed to 5-5. Fish held and was then gifted the set when Verdasco sprayed errors all over the place during his service game at 5-6.

    Unable to stand prosperity, Fish collapsed in the final frame of play. The 28th-ranked American double-faulted a whopping four times in one game to give Verdasco the first break of the match at 3-3. Verdasco, who dropped just five points in his last four service games and did not face a break point in set three, then held easily for 5-3. Serving to stay in the proceedings, Fish continued to melt both physically and mentally. Yet another double-fault gave Verdasco double match point, and after Fish saved the first, a final error threw away the match once and for all.

    Fish finished with 10 aces and six doubles while serving at a dismal 46-percent clip. Verdasco wrapped up his afternoon with four aces, two double-faults, and a solid 70 percent of first serves made. The eighth-ranked Spaniard is 2-4 against Gasquet, but has won their past two meetings. He has never faced Gulbis.

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Comments

from 'fish out of water' to 'Verdasco SURVIVES Fish' ...hahah.....credit to Fish ....

fedexfan , 4/29/09 7:35 PM


Verdasco really survived himself

RickyDimon , 4/29/09 7:38 PM



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