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• Verdasco faces big Madrid test in Cilic

  10/14/08 4:14 AM | Ricky Dimon
  Fernando Verdasco has a tough opening matchup with Marin Cilic on his hands at the Masters Series Madrid. Meanwhile, Andy Murray takes on Simone Bolelli.
  
  It will be the third career head-to-head meeting between Fernando Verdasco and Marin Cilic when the two players clash in the Madrid second round on Tuesday. Verdasco leads the series 2-0, having taken out Cilic on indoor hard courts last year in St. Petersburg and on the grass of Nottingham earlier this season. Both victories came in two convincing sets.
  
  Cilic, however, has the talent to turn all of that around. His 2008 campaign has been a breakout one, as the 6'6'' Croat is up to 24th in the world. During the United States summer hard-court swing, Cilic reached the quarterfinals in Toronto, captured his first ATP title in New Haven, and won two matches at the U.S. Open before giving Novak Djokovic all he could handle. The questions surrounding Cilic right now concern his physical well-being, as this is his first tournament since the Open due to paralysis of a left facial nerve. Nonetheless, Cilic took care of Olivier Rochus in straight sets on Monday.
  
  Verdasco is also enjoying his best season as a professional. The Spaniard reached a career-high ranking of No. 11 in the world in July and he now stands at 13th. Unfortunately for Verdasco, he has cooled off considerably in recent weeks. He was positively on fire between May and July, but he got blown out by Igor Andreev at the U.S. Open and since then has suffered straight-set losses to Juan Carlos Ferrero in Beijing and Philipp Kohlschreiber last week in Vienna.
  
  Past head-to-head history says Verdasco will be the winner, while fast indoor hardcourts say Cilic will emerge victorious. Cilic in a tight three-setter is the pick.
  
  Andy Murray, meanwhile, should be able to take care of Simone Bolelli, who defeated Nicolas Almgaro in the first round. This is Murray's first ATP event since finishing runner-up to Roger Federer at the U.S. Open, although the Scot did win two singles matches in a Davis Cup tie last month. Count on Murray advancing over the Italian in straight sets.
  
  

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