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Verdasco tips Roger after losing to Nadal
Source: Agencies |
September 11, 2010, Saturday
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MOST signs point toward Rafa vs Roger in the US Open final. If that happens, Fernando Verdasco knows who he'd pick.
After losing in straight sets to No. 1 Rafael Nadal on yet another semi-miserable, windblown night in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, Verdasco walked away more impressed by the conditions -- and by Roger Federer -- than anything Nadal did.
"If I had to bet, I'd bet for Roger," Verdasco said. "He likes it here, he's won five times here and he likes these conditions."
Nadal wasn't so bad in them either, overcoming his first dropped service game of the tournament to scrub out eighth-seeded Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the first all-Spanish quarterfinal in US Open history.
Like Federer, Nadal has yet to lose a single set in five matches at Flushing Meadows, and handles bad conditions well.
In advancing to his third straight US Open semifinal, Nadal improved to 11-0 lifetime against Verdasco -- victories scored around the world, on almost every kind of surface and in almost every kind of weather. But when it was over, Verdasco sounded less overwhelmed by his opponent than depressed that he didn't get Nadal on a better night.
"For the game I need to beat Rafa, these conditions was very bad for me," he said.
Meanwhile, told of Verdasco's early handicapping, Nadal took no offense.
"Well, for sure Roger is the favorite of the tournament, especially because he's won five times," Nadal said. "And six finals in a row. No one doubts on that one. And I am in the semifinals, so I don't think about the final. Everybody free to think, and what Fernando says is completely fair."
Indeed, there is still some business to be completed before the dream final -- a pairing that has taken place at every grand slam final except the US Open. (Nadal is 5-2 in those meetings.)
Nadal's next opponent will be Mikhail Youzhny, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a contest that featured 128 unforced errors. Youzhny made his second US Open semifinal with a performance that, frankly, he'll need to pump up if he's going to pull off an upset against the world's top player.
"I'm ready to be bad person," the Russian said when asked if he'd like to ruin the Rafa-Roger storyline. "I love to be bad person in this case."
Also, Federer will play Novak Djokovic -- both won their quarterfinals in straight sets on Wednesday.
In the two women's semifinals, defending champion Kim Clijsters is up against Venus Williams and top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki plays Vera Zvonareva.
It has been interesting to contrast the way the world's two best players discuss the nasty wind with the way everyone else talks about it.
After his win over Robin Soderling on Wednesday, Federer said he liked playing in wind because of the challenge it provides.
Nadal, meanwhile, conceded he was "scared" by the wind -- but gained confidence quickly because he knows how to adjust.
"The movements must be all the time high intensity and the concentration must be all the time full," he said.
"So probably both those things are one of the best things about my game."
After losing in straight sets to No. 1 Rafael Nadal on yet another semi-miserable, windblown night in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, Verdasco walked away more impressed by the conditions -- and by Roger Federer -- than anything Nadal did.
"If I had to bet, I'd bet for Roger," Verdasco said. "He likes it here, he's won five times here and he likes these conditions."
Nadal wasn't so bad in them either, overcoming his first dropped service game of the tournament to scrub out eighth-seeded Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the first all-Spanish quarterfinal in US Open history.
Like Federer, Nadal has yet to lose a single set in five matches at Flushing Meadows, and handles bad conditions well.
In advancing to his third straight US Open semifinal, Nadal improved to 11-0 lifetime against Verdasco -- victories scored around the world, on almost every kind of surface and in almost every kind of weather. But when it was over, Verdasco sounded less overwhelmed by his opponent than depressed that he didn't get Nadal on a better night.
"For the game I need to beat Rafa, these conditions was very bad for me," he said.
Meanwhile, told of Verdasco's early handicapping, Nadal took no offense.
"Well, for sure Roger is the favorite of the tournament, especially because he's won five times," Nadal said. "And six finals in a row. No one doubts on that one. And I am in the semifinals, so I don't think about the final. Everybody free to think, and what Fernando says is completely fair."
Indeed, there is still some business to be completed before the dream final -- a pairing that has taken place at every grand slam final except the US Open. (Nadal is 5-2 in those meetings.)
Nadal's next opponent will be Mikhail Youzhny, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a contest that featured 128 unforced errors. Youzhny made his second US Open semifinal with a performance that, frankly, he'll need to pump up if he's going to pull off an upset against the world's top player.
"I'm ready to be bad person," the Russian said when asked if he'd like to ruin the Rafa-Roger storyline. "I love to be bad person in this case."
Also, Federer will play Novak Djokovic -- both won their quarterfinals in straight sets on Wednesday.
In the two women's semifinals, defending champion Kim Clijsters is up against Venus Williams and top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki plays Vera Zvonareva.
It has been interesting to contrast the way the world's two best players discuss the nasty wind with the way everyone else talks about it.
After his win over Robin Soderling on Wednesday, Federer said he liked playing in wind because of the challenge it provides.
Nadal, meanwhile, conceded he was "scared" by the wind -- but gained confidence quickly because he knows how to adjust.
"The movements must be all the time high intensity and the concentration must be all the time full," he said.
"So probably both those things are one of the best things about my game."
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