Five hours and 14 minutes. The longest Australian Open match, ever! Longer than Andy Roddick's 21-19 5th set quarter final against Younnes El-Aynouai. And it was high quality tennis throughout. Either man could have won this match. Welcome, to the big stage, Fernando Verdasco! He pushed the top player in the world around for several hours, finally succumbing with a double fault fter saving two match points 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6) 6-7(1) 6-4.
It was one of the greatest matches of all time, although probably not exceeding the Nadal-Federer classic last July at Wimbledon.
I'll bet Fernando will remember those two double faults in that last game for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteBut waking up early as I had planned to do was worth the effort, as I got to see two outstanding sets.
Sure hope the final is as good.
It wasn't as meaningful as the Wimbledon final, but for sheer excellence, it surpasses the Wimbledon final by a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Because if not for Rafa's double fault at 5-2 in the third set breaker, that match was poised to end in straight sets.
In this match, either player could've won every single set played. You just can't say that about most great matches.
It was enthralling.