He was supposed to be turning a corner. His strong end to the 2015 season was supposed to be an indication. After Rafa Nadal’s first round loss to Ferando Verdasco however, all the wishful thinking might be just that. Nadal’s 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss is only his second first round loss in a Grand Slam and is the seventh Grand Slam he has failed to reach the semifinals. A first round match-up against Verdasco was never going to be an easy proposition and throughout the match they played points like this.
Even though he lost, Rafa #Nadal brought out all the tricks! Just like this @cpaaustralia shot of the day. #ausopen https://t.co/Rn12n4kMpP
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2016
Verdasco worked Nadal all match and was going for every shot hitting 90 winners and 91 unforced errors, perfectly indicated by his match point forehand below. By the final fifth set Verdasco had overwhelmed Nadal, breaking him three times ono his way to victory. What this means for Nadal is unclear but he’ll soon be 30 and there will be more questions than answers.
Verdasco match point forehand in a continuous loop https://t.co/NvMzRgvTU5
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) January 19, 2016
Andy Murray made quick work of teenage upstart Alexander Zverev in what turned out to be a rather lopsided matchup finishing 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Zverev has bags of talent but he was going for winners he had no business going for, while Murray methodically sliced and diced him to death.
The other big match of the night was between Leyton Hewitt and James Duckworth. In what is Hewitt’s final Australina Open he won a hard fought match 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4. Playing on center court the match had a final atmosphere to it and he celebrated the win like one too. Hopefully he can keep it going against the 8th seeded David Ferrer.
Hewitt makes it through 1R in his final #AusOpenhttps://t.co/yUFZmqRvMk
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2016
