If you had a match prediction where your pick went 2 sets up in a best of five tennis match, you would probably think given their service prowess they would be able to close the match out in one of two of the final sets. Dropping the third set can be a natural reaction to letting your guard down on a two set cushion but then to have 2 match points in the fourth set, you would be thinking "surely" this one is going my way right? Not when it comes to Fernando Verdasco, he was playing another player who specialises in choking today Marin Cilic. Between them they both have never quiet made it to the very top even with the talent they possess because when it comes to playing the top players they always bottle it.
Tonight was Verdasco's turn where in the fourth set tie break he had two match points, one on serve and one returning. On his match point on serve he double faulted, bearing in mind throughout his 6 games in the fourth set on serve he only gave away 4 points in total and served an amazing 11 aces. So what is it about some players that when they get so close to victory they stumble and fall flat on their face? There is only one answer - mental strength. Verdasco has always been a flippant player, one minute he looks unplayable and then his game just tanks for no reason. The Spaniard couldn't be further from his fellow countryman Rafa Nadal who has the best mental strength of any tennis player in the modern era. A player that competes for every point and rarely lets his guard down - Verdasco could do with attending the Rafa Nadal Tennis academy even at the age of 35 he could learn a few things from Rafa's uncle who runs the academy and if he's lucky Nadal himself.
Verdasco at the age of 35 has won a total of 7 ATP titles in his career - an incredibly poor tally given his ability on court, he's a wasted talent who hasn't won a title since 2016. His peak was in 2010 when he won an ATP 500 title on home turf in Barcelona. At the age of 26 at the time many thought he had finally matured as a player and was on the path to greater things, how wrong they were! 9 years later and he has just 2 more titles to show for all his efforts, both at 250 level.
While Verdasco goes out in Melbourne Cilic is left to stumble on, the Croatian has more than double the titles of the Spaniard including winning a Grand Slam back in 2014 at the US Open. He has however thrown big opportunities away to add to that single slam. For example in both 2017 and 18 he got to two finals of Grand Slams, both losing to Federer. Arguably the latter one at the Australian Open was his big chance having taken Federer to a fifth set he capitulated and completely dropped his level to lose the final set 6-1.
Cilic may have been dealt a kind hand by Verdasco to move further on in the Aussie Open but it's only a matter of time before he exits, he faces Bautista Agut in the next round. The Argentine has demonstrated a steely resolve of late and he will look at tonight's let off by Verdasco for Cilic and take great comfort in the fact at how wobbly Cilic looks. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argentine prevail here between the two, having overcome Karen Khachanov in straight sets today - no mean feat.
The Big Three Remain in Contention
Both Nadal and Federer won in straight sets today and they are on collision course for Semi Final showdown having been placed in the same half of the draw. The world number 2 and 3 looked head and shoulders above their opponents today and delivered a series of on court lessons that will surely will have humbled them both (De Minaur and Fritz). I cannot see anyone beating either player before they reach the Semis for a showdown. Even the reborn Berdych who has dropped just one set in Melbourne will not get past Nadal. As for Federer, he plays his younger self (Stefanos Tsitsipas) once again in a rerun of the Hopman Cup, that will be a tasty affair and treat for the eyes.
Djokovic is going about his business ever so quietly on the other side of the draw, he plays 19 year old Canadian hopeful Denis Shapovalov tomorrow. Shapovalov although not quiet at his best still had a decent 2018. He has yet to win his maiden ATP title but is still very young and finding his feet. He's an explosive player with some great ground strokes capable of getting past Djokovic "at times". But doing so over a best of 5 sets match is another question all together. Still that will be a crowd pleaser for fans tomorrow, more so than his older countryman Milos Raonic with his big yawnsome serve and nothing else to show tennis. Here's hoping Shapovalov can make a five set encounter of it with Djokovic, someone needs to tire him out before he meets either Federer or Nadal because it will be curtains for either player otherwise! Djokovic has a superior head to head record against both, see for yourself below...
Djokovic 27 Wins - Nadal 25 Wins
Djokovic 25 Wins - Federer 22 Wins
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that Djokovic has won 8 of his last 10 matches with both Nadal and Federer!
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