US Open Qualification: Fernando Verdasco - a rare guest in the preliminary round
Veteran Fernando Verdasco has to go through the qualification mill of the US Open - unfamiliar to him.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Aug 25, 2021, 11:26 am
One thing is clear: Fernando Verdasco, like his once overpowering competitors Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, is also in the late autumn of his career. The Spaniard, who is very popular with tennis spectators not only thanks to his attractive appearance, now has 37 years and has already dropped to 132nd in the ATP rankings due to poor results in the current season.
First qualification participation since 2003
And so it is also clear that the former world number seven has to bite through the arduous qualification mill if he wants to be in the main field of the US Open this year as well. The 16-ranked Madrilene was able to overcome his opening hurdle in the first round of the preliminary round on Tuesday. He defeated the Argentinian Facundo Mena 6: 7 (5), 6: 3 and 6: 4. In the second round the Turk Cem Ilkel is waiting, who in turn threw the German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe out of the competition in two sets.
For the semi-finalist of the Australian Open in 2009, participation in the preliminary run for the fourth major tournament of the year is like a distant memory from days gone by. Most recently, the seven-time tournament champion had to fight his way through the US Open qualification in 2003, except in 2020 Verdasco had participated in every edition of the Grand Slam tournament in New York. His best results at the hard court event at Flushing Meadows were two quarterfinals in 2009 and 2010.