TVC E, SPORTS – Fernando Verdasco caused a big upset at the Australian Open on Tuesday after beating former world number one, Rafael Nadal in the tournament’s first round.
Verdasco stunned fellow Spaniard 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 to advance to the second round in Melbourne.
Down 2-love in the final set, Verdasco dragged himself off the canvas with a barrage of booming forehand winners, breaking Nadal twice to storm to a 5-2 lead.
He broke his compatriot the third time, sealing the victory with a cross-court winner.
Second seed Andy Murray cruised into the second round after a comfortable 6-1 6-2 6-3 victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
It was upsets galore in the women’s draw, with the second seed Simona Halep losing to world number 133, Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-3.
The 24-year-old Romanian left Margaret Court Arena in tears after the stunning upset.
In another match, Venus Williams’ dreams of winning a first Australian Open title at the age of 35 were shattered after suffering a 6-4 6-2 defeat in the first round to British number one Johanna Konta.
The American struggled to get a foothold in the match before crashing out in only 79 minutes.
