Verdasco admits to being nervous in final against Murray
dubai — Veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco may have lost the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final to Andy Murray in straight sets on Saturday night, but he will certainly feel good about a beautiful week in which he unexpectedly beat younger and higher ranked players to reach the title round.
Verdasco’s previous final appearance in a big ATP tournament came in 2012 when he lost the title battle to compatriot David Ferrer in Acapulco.
“Well, it’s great. I said that yesterday that being in the final of a 500 (series tournament) after five years is a great week for me, and I have to take the positive things from this week,” the 2009 Australian Open semifinalist told reporters after his 6-3 6-2 defeat to Murray in the Dubai final on Saturday night.
“Obviously I will forget about the 200 (ATP ranking) points that I won today and everything that I won today, because it’s already gone. I’m happy that I tried everything, even if the things were not coming my way and I didn’t really have my best day today. But I tried and I fought.
“So I have to take all the positive things to Indian Wells and Miami now, and after that to Houston and
Today I had nothing to lose because I was playing against the No. 1 in the world Verdasco, Spanish player
try to keep going and keep improving to make good weeks like this one. Hopefully I will have another chance to win a 500 soon. And if I have it, hopefully, I will take it,” the 33-year-old player added.
Verdasco, the current world number 35, admitted to being nervous in the final against the world number one Murray.
“Yeah. I mean, of course, it’s the nerves of the final, but yesterday I was also bit nervous because I was in the semifinals of a 500 to be in the finals of a 500,” Verdasco, who reached a career high ranking of seven in 2009, said.
“Today I had nothing to lose because I was playing against the No. 1 in the world. So he was expected to win. But it’s the pressure of the finals, that’s a big event, you want to win,” he added.
“And physically I was not that fresh and he pushed me. He pushed me more than anybody else during the week. But, like I said, I have to try and take only the positive things. I have to also see what was wrong and try to change it for the next tournament.”
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com