I can't get over Verdascos loss - what the hell is he doing?

[RF-18]

I just can't believe this guy. Couple of months ago I made this tread about his talent, but its sick how he is wasting it, almost his whole career. He lost today against gabasvhilli.

He would been a big threat to federer in 3rd round if he passed, i think just because its a world star like fed on the other side he would raise his game and maybe won.. so its good for fed and us fans.. but cant help to feel sorry for verdasco, even if its his fault.

In wimbledon he made it to the quarter, i thought it was the start of something new, but no

why didnt he gave me that talent instead?

 

[triforce defender]

I just can't believe this guy. Couple of months ago I made this tread about his talent, but its sick how he is wasting it, almost his whole career. He lost today against gabasvhilli.

He would been a big threat to federer in 3rd round if he passed, i think just because its a world star like fed on the other side he would raise his game and maybe won.. so its good for fed and us fans.. but cant help to feel sorry for verdasco, even if its his fault.

In wimbledon he made it to the quarter, i thought it was the start of something new, but no

why didnt he gave me that talent instead?

He wouldn't have beaten Federer anyways.

 

[RF-18]

He wouldn't have beaten Federer anyways.

With his capacity, and the fact that he knows that best of all time is across the net, i think he would have raised his game. Not much pressure on him, its more nothing to loose kinda thing then he would be a big threat to federer.

Look in the quarters at wimbledon against murray, he outclassed him the first two sets and could habe won the match. Won against nadal in madrid etc.

Dont underestimate verdasco, at his best day he can win in 4 against anybody. Just such a shame he brings that game every now and then. He is too sloppy and has attitude problems.

 

[TheF1Bob]

I actually thought Dasco would have a decent run this year, especially since what happened at the WTF.

 

[90's Clay]

The guy hasn't done anything since 5 years ago at this tournament. Nothing new

 

[merwy]

I watched the last set of the match. Did anyone else see this? It was soooo bad. Just soooooooo bad. I almost had to cry. He was obviously the better player. But for some reason, at random moments he just tightened up and got braincramps or something and couldn't normally hit the ball anymore. In patches he was playing well and hitting his trademark big groundstrokes, but then he suddenly lost it for about 10-15 points and started hitting every ball very insecure and short so that Gabashvili could dictate, combined with way too many double faults and some unforced errors when he did try to hit big.

Here's how the set went: Gabasvili started serving. Verdasco went deep in that game, as he should since he's much better, maybe even got a break point. But lost because he couldn't close it out. Then he held his service game easily: 1-1. He gets up 15-40, but AGAIN can't break, then again holds very comfortably2-2. Then Gabashvili wins his game to love.3-2. Verdasco COMPLETELY cramps up now. I think he started and ended the game with a double fault, with 2 unforced errors in between: Gabashvili breaks to love and it's 4-2. At this point I'm considering throwing my laptop out of the window.
Gabashvili holds easily again since Verdasco hasn't gotten over the mental shock of what the hell just happened here: 5-2. (I think Gabashvili won 12 straight points here)
Then Verdasco looks as if he's given up, his face looks a little sad. But suddenly, he starts playing normally again. He holds to love and then breaks to love, going against all my expectations: 5-4 and proceeds to play well and take the first 2 points to go up 30-0, winning 10 points in a row. The comeback is almost complete. At this point I'm yelling "Come oooon NANDOOO" at the screen. Then disaster strikes: He hit the ball out by an inch and CHALLENGED. I just KNEW that that would disrupt his momentum and his concentration and everything was ruined. He proceeds to play the next 3 points as if he had forgotten how to play tennis and loses them all and the match.

 

[dafinch]

I watched the last set of the match. Did anyone else see this? It was soooo bad. Just soooooooo bad. I almost had to cry. He was obviously the better player. But for some reason, at random moments he just tightened up and got braincramps or something and couldn't normally hit the ball anymore. In patches he was playing well and hitting his trademark big groundstrokes, but then he suddenly lost it for about 10-15 points and started hitting every ball very insecure and short so that Gabashvili could dictate, combined with way too many double faults and some unforced errors when he did try to hit big.

Here's how the set went: Gabasvili started serving. Verdasco went deep in that game, as he should since he's much better, maybe even got a break point. But lost because he couldn't close it out. Then he held his service game easily: 1-1. He gets up 15-40, but AGAIN can't break, then again holds very comfortably2-2. Then Gabashvili wins his game to love.3-2. Verdasco COMPLETELY cramps up now. I think he started and ended the game with a double fault, with 2 unforced errors in between: Gabashvili breaks to love and it's 4-2. At this point I'm considering throwing my laptop out of the window.
Gabashvili holds easily again since Verdasco hasn't gotten over the mental shock of what the hell just happened here: 5-2. (I think Gabashvili won 12 straight points here)
Then Verdasco looks as if he's given up, his face looks a little sad. But suddenly, he starts playing normally again. He holds to love and then breaks to love, going against all my expectations: 5-4 and proceeds to play well and take the first 2 points to go up 30-0, winning 10 points in a row. The comeback is almost complete. At this point I'm yelling "Come oooon NANDOOO" at the screen. Then disaster strikes: He hit the ball out by an inch and CHALLENGED. I just KNEW that that would disrupt his momentum and his concentration and everything was ruined. He proceeds to play the next 3 points as if he had forgotten how to play tennis and loses them all and the match.

If he was "...obviously the better player. But for some reason, at random moments he just tightened up and got braincramps or something and couldn't normally hit the ball anymore," then, he isn't the better player, is he? There's a saying by a two time Super Bowl winning coach that he invariably uses when people talk about how well a team COULD have done if certain things hadn't happened: you are what your record SAYS you are, and we all know it isn't how many points that you win in tennis, it's when you win them. As others have pointed out, this losing the important points isn't exactly a Haley's Comet frequency thing with Verdasco, very often, he's a choker, that's who he is...

 

[heninfan99]

He actually was in the worst match I ever saw against Mardy Fish. I think he got begaled and then won the next set 6-1. It was a microcosm of his career but I guess it's not so easy mentally to bring it every match.

 

[merwy]

If he was "...obviously the better player. But for some reason, at random moments he just tightened up and got braincramps or something and couldn't normally hit the ball anymore," then, he isn't the better, is he? There's a saying by a two time Super Bowl winning coach that he invariably uses when people talk about how well a team COULD have done if certain things hadn't happened: you are what your record SAYS you are, and we all know it isn't how many points that you win in tennis, it's when you win them. As others have pointed out, this losing the important points isn't exactly a Haley's Comet frequency thing with Verdasco, very often, he's a choker, that's who he is...

Look, I get where you're coming from. But this is a guy who plays a certain way when playing freely. It's not that he's slapping winners in every corner of the court when he's playing well and that he's missing it all when not in the zone. He just has a solid game and can normally execute it. But he just gets so nervous it seems at times and then completely loses it. You're right though, a player is as good as he plays overall, you have to count the bad moments as well.

 

[Mustard]

The guy hasn't done anything since 5 years ago at this tournament. Nothing new

He played well at Wimbledon last year. He led Murray by 2 sets in the quarter finals.

 

[papertank]

Verdasco mentally checked out years ago. Not surprising that he tanked another match.

 

[tennisjedi]

It was a bad choke.
Wanted a federer Verdasco 3rd round.

 

[bluescreen]

He actually was in the worst match I ever saw against Mardy Fish. I think he got begaled and then won the next set 6-1. It was a microcosm of his career but I guess it's not so easy mentally to bring it every match.

Wasn't this in the semis of New Haven in like 2008? He was double faulting on practically every other point. Definitely the weirdest match I've ever seen.