Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of the Australian Open following a first round defeat to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Fernando Verdasco rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the last two sets, recovering a break in the fifth as well, and claim a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, only his third victory in 17 matches against his fellow Spanish lefthander.
The first-round exit was 2009 champion Nadal‘s first at Melbourne Park and only his second at a Grand Slam.
Fernando VerdascoTo win against Rafa here coming from two sets down is unbelievable. I think I played unbelievable — the fifth set from the break that he made me, I just started hitting winners. I don’t know how, just, you know I was closing the eyes and everything was coming in and I keep doing it and I was doing well.
A winning service return from Verdasco ended the match in 4 hours, 41 minutes.
Venus Out in Opener
The result follows the other big exit of the day after Venus Williams was beaten 6-4 6-2 in the first round by British number one Johanna Konta.
The seven-times grand slam champion was named WTA comeback player of the year in 2015 when she won three titles to move back into the top 10 in the rankings but her hopes of going one better than her final appearance in 2003 were soon dashed.