Tennis: Verdasco breaks jinx to win US Clay Court title
Former world number seven Verdasco earned his first title since 2010 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory at the River Oaks Country Club. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Fourth-seed Fernando Verdasco relished shattering a six-match losing streak in finals after defeating Nicolas Almagro in an all-Spanish showdown and claiming the US men’s clay court championship title.
Former world number seven Verdasco earned his first title since 2010 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory at the River Oaks Country Club.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve won a singles title,” said Verdasco. “It’s a very important day for me to win a tournament after a few years and after the injury in my knee the last couple years.”
Verdasco hammered four aces and saved six-of-seven break point chances in the match that lasted an hour and 52 minutes. The Spaniard has won seven of 10 career meetings with Almagro.
It marked the second year in a row Almagro finished runner-up in Houston, losing last year to John Isner.
“He played a really good match today, and he’s the winner,” Almagro said of Verdasco.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2014.