Roger Federer: Playing at the age of 36 was not logical in the past
Roger Federer was looking forward to facing Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championship. The Swiss led their head-to-head meetings 6-0 and they last faced each other in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Dubai Open. "He's a good guy," said Federer. "I think he's got one of those wonderful forehands on the tour. We've seen the great shot-making he has been able to produce over the course of his career. It's nice to see the Kohlschreibers and Verdascos still being on tour. Back in the day, playing at 34, 35, 36, that was not logical. So I'm happy that he's still going. Yeah, I think he's a good player. He can definitely peak against the top guys. I think that's why he's still playing, for those kind of matches, so I have to be careful."
Federer is the only Big Four player that Verdasco has never beaten. The Spaniard took a set from Federer just once in 2009 ATP Finals, losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. "That is very good to know. I thought it was correct. I wasn't 100% sure if I'd lost to him previously. I don't think I've played him that often, to be quite honest. Only six over a 20-year, or 15-year career since he's been on tour. Not very often, to be honest. Could be an advantage for him, I'm not sure. Could be one for me. We'll see how it goes. I hope it's not going to be as windy as tonight so we see good tennis or better tennis."
On Wednesday, Federer dropped a set to the Spaniard for the only second time in their career meetings. Federer defeated Verdasco to lead his head-to-head 7-0 and to claim his 50th match win in Dubai but not before losing the second set to the southpaw.
Verdasco has often spoken highly of Federer, including last week, when he called him the "most talented player in tennis history."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2BZa1aJ
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