RoastedLinuxSeeing is believing when it comes to Verdasco
January 28th 2009 22:26
With Confidence standing at his shoulder, Verdasco has powered his way through to the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. He absolutely walloped Tsonga 7-6(2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.
As many try to discover the secret to his recent successes on tour, Verdasco puts it all down to one thing - that Davis Cup tie against Argentina.
"I think that Davis Cup final made me much stronger mentally," Verdasco said.
"I was believing in myself because I feel so good. That's help me so much: to go to the court and try to really win the match because sometimes you go to the court when you don't have this big confidence.
"That's so important: to believe in yourself."
What has also helped is the work he did with Gil Reyes during the off-season.
It was Reyes who kept Andre Agassi at the peak of fitness into his mid-30s and who also taught him a few of life's truths.
Agassi credits him not only for helping him with the physical challenge of winning Grand Slam trophies on a regular basis, but also with the mental approach to dealing all the stresses and problems that professional sport throws up.
The most obvious change in Verdasco since his trip to Las Vegas to see Reyes is his serve.
The extra upper body strength has helped the speed, and the confidence has helped the consistency.
Just as he had against Murray in the previous round, he served like a demon against Tsonga.
In the fourth set, his first serve accuracy was up to 88 per cent, while his average for the match was a staggering 76 per cent.
And now he is in a Grand Slam semifinal.
Two weeks of hard labour with Reyes has given him some extra muscle, but not enough to become a world-beater.
But one match in Argentina back in November has changed his life.
Fernando Verdasco and his new friend Confidence are through to the last four - and they’re happy to take on all comers.
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