Roger Federer beats Fernando Verdasco in three sets to score his 50th win in Dubai - UBITENNIS

Roger Federer beats Fernando Verdasco in three sets to score his 50th win in Dubai

By sampaolo
3 Min Read

Roger Federer scored his 50th match win at the Dubai Duty Free Chhampionships with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Fernando Verdasco in their first head-to-head match since 2015 at the same tournament.

Federer got the first break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, when Verdasco made a double fault. Verdasco rallied from 0-30 down at 2-5 to hold his service game. Federer sealed the first set 6-3 in the ninth game, when Verdasco hit a backhand return into the net.

Verdasco saved a break point in the first game of the second set and broke serve on his second break point to take a 2-0 lead, when Federer sent a backhand long. The Spanish player dropped just two points in his next service games and hit three service winners in the ninth game to close out the second set 6-3 setting up a decider. Verdasco has won his first set against Federer since November 2009 at the ATP Finals in London.

Federer fended off a break point in the third game of the decisive set with a service winner at 1-1 30-40 and won the last 14 points on serve holding his next two service games at love. The seven-time Dubai champion earned a break point with a net cord winner at 4-3 and broke serve with a forehand winner at the net in the eighth game to open up a 5-3 lead. He served out the third set with three winners in the ninth game to score his 50th win in Dubai. Federer set up a quarter final against Marton Fucsovics.

“I am happy I actually stayed calm throughout the game. I felt like I was having a good feeling out there. Even though I was not playing my best, I still felt it was going to fall my way when it really mattered. I think that confidence is important in sport or in tennis. I am happy I had it today. I played good at the end. I had the serve when I needed it. I had some good shots, a good point on break point when I needed it. That was nice to win it that way”, said Federer.

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