Sammel on Nando’s weapons…
What makes Fernando Verdasco so dangerous? His number one weapon is his forehand. He has power and speed of arm but the difference between him and others is his ability to change direction seemingly just before contact.

He plays the line forehand a little more often than most which before was a weakness because he tended to do it when he felt pressure and just wanted to finish the point so it was more hopeful than a committed shot.

On Davis Cup…
Rafael Nadal withdrawing from the Davis Cup final was a blessing for Fernando. He won the big one and was the hero of his country and this sparked both confidence and an increased desire to get better.

On fitness…
He put in a tough off-season with Andre Agassi’s trainer Gil Reyes who now helps adidas players so for the first time he is really fit and a lot stronger. This has helped him mentally as he no longer feels the need to finish points as quickly.

On Nando’s forehand down the line…
Verdasco’s forehand down the line is devastating as it is now struck with commitment and his forehand crosscourt is world class also. Rallying crosscourt with Verdasco is similar to a game of chess as players are consistently worried about the line ball turning the match into a much more mental battle than a physical one.

On his backhand…
His backhand is more solid than before and his serve has improved, although his second serve still has a way to go and is a vulnerable area.

On his mental strength…
His mental strength is the biggest difference since he gained that extra layer of belief from Davis Cup and then built on it by doing the hard yards.

In conclusion…
The question now is will he sustain his challenge and keep on a mission to join the elite, the ‘fab four’ and make it the ‘five’. He has a history of enjoying the good life. Has he sensed a big future with Grand Slam success which is so compelling that his focus cannot be distracted?

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