They've played once before, in rd1 of the 2005 US Open; Verdasco won 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. However, Henman had been really struggling with his back up to that match and it really affected his serve and movement that day. Verdasco was just picking him off at will from the net and smashing blistering forehand and backhand winners to all corners. Henman was a shadow of his usual self.
Verdasco is ranked 26 [peaked at 24 in July], he's a big-hitting leftie, with one heck of a forehand, one of the hardest hitters on the tour.
The Madrid courts are fast and very bouncy, the ball really fly through the air which should definately help Tim.
Verdasco has lost both his matches indoors this autumn, to Ramirez-Hidalgo in straights in Metz rd1 and he retired at 1 set all against Bracciali in Moscow rd1. At Wimbledon he reached rd4 before losing to Stepanek in 4 sets and at the US Open he reached rd3 before losing to Roddick in 5. At Queens, he was a break down to Mackin in the final set in rd2 qualifying but came through and went on to reach rd3 before losing to Nadal in a final set breaker.
His best results have come on clay, he's made 2 semis and 3 quarters - including one at TMS Hamburg.
Henman has never done particularly well in Madrid, I don't think he's been past rd3 - last year he lost in 3 sets to Stepanek then.
I agree....Tim in two. He is playing very well and has always played well indoors on a fast service. When he lost to Verdasco he was injured.
Tim has had such a horrible time as far as draws go, that when given a draw like this he has to take advantage in order to be seeded for the Aussie Open.
Not sure how many of you are watching this live, it is on here on the tennis channel, but Henman's last service game was one of his best service games or his entire career....it was amazing....totally amazing.
Not sure how many of you are watching this live, it is on here on the tennis channel, but Henman's last service game was one of his best service games or his entire career....it was amazing....totally amazing.
Henman 4-1 up and playing beautiful tennis.
Glad to hear that Doug....putting the kids to bed at present so unable to watch the display !
Tim still serving well....just one loose service game when he saved four break points....and saved them well. Tim just one game away, a matter of minutes I think....
The press feel that this was one of his best wins for a long time.
LTA report:
Tim Henman delivered another magnificent show of sheer quality tennis to again prove just how wrong those cynics were to write the former British No.1 off as a spent force earlier this year.
Fernando Verdasco, one of the cleanest hitters on the ATP Tour, found his game effectively dismantled as the 32-year-old wild card oozed class on his way through to the second round of the Mutua Madrilena Masters in Madrid.
Clearly the form that took Henman through to the final in Tokyo eight days earlier had travelled back to Europe. Every aspect of his game was razor sharp and pristine as he exacted revenge for the defeat he suffered against the 26th ranked left-hander at last year’s US Open.
Verdasco hails from Madrid – his parents run a restaurant in the city – but it was not to be a glorious homecoming for the 22-year-old as Henman’s excellence left his morale battered and bruised by a 7-5, 6-3 defeat.
“Quite impressive that, wasn’t it?” said the victor with a smile as he pondered on his 91-minute triumph that saw him hit six aces and win 74 per cent of the points on his first serve. “I served fantastic, really well and at the right times.”
At the Japanese Open, Henman insisted his semi-final win over Mario Ancic was his best performance in more than 18 months but he believed this win over Verdasco was equal in terms of quality.
“I was timing the ball better and better,” he enthused. “It was a great start for me and good to continue where I left off in Tokyo.”
Then sensibility tempered Henman’s celebrations as he realised, despite the late-night finish, the vagaries of the Madrid scheduling will put him back on court against 15th ranked David Ferrer on Tuesday. “You don't want to talk it up too much when you've got to come back in 14 hours time or something, but it was good.”
The opening points of the match hardly engendered optimism for Henman as two horrendous unforced errors seem to signal a difficult night but the precision of his serve got him out of trouble and the mood was immediately set for the evening.
Quick conditions, courtesy of the altitude and the speedy Greenset carpet, favoured Henman’s natural attacking game and before long he was serving and volleying from angles that other players would find impossible. However, there was so much more to his armoury and his forehand, notoriously an Achilles heel when things are going badly, was also pristine.
The only real moment of initial concern came when Verdasco threatened with a break point at 4-4 in the first set but under pressure Henman characteristically came up with a service winner and three games later upped his intensity to register three set points.
Two came to nothing as he hit one return into the net and another ball wide but experience told on the third set point as Henman hit a return almost on to Verdasco’s toes and the Spaniard could only scoop a forehand long.
Sensing the opportunity to really drive home his superiority, Henman hit four great winners to hold the second set’s opening game to love and then broke at the first opportunity. Losing all but one of 10 points clearly seemed to leave Verdasco disconcerted but the match was not yet won.
Verdasco recovered his composure well and subjected Henman to another four break points. Each time the Englishman came up with a winner, one forehand half-volley showing he is still arguably the finest net player on the ATP Tour. And when Verdasco’s last break point opening came to nothing, his tournament was effectively over.
30-30 40-30 
