Ozzie Open Day 12: Verdasco Loses, Yet Wins...

It was an epic match on Jan. 30 after the epic Wimbledon 2008 finals. Only this time, the match wasn't interrupted by natural forces or anything.

It was the demonstration of grit, determination and pure athletic talent at Rod Laver Arena between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco.

From the time it started as 19.30 AEST, it was not an easy task for either of the two players. For any of the winner, it would be the first time to go to the Aussie Open finals.

Neither of the two were ready to concede from the beginning. It was mammoth and an almost Herculean task for the winner to come out.

Nobody could have predicted that the match would have gone for over five hours [five hours 14 minutes] and such a closely contested one at that.

The scoreline was so so close: 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in Rafa's favour. But I wonder, did Rafa actually play at his optimum best or to the level of Verdasco?

Also, if Verdasco had reduced his unforced errors a bit, would he have tamed Rafa today?

Verdasco's shots were brilliant; right from the opening game until the point where he saved two match points, and not to mention his winners. They just left Rafa on the verge of bleeding.

More than once, Verdasco saved break points with the help of his massive serve and until the end his first serve percentage was hovering around 70. In comparison, Rafa was nowhere close with his winners or serves or shots.

Rafa should be a relieved man today after reaching his maiden hard court slam final but he does owe a bit of thanks to his Davis Cup teammate.

His fans would be very happy to see him play off against Federer once again but this is not the Rafa they would have expected to see at this level.

Verdasco, on the other hand failed to secure a berth in the finals. In fact this would have been first final in 23 appearances at the slams.

He lost today, but emerged as a winner in many ways. He proved that he was capable of giving a tough time to the top seeds, proved that he had in him to be a Top 10 player.

Maybe I am counting chickens before they hatched in this case, but Verdasco, I feel deserves it. This semi-final had nothing like the aura of Federer-Roddick semi but this was the one that made everyone grapple the edge of their seats in acute tension.

It was a final before a final and though my choice of the winner doesn't agree...I still am happy.

And there was one more small gesture that overwhelmed me. The moment the match was over, Rafa had crossed over to the other side of the net to embrace his opponent cum friend. There was nothing competitive about that. It was friendship and more than that, it was comradeship.

Verdasco had to leave the court unfulfilled job half complete, but he didn't leave the court without applause and admiration. Pure and unbiased. He failed to capture the match but ended up winning fans instead.

Vamos Verdasco! Adoro Verdasco!