Nadal threatens boycott after loss; Djokovic agrees
MADRID (AP)—Rafael Nadal lost to Spanish countryman Fernando Verdasco for the first time in the Madrid Open on Thursday, then he and top-ranked Novak Djokovic threatened not to return if the new blue clay-court wasn't discarded.
Nadal blew a 5-2 lead in the third set in losing 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, his first defeat to Verdasco in 14 matches.
The third-round loss was Nadal's earliest exit in a clay-court tournament since he fell to Olivier Mutis in the second round in Palermo, Italy, in 2004.
Defending champion Djokovic and Roger Federer, meanwhile, eased into the quarterfinals with straight-set wins.
Nadal blamed his first loss on clay in almost a year on the blue clay, which players have said was slippery.
''Being able to move is very important for me and if I can't move well, I can't hit the ball well either,'' said Nadal, the second seed and two-time Madrid champion. ''If things don't change, this will be one less tournament on the calendar for me.
''This surface destabilizes the game. It is a completely different game and I don't want to take risks.''
Verdasco, who became only the seventh player to beat Nadal on clay in eight years, burst into tears on the court in front of his hometown fans upon sealing the upset with a forehand winner.
''After losing so many times against honestly the best player on clay ever, to beat him on clay is the maximum,'' said an emotional Verdasco. ''I don't have words. I am happy for the win, although it is difficult to hold myself together now. I need to calm down, rest and get ready for the next match.''
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on -
HOHOHO is this Really CLAY?
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Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on
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No, it is billiard chalk. ;-)
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Permalink Reply by Joe B. (BP, CA) on
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It's totally clay. Ask Play Doh, who I heard supplied the blue stuff for this tournament.
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Permalink Reply by Chin Be on
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It was inevitable. He came flat after such an emotional high. His forehand didn't work- actually nothing worked and Berdman wasn't going to play along.
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