In an unexpected turn of events at the Doha doubles quarterfinals, tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Fernando Verdasco suffered a defeat to the second-seeded pair, thereby marking the end of Verdasco’s illustrious career. The Serbian and Spanish duo, who previously recorded a convincing 6-1 6-1 victory over Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov in their inaugural doubles match, put up a commendable fight against Haari Heliovaara and Henry Patten, the reigning Wimbledon champions. However, they ultimately faced a 5-7 4-6 loss.
The match was closely contested as Djokovic and Verdasco managed to hold their serve in the fifth and seventh games, narrowly averting a break. Despite their best efforts, the 11th game saw the duo losing their service game, allowing the number two seeds to gain a 6-5 lead. This was followed by Heliovaara and Patten serving out for the first set.
The second set was no different. The Serbian-Spanish pair was broken in the fifth game, putting them on the back foot. With Heliovaara and Patten leading 5-3, Djokovic and Verdasco saved two match points on their serve. However, their attempts to claw back into the game fell short as they couldn’t break back in the subsequent game. This led to the 2024 Wimbledon champions securing a straight-sets victory.
This match also marked the end of Verdasco’s two-decade-long professional career. The Spanish tennis star, who reached the semifinals of the 2009 Australian Open and was ranked as high as number seven in the world, announced his retirement over the weekend. Verdasco, who turned pro in 2001, chose to bow out while playing doubles in Doha alongside the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic.
Reflecting on his career, the 41-year-old expressed his gratitude on Instagram, stating, “After so many incredible years on the ATP Tour, the time has come for my final tournament, and what better way to finish than playing doubles with my friend Novak Djokovic, a true legend of our sport and one of the best athletes of all time.”
Earlier, when Verdasco was seen practicing with Djokovic, speculations were rife about him being the Serbian’s new coach. However, it was subsequently clarified that the two were merely preparing for the doubles event in Doha. Throughout his career, Verdasco clinched seven titles, leaving an indelible mark in the world of tennis.
