Verdasco has Davis Cup on mind

London: Hero for the national team’s triumph last year, Spaniard Fernando Verdasco now only has Davis Cup on his mind after bowing out from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

“Of course Davis Cup is very important to me. And to have more time to prepare for it is even more of a bonus,” Verdasco said after his third straight loss here on Thursday.

A win in straight sets against local favourite Andy Murray would have kept alive Verdasco’s hopes for a semifinal showing on Saturday. But that was not to be as he went down in three sets to Murray.

“I did not have anything to lose here, but I had everything to gain if I had won and Roger Federer too would win later in the night,” Verdasco said.

Last year at this same time, Verdasco shot into the limelight as one of Spain’s fast upcoming stars after winning the fourth Davis Cup rubber for his country defeating Jose Acasuso of Argentina. The performance was even more commendable as Verdasco had partnered Feliciano Lopez and won the previous night in their doubles match.

And now next week, he has a similar assignment on hand as Spain seeks to retain their Davis Cup crown against the Czech Republic in Barcelona.

Hence after losing three straight matches here, all Verdasco could think was go to Barcelona as soon as possible and start preparing for the Davis Cup.

“Davis Cup is always important for me, and this time it’s not going to be different. We play the final in Spain and we will try to win like always,” Verdasco promised.

He lamented his three straight losses against superior opponents this week. “It is tough to play well and lose. The positive thing is that the losses are against the No.1, 3 and 5 in the world. But I was really close to winning,” Verdasco affirmed.

But this early departure gives the Spaniard some much-needed time to switch on to clay court adjustments and preparing for next week’s Davis Cup finale against the Czechs.

“Of course it is important to have more time to prepare for the Davis Cup final. They [Czech Republic] have been practicing for one week already on clay, and Rafa and myself have not yet started because we were playing here,” Verdasco stated.

“But we will try to get used to it as soon as possible. I am going to Barcelona straightaway tomorrow,” he said.