Fernando Verdasco v Rafael Nadal
Tennis: ATP Masters Monte Carlo Final
Sunday 18th April 2010 - Start 1:15pm GMT

This match will be shown on SKY Sports in the UK

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Preview

The first Masters Event on the clay courts in 2010 reaches its climax here at Monte Carlo and it is a Final that perhaps a few pundits would have predicted.

Fernando Verdasco came through the top half of the draw and continues his solid start to the new season. This week was the first time he had moved beyond the Quarter Final stage of a Masters event and he now has an opportunity to win the biggest tournament of his career.

The Spanish Number 2 and World Number 12 already had an impressive win over Tomas Berdych this week before showing some of his nerves in a 3 set win over Albert Montanes. However, all of his results so far this season were overshadowed by his comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 win over the World Number 2, Novak Djokovic, in the Semi Final yesterday.

Rafael Nadal looks like he is getting the aura back that seems to have been missing for the last 11 months as he moves back onto his favourite surface. Nadal has been particularly fond of this event, winning it 5 years in a row, as he looks to match Bjorn Borg and taken the title for a 6th consecutive year.

The Spaniard has come through all his matches with relative ease and has lost only 13 games in his 4 wins over Thiemo de Bakker, Michael Berrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer. Nadal has only lost his serve 3 times in these matches.

Fernando Verdasco will not only have a few nerves to shed in this match, but also some of the psychological issues that can be found when losing all 10 meetings with Rafael Nadal.

The 2 players were involved in a epic Semi Final at the Australian Open last season which was decided in a 5th set and have since met twice on the clay courts with Nadal coming through in straight sets. They have played 4 times on clay courts and Verdasco is yet to win a set.

Prediction

Fernando Verdasco is a solid clay court player but there has to be some concern with how he can cope mentally with playing a player that has beaten him so many times already and one that Verdasco has yet to beat.

Rafael Nadal has cruised through this tournament but this could perhaps be his biggest test as the result of the match can be taken off his racquet. He has a very strong record against Verdasco which should hold him in good stead if the match is close.

Fernando Verdasco can be an extremely dangerous opponent and is a very good mover on this surface. He will be expecting to play a lot of extended rallies if he wants to win the match as Nadal has the fitness to run all day.

I think Verdasco has the chance to keep this match close. He may get tight if he gets ahead, but the handicap looks a little big for me and could be covered if he can keep the match close.

The Pick :

Rafael Nadal

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Fernando Verdasco + 5.5 games @ 1.83 (Bet365)