Djokovic and Verdasco show chemistry in Doha’s doubles | ATP Tour

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Djokovic and Verdasco show chemistry in Doha’s doubles

They form a couple in the last professional Spanish tournament

February 17, 2025

Fernando Verdasco faces the last tournament of his sports career this week, but is willing to leave an indelible mark on the Qatar Exxonmobil Open de Doha. Forming a couple with Novak Djokovic in the doubles painting, an obvious attraction for the modality, the Spanish seeks to write a last chapter at the height of their professional career: opting to the maximum on the track with a totally winning spirit.

Hand in hand with the Balkan on Monday in the Emirate, the Madrid managed to complete a great premiere by beating 6-1, 6-1 to the pair formed by Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov. Just 48 minutes were enough to find the way to the second round of the tournament, marking the territory in a painting where they aspire to compete before any obstacle.

Verdasco, 41, will culminate this week a brilliant career at the ATP Tour, where he came to raise seven individual titles and to occupy No. 7 of the PIF ATP Rankings at the best moment of his professional career. Despite the closeness of the outcome, Fernando is willing to enjoy every moment in the company of 24 times Grand Slam champion this week.

“After this game, I might not play the second round,” said Verdasco, whose last participation in doubles dates back to the 2022 season. “I should hang the racket and retire winning 6-1, 6-1. It is a very beautiful feeling, I thank you for coming today and I wait for you this Wednesday. ”

Djokovic and Verdasco showed an immediate chemistry on the track, opening differences from the first measures of the match. Both achieved the first break in the third game and never looked back. Sharing smiles and moments of confidence on the court, they made their way to victory without delivering a single service shift in the Emirate. His rivals in the second round will be the Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara serial heads, current Wimbledon champions and Australia’s Open.

The double court has not been a minor exception in Verdasco’s career, with some milestones of enormous prestige in its showcase. The Madrid, who added more than 200 victories and raised eight trophies in the specialty throughout his sports career, signed his brightest moment raising the Nitto ATP Finals 2013 with his compatriot David Marrero.