Fernando Verdasco is a Spanish professional tennis player who was born on November 15, 1983, in Madrid, Spain. He started playing tennis at the age of just four and was lucky enough to enjoy two hard courts in their house when he was growing up, allowing for wall-to-wall practice.
Making his ATP Tour debut at the 2002 Estoril Open, it was not to be for the Spaniard, who lost in straight sets to Adrian Voinea. All good things come with time, though, and after just a couple of years on Tour, the Spaniard already had his first bit of silverware in his trophy cabinet.
It was the 2004 Valencia Open that saw him beat four compatriots, including Albert Montanes, in the final, which meant he was the proud owner of an ATP Tour title. He spent the following years perfecting his trade even more at the cost of silverware.
His next trophy came at the 2008 edition of the Croatia Open in Umag before a flurry of three trophies in 2009 and 2010 meant he was well on his way to establishing himself as another world-class Spanish talent.
In the midst of his trophy-winning end to the 2000s, the Spaniard managed to make more career history. His semifinal appearance at the 2009 Australian Open remains his best effort at the Grand Slam level to date, and his career-high world ranking of number 7, which he achieved in April of that same year.
His two latest ATP titles came in 2014 and 2016 (Houston and Bucharest, respectively), taking his career tally to 7. Aside from singles, Verdasco has made a name for himself on the doubles scene as well, racking up a total of 8 ATP titles and a French Open semifinal.
He also contributed to three Davis Cup wins for his country, in 2008, 2009, and 2011. After a clumsy drugs ban left him out of the spot for two months in 2022, this left the veteran looking to the future. Despite still being an active player on the ATP Tour, he also mentored Abdullah Shelbayh, and his legacy in the world of tennis continues.
