The professional career of Fernando Verdasco has come to an end at the Qatar Open 2025, where he paired up with Novak Djokovic in the doubles tournament. Unfortunately, their journey was cut short in the second round, as they lost to the favored duo of Finn Harri Heliovaara and British Henry Patten with a score of 7-5 and 6-4. What a remarkable note to end on, though – their last match was against the winners of the past Australian Open.
Fernando Verdasco, 41, had announced just last week that he would be retiring from professional tennis after this tournament, with Novak Djokovic as his partner in the doubles. Although he hadn’t officially announced his withdrawal from the sport, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, given that he had been playing less regularly on the circuit in recent years. Instead, he had been focusing on the Challenger circuit and had even dipped his toes into coaching and advising other tennis players.
A Glorious Career Spanning Over Two Decades
Verdasco’s professional career, which kicked off back in 1999, has been nothing short of impressive. He reached a career-high ranking of Number 7 ATP in 2009 and won a total of seven titles, including Valencia in 2004, Umag in 2008, and New Haven in 2009. He also made it to the finals 16 times, including the prestigious 1000 Masters in Monte Carlo in 2010. As if that weren’t enough, he won three Davis Cups and the Hopman Cup in 2013, as well as eight doubles titles and five finals. His achievements are a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport.
Verdasco was part of a generation of tennis players who revolutionized the sport, putting Spanish tennis at the forefront of the tennis world. Alongside the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, he helped change the image of the Spanish tennis player from a “terrícola” to a versatile and well-rounded athlete. His legacy will undoubtedly live on, inspiring future generations of tennis players to strive for greatness.
