Fernando Verdasco to close out stellar career by playing doubles with Novak Djokovic in Doha
By Becky Hart
Published 15/02/2025 at 11:20 GMT
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Spanish great and three-time Davis Cup winner Fernando Verdasco is bringing down the curtain on his illustrious career with one last appearance - in the doubles draw in Doha, alongside none other than Novak Djokovic. Verdasco has not played on the ATP tour since 2023, but the 41-year-old is dusting off his racquet for a farewell tournament alongside the 24-time major champion.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Former top-10 player Fernando Verdasco is finally retiring from tennis, but not before one last special appearance.
The Spanish veteran is set to play in the doubles draw in Doha, alongside none other than Novak Djokovic.
Verdasco reached a career-high of No. 7 in the world in a lengthy career that included three Davis Cup titles as part of a golden generation of Spanish talent, alongside the likes of fellow leftie Rafael Nadal.
He was also involved in a famous epic against Nadal in Melbourne, losing a five-set, five-hour battle in the semi-finals, which remains his best-ever Slam performance.
Having been off the tour since 2023 after a string of first round Challenger-level defeats, Verdasco has opted to return for a formal farewell.
The Spaniard was a prolific doubles player, winning the World Tour Finals doubles in 2013 - and remains just one of two players to have qualified for the end-of-season championships in both doubles and singles.
"After so many incredible years on the ATP Tour, the time has come for my final tournament at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open," Verdasco wrote on social media.
"And what better way to finish than playing doubles with my friend Novak Djokovic, a true legend of our sport and one of the best athletes of all time…
"I’m going to enjoy every moment and give it my all one last time. Thank you everyone that has been there for me during all my career in the good and in the bad times.
"Let’s make this week unforgettable."
Verdasco and Djokovic will make a tasty doubles pairing, with the Serbian having already generated headlines by playing doubles with Nick Kyrgios in Brisbane in the build-up to the Australian Open.
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The doubles game has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity of late, with the blockbuster pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Nadal generating plenty of headlines in Paris last season, while Andy Murray also opted to close out his career in the doubles format.
Doha will be Djokovic's first taste of action after he retired injured in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January after losing the first set to Alexander Zverev.
The Serbian later revealed on social media the extent of the injury to his left hamstring, posting a medical image with the caption "thought I'd leave this here."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
It was initially unclear how long Djokovic would be off the tour, but it seems he has made a swift enough recovery to compete in Doha.
He will be joined in the draw by the likes of Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, but one man who won't be appearing in Doha is Jannik Sinner, after the World No. 1 accepted a three-month suspension from tennis.
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