Fernando Verdasco defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4 in a enthralling quarter-final match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and proved one more time that he is in a great form now.

This is Verdasco's third ATP World Tour semi-final in as many weeks. He reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final two weeks ago as he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, and last week he captured his fifth ATP World Tour title at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell (d. Soderling).

"I think if you have to look at something (that made the difference) then it was my mentality; how I was taking the match up in the important points like that tie-break in the first set and also how I felt the match in the last game because he didn't give me an easy time. So, if I need to look at something then, it is the way I controlled the situation." - said Verdasco.




Novak Djokovic, who was competing in the quarter-finals at the Foro Italico for the fourth straight year said:

"I'm happy with the way I played, so definitely the French Open is the place where I want to get a good result," said Djokovic. "Obviously I'm very disappointed to lose the match. I was very close to victory and I know that this match could have gone either way; only a couple of points decided the winner. But he won because he played well and he deserved to win."

Verdasco will now face compatriot David Ferrer, who beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1.

Fernando Verdasco tops Novak Djokovic again ‎