Verdasco upsets Djokovic

Rome - Sixth seed Fernando Verdasco stunned world number two Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 in a marathon quarter-final at the ATP Rome Masters on Friday.

The absorbing and gruelling clash lasted 3hrs 18min and was packed with drama and swings in momentum.

The victory for Verdasco backed up his straight sets success over the second-seeded Serbian from the Monte Carlo semi-finals two weeks ago.

The Spaniard now trails Djokovic just 5-4 in career head-to-heads.

Verdasco was the first to strike, twice going up a break in the first set only for Djokovic to break back on each occasion and force a tie-break.

That went with serve until at 4-4 Verdasco hit a brilliant crosscourt forehand winner for the mini break.

Two forehand errors from Djokovic then saw the Spaniard claim the set 7/4 in the breaker having recorded an impressive 84 percent of first serves in.

That first set had lasted just under an hour and a half.

Djokovic hit back with renewed determination in the second and broke for a 2-1 lead after Verdasco went wide with a backhand down the line.

Djokovic broke again for 4-1 but another Verdasco forehand winner set up a break back point which he duly took.

However, a third Djokovic break of the set saw him take that 6-3 and serve first in the decider.

Yet it was he who gave up the only break of the third when he netted a forehand at 1-1 before Verdasco sealed the match with an ace right on the centre line.

The 26-year-old Verdasco will face either seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or 13th seed David Ferrer in the semi-finals on Saturday.