Fernando Verdasco Sent Crashing Out In Brisbane

Fernando Verdasco's 2011 didn't start off the way he would have wanted as he was sent crashing out of the Brisbane International by Benjamin Becker.

The Spaniard struggled for form and consistency throughout the second half of the 2010 season an looked to be struggling once again in his first tournament of the new year.

It was a sluggish start for Verdasco as Becker dominated the opening set and went on to take for the loss of just one game.

But Verdasco dug deep in the second and forced a tie break which he comfortably took 7-2 to level the match at a set a piece.

Despite being pegged back Becker continued to battle and he broke Verdasco once again to open up a 3-0 lead.

Verdasco was never able to get back on level terms with the German and fell to a 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-3 defeat in two hours and thirteen minutes.

The Spaniard is the highest seed to fall in the early round of the competition, Verdasco was the third seed in the tournament.

Speaking to the ATP after the match Becker said: "You always want to start with a win. That’s important to a lot of people so I’m glad that I got a win today and I’m looking forward to my second round."

Becker will now face Santiago Giraldo in the second round as he comfortably saw off Gilles Simon 6-3 6-3.

Fourth seed Mardy Fish was also in action as he cruised past Adrian Mannarino 6-1 6-4 to set up a clash with Radek Stepanek, he was pushed to three sets by Tobias Kamke finally winning 5-7 6-1 6-4.

Marcos Baghdatis, seeded fifth, was also pushed in the opening match as he faced Frenchman Florent Serra.

The Cypriot, who was in action in Abu Dhabi at the end of last week, dropped the opening set 3-6 before battling back to tale the match 3-6 7-5 6-4.

He will now face Lukasz Kubot after he saw of Daniel Brands 6-2 6-2.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw