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		</div><p>Rafael Nadal bowed out in the Australian Open first round as fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco came from behind to win 7-6 (8/6), 4-6 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2.</p>
<p>Nadal led by two sets to one and then 2-0 in the decider in Rod Laver Arena but Verdasco came roaring back, unleashing an incredible 90 winners en route to a superb victory.</p>
<p>The world number 45 will now face Israel&#8217;s Dudi Sela in round two, while Nadal exits a third consecutive grand slam in the first week.</p>
<p>&#8220;I played unbelievable in the fifth set from after the break he made against me,&#8221; Verdasco said.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just started hitting winners &#8211; I don&#8217;t know how. I was closing my eyes and everything was coming in.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nadal overcame Verdasco in a momentous five-setter in the Australian Open semi-finals six years ago, but few expected a similar battle with Verdasco now 32 and with his best days behind him.</p>
<p>Nadal, though, is not the powerhouse presence he once was, having crashed out in the second round at Wimbledon last year and US Open third round.</p>
<p>There had been signs of a revival in recent weeks but the 14-time major champion was simply unable to cope with Verdasco&#8217;s superior baseline hitting, which yielded 90 winners &#8211; 41 of them forehands &#8211; to Nadal&#8217;s 37.</p>
<p>A double fault at 6-6 in the first-set tie-break was enough to give Verdasco an early lead, but Nadal looked to have ridden the storm when he clinched the next two sets &#8211; the first following a thrilling rally, which ended with Nadal roaring and pumping his fists.</p>
<p>However, Verdasco refused to lie down, cranking up the power on his forehand and nicking the fourth set to force a decider.</p>
<p>Again Nadal edged ahead with an early break in the fifth, but it was Verdasco who strung together six games in a row, including two breaks of serve, to seal victory in four hours and 41 minutes.</p>
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