Open in 2008, and lost to the 23rd seed Andreev in the third round. On 23 November, Verdasco won the fourth rubber of Spain's Davis Cup final match against Argentina, defeating José Acasuso. This was enough to ensure victory for the team; Verdasco had also played in the doubles match the previous day and won, partnering with Feliciano López. 2009: Australian Open semifinal, Top 10 debut, Masters 1000 quarterfinals, ATP Tour finals Verdasco started his season by reaching the final of the Brisbane International losing to Radek Štěpánek in three sets. Partnering Mischa Zverev, he was also the runner-up in the doubles final. At the 2009 Australian Open Verdasco defeated Andy Murray in the fourth round to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, where he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Verdasco then lost to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in what was at the time the longest match in Australian Open history, lasting 5 hours, 14 minutes. Verdasco's semi-final run earned him No. 9 ranking, lifting the Spaniard into the top 10 for the first time. After being sidelined by injury since the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, where he lost to Roger Federer. At the 2009 Miami Masters, Verdasco recorded his 200th ATP match win by defeating qualifier Benjamin Becker in the second round. He would go on to reach the quarterfinals, losing to Andy Murray. His run at this tournament earned him a further career-high ranking of No. 8. During the clay-court season, Verdasco again reached the quarterfinal stage at the 2009 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. Following this tournament, his ranking rose further to No. 7. In Barcelona, he lost in the quarterfinals to Fernando González. At the 2009 Rome Masters, he advanced to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. At the 2009 Madrid Masters, Verdasco reached the quarterfinals, Verdasco again lost to Nadal for the ninth time. Competing as the 8th seed at the 2009 French Open, Verdasco lost in the fourth round to 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko. On his first tournament on grass that season, Verdasco lost in the first round of the 2009 Gerry Weber Open to Philipp Petzschner. At the 2009 Ordina Open, he lost in the second round to eventual title winner Benjamin Becker. At the third Grand Slam of the year, Wimbledon, he matched his best result at that tournament by reaching the