Rafa Nadal stunned by Fernando Verdasco in Australian Open first round epic

World number five Rafael Nadal was sent crashing out of the Australian Open first round by fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco in an epic five-set match on Tuesday.

Verdasco won the thriller 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in four hours, 41 minutes to hand 14-time grand slam winner Nadal only his second ever first-round defeat at a major tournament.

The latest chastening loss for Nadal, 29, extends a grand slam dry spell which goes back to the 2014 French Open, and will increase fears over his long-term ability to compete at the elite level.

The rollercoaster encounter also recalls the 2009 semi-final between the two Spanish left-handers which Nadal won in five hours and 14 minutes, the second longest match in tournament history, en route to his only Australian Open title.

Verdasco looked headed for the exit when he trailed 0-2 early in the fifth set, only to reel off six straight games to snatch only his third victory in 17 encounters with Nadal.

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Verdasco was on fire with his thumping forehand, hitting 41 forehand winners in a total of 90 outright winners.