Second seed Halep dumped out by qualifier Zhang

epa05111168 Shuai Zhang of China returns the ball to Simona Halep of Romania during their first round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2016.

Nadal appeared confused at how he had managed to blow a 2-0 lead in the final set to go down 7-6(6) 4-6 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 to Verdasco in a four hour 41 minute battle that had echoes of their marathon 2009 semi-final but with a reversed result.

World No. 2 Simona Halep said on Sunday she is determined to taste Grand Slam glory but is keeping her expectations in check after an injury-marred build-up to the Australian Open.

Zhang Shuai celebrates winning match-point against Australian Open No 2 seed Simona Halep.

She had previously been as high as No. 30 in world rankings, but the 25-year-old Zhang had recently slipped to World No. 133.

The Chinese is ranked at 133rd and this win takes her to the second round of a grandslam tournament, which is now her best performance in women’s singles at any grandslam.

“But, you know, so many people help me – my coach, my parents, my team, also national team, my sponsor, always try to help me, give me more motivation. I think I played unbelievable in the fifth set from the break”, Verdasco said in a courtside interview. She’ll play Danka Kovinic in the second round. They never see. So I wanted them feeling what I’m doing.

Halep racked up fewer unforced errors than her opponent (17 to Zhang’s 21), she served with more accuracy (73 per cent to Zhang’s 67 per cent) and she earned herself more break points. “To win against a top-two player, I’m so happy, so excited”. I think it is the best tennis of my life.

“I had many problems in this period before coming here, so I can say that I am a little bit down mentally because I was very homesick”.

“I’m pretty pleased with my level, and obviously that I was really concentrated during the whole match”. “Then I came here with Achilles again”. “I played many days without pain”.

“The real thing is I was not enough aggressive with my forehand during the whole match”.

Fernando Verdasco has knocked fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal out of the opening Grand Slam of the season, beating his fellow Spanish lefthander 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the first round. Asked if she might need surgery, she added, “I’m totally – I don’t think I would need surgery at all”.

Zhang, who wept freely after her win, said she seriously considered quitting after yet another flop at the US Open in September.

The Romanian also had tears in her eyes as she departed the arena.

“I’m trying to study Japanese but I get really nervous when I hear it”, the Osaka-born Osaka said.