Spain's Fernando Verdasco completed a perfect preparation for the Australian Open by defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 6-3 onu00a0 Saturday to win the Kooyong Classic. <br /><br />
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<p align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt">Fernando Verdasco kisses his Kooyong Classic trophy</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Verdasco, who made a breakthrough at Melbourne Park a year ago when he took Rafael Nadal to a five-set marathon semi-final, spent 84 minutes in taming Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open finalist.<br /><br />The ninth-ranked Spaniard held his nerve in a tight ninth game of the first set, saving three set points for 5-4. <br /><br />He then broke to seize momentum, winning the set and earning the straight-set win on a third match point after dominating in the second set. <br /><br />Verdasco duplicated his Australian Open quarter-final win over Tsonga from 2009 to take the trophy at the eight-man special event considered the top tune-up for the opening Grand Slam of the season starting onu00a0 Monday.

Spain's Fernando Verdasco completed a perfect preparation for the Australian Open by defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 6-3 on  Saturday to win the Kooyong Classic

Verdasco warms up for Australian Open in style

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Verdasco warms up for Australian Open in style

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