Cyprus` Marcos Baghdatis scored a career-best result of his own by halting qualifier Ryan Harrison’s campaign in his career-best Grand Slam result, taking a 6-3, 7-6, 1-6, 6-1 win to advance to the US Open Round of 16 for the first time.
According to the US Open website, 31-year-old Baghdatis prevailed despite the heavily favored American’s home crowd cheering against him, but as the Cypriot was quick to point out after the match, it was nothing he had not experienced in the US Open before.
“I think I’ve never played a tougher match than against Andre Agassi in Arthur Ashe, when 23,000 people are against me, so I know the feeling when the crowd is against you,” Baghdatis said with a laugh. “But Ryan is playing unbelievable this week, it was a tough match, and I’m glad to be able to win. I’ve played in the second week of every Grand Slam except for this one, so I’m very, very happy to finally be able to do that now.”
He said his goal is to finish his career in the Top 20 (of the Emirates ATP Rankings). “It`s a big challenge and I want to achieve that. I`m putting the right people around me to do it.”
Marcos will next face 10th seed and two-time US Open quarter-finalist Gael Monfils on Sunday.
“The good thing is I played him in Cincinnati,” Baghdatis said about Monfils. “I know what to expect and it`s going to be a tough battle, but I`ll try my best.”
Baghdatis earlier teamed with Gilles Muller to win their doubles opener, defeating Dustin Brown and Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-6(3). They will next face the all-Spanish duo of Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez.