Marcos Baghdatis started off at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy since the age of 14 and learned to speak French. Since turning pro in 2003, he has not only accumulated 4 titles but captured the heart of many fans with his unique style of play and temperament.
“I feel great because I kept a very good level throughout the match…I kept my level…for three sets and it’s the first time I’ve done this since my injury…I’m improving and finding my movement and energy on the court”, he said happily.
But the Chengdu Open on September 30th, seen Baghdatis play two rounds in one day; the quarter and semifinals back-to-back. The double matches were due to the rain suspension on that Friday of his quarterfinal with Yen-Hsun Lu.
He’d lead and almost won with a 6-3, 5-2 score but had to come back the next day on Saturday to finish off the match, which he did. then he had to play the semifinal with Argentina’s Guido Pella. The first set he couldn’t find his momentum and dropped it to Pella 5-7, but his fight and determination prevailed and he won the second set 6-4.
Levelling the sets was all it seemed to take given the Greek’s mental stamina and he led 4-1 in the third. A few unforced errors netted Pella another game but Baghdatis sealed the few games with good cour strategy and a service winner to win the semifinal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
It was a remarkable tournament for Baghdatis as he at first closed off the quarterfinal, then unsure of winning the semifinal he did. At this point being in the Final was extraordinary and the Greek was playing opposite Denis Istomin for the title.
He had back injuries before, but the recurring ailment started up and after a few games he had to bow out giving the final to Istomin. “I was feeling a bit of pain in my back during the week…after my match last night I felt some spasms…” he admitted.
He knew that he may not be able to finish the set and says “It’s a bit disappointing to finish this way, but it’s always positive to be in the final of a tournament. I have to thank all the people that made this event possible”, he said relievingly and he moved on to the next tournament on his schedule.
Marcos Baghdatis has the consistency and endurance to dig deep at any tournament he enters and the Stockholm Open had been a specialty of his back eight years ago in 2009. He had won the title from Olivier Rochus saying “It’s a great feeling and I’m so happy.
It’s been a long time since I’ve won a tournament”. Back then it was a few years that he’d experienced a title drought and the Stockholm Open crown was very welcomed. This year in 2017 it is no different and in the first round opposite Norbert Gombos, Baghdatis won 6-3, 6-4.
The consistency for him to be able to get the wild cared and enter the tournament last year too was great but he’d only made it to the first round and the year before in 2015, he went all the way to the semifinals but had to retire to Tomas Berdych with recurring injuries.
There is no deciding where Baghdatis will turn up or what his performance will be, even at the gtrand slams he has an ever-present focus of appearing and has played the Australian Open five years in a row, Roland Garros three as well as Wimbledon and the US Open and continues to be a welcoming participant as if he was a top-ranked player.
He’s also carried the Cyriot flag at the 2012 London Olympics, an honor for him and his countrypeople. He is an expecting sight at all tournaments but years on the tour has created too many injuries punishing him at having to retire at multiple tournaments or never entering and having to withdraw.
It was two straight years he had to retire from the US Open and in 2015 leaving with injuries giving up the round to Steve Darcis. Last year’s Open seen Baghdatis on a healthier streak and he made the quarterfinals before losing to Gael Monfils.
It’s also never a surprise to see him healthy and in a match to go the distance of a 4 or 5 setter as this year’s Roland Garros digging deep in 4 sets to lose to Nicolas Almagro and last year’s French Open going to 5 sets with Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.
Baghdatis has did it all and being a lucky loser last year at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. US Men’s Clay Court Championships he won, giving Diego Schwartzman a double bagel no less and in under an hour. It was the first double bagel score since April of 2015 for the ATP tour anyway.
He’s even had wins over nearly all of the top 5 and 10 players as Roger Federer and Rafael in 2010, Andy Murray in 2011, Richard Gasquet in 2013 and Tomas Berdych last year in 2016. He has the staying power mantra and participating in this year’s 2017 Stockholm Open is a pleasure for Baghdatis and he will surely enjoy his stay here, not knowing what surprises he’ll reah or for his fans what they’ll experience and love.
Tennis World
