Cyprus Marcos into next round after thriller

joe · instructor

Marcos into next round after thriller

CYPRIOT tennis star Marcos Baghdatis edged his way into round three of the Australian Open yesterday after a nail-biting victory over Marat Safin.

World No 15 Baghdatis – who rocked the tennis world when he finished runner-up in the same tournament back in 2006, won yesterday’s thrilling encounter 6-4 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-2

In the best tournament game so far, Baghdatis had dominated the early stages but Safin roared back to level before the Cypriot came out on top in the decider after three hours and 13 minutes of playing.

Speaking at a courtside interview, Baghdatis, who won a day after his brother’s birthday back in Cyprus, said: "It was great tennis. Marat was playing great tennis, especially in the third and fourth sets, hitting all the lines. In the fifth set I tried to stay focused and I served very big. I'm very happy to win."

After dropping two sets (6-4, 6-4), Safin, ranked number 57 in the world, took control and lifted his game at the start of the third, showing the kind of form that took him to the title three years ago.

The Russian clinched the third and fourth sets but Baghdatis refused to buckle under Safin’s comeback and broke in the second game of the final set and again in the eighth to set up a third-round clash with another former world No 1, Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

Baghdatis, who lost at the second-round stage last year, began superbly, sending Safin this way and that around the court and forcing him into mistakes as he took the first set.

The Russian recovered an early break to level at 4-4 in the second set, only to drop his serve in the next game, allowing Baghdatis to serve out for a two-sets lead.

Baghdatis looked out on his feet at the end of the fourth set but from somewhere he found a second wind and broke Safin in the second game to take control.

Safin could not fight his way back again and though he battled hard, Baghdatis broke again in the eighth game to clinch victory.

Lifted by a large and noisy contingent of Greek and Cypriot supporters, the third round encounter promises to be an enticing match after Hewitt survived a four-set struggle against lowly-ranked Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

In the previous round, Baghdatis had beaten former champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden.

webbo · professor

You watching the match? Nailbiting stuff. Hewitt should have won it an hour ago!!
Wonder who will win the last set? Supposed to be going out soon, but not leaving the tv just yet...................................

BTW, what mix of nationalities is Baggy? His mother is the Cypriot, yes?

Cheers

Bubbles x Cool

raiseurfist · advanced member

Well that was long Exclamation

webbo · professor

leduhere · member

Listen here people. What Marco has said and done is he's democratic right. This is something I would also do if I was in his position. What you hear on the news is what the Victorian government, the Victorian police and the media here want everyone to believe. That's how they divert everyone's mind from the real issues here in Melbourne Victoria. They are the THUGS and no anyone else. And just to let you know, on the 17/05/07 the Victorian police murdered my only daughter together with a Turkish boy that they are now trying to cover up and that is something more important from Marco has said and done. After all Cyprus is Greece and Greece is Cyprus. Australia should be the last place on earth to say anything about Marco or Greece. Lets not forget that Australia is a stolen country, lets not forget that the natives of Australia were murdred by the thousands. So who are they to judge Marco? Whao are they to speak about the people who have give democracy to the world and evrything else? If anyone of you would like to read more about the murdres that the Victorian police have commited, please visit www.biolight.com.au/maritsa/marie.htm and click on the news & topics.