Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis won his first ATP title with a 6-4 6-0 victory over Croatian Mario Ancic at the China Open on Sunday.

The 21-year-old third seed, a finalist at the Australian Open and semi-finalist at Wimbledon already this season in his breakthrough year, won a tight first set with a beautiful passing shot and raced through the second at a canter.

Fourth seed Ancic, who returned this week after two months out with an injured knee, made too many errors to threaten the athletic Baghdatis despite his impressive serve.

Baghdatis, the world number nine, claimed his first victory over Ancic in four attempts when the Croatian went long with a forehand after an hour and nine minutes.

Congrats to our player!!

[elko]

Congratulations. Is he a fellow Paphian by any chance?
ismet

[Sotos]

No, he is from Limassol

[Piratis]

Congratulations to Pagdatis. He made us proud again.

[Kikapu]

How come they don't play best of 5 sets at the China Open finals.??

[Bananiot]

Because the China Open is not ... Wimbledon. Seriously, many championships are decided on the best to 3 sets basis. They do not last for so long. More practical.

Piratis

Congratulations to Pagdatis. He made us proud again.

Yawn, yawn! How stereotype! Pagdatis made himself proud and his family, who bore all the brunt of expenses and sentiment invested, when everybody, including the state, turned their back on Pagdatis.

[Kikapu]

Because the China Open is not ... Wimbledon. Seriously, many championships are decided on the best to 3 sets basis. They do not last for so long. More practical..

In all honesty, I have never seen a Major Open that was not best of 5 sets, at least from quarter finals on. I think best of 5 sets is a better tournament, since it allows players time to adjust and change their style during the game. Also the stamina of the players fitness , as the game goes into 4th or 5th set is also very important, that may make the difference on players, who are a little overweight for this game, like the player from Greece, who's name escapes me right now.

[Bananiot]

Probably Eleni Daniilidou.

So, me and you would probably opt for a best of one set!

[Kifeas]

Because the China Open is not ... Wimbledon. Seriously, many championships are decided on the best to 3 sets basis. They do not last for so long. More practical..

In all honesty, I have never seen a Major Open that was not best of 5 sets, at least from quarter finals on. I think best of 5 sets is a better tournament, since it allows players time to adjust and change their style during the game. Also the stamina of the players fitness , as the game goes into 4th or 5th set is also very important, that may make the difference on players, who are a little overweight for this game, like the player from Greece, who's name escapes me right now.

The 4 major (highest in importance) annual tournaments are called "Grand Slams" and organized by the ITF (international tennis federation.) These are the AUS open, the US open, the Wimbledon and the French open, and the winner is determined once 3 sets are won, thus the game may last up to 5 sets. After the "Grand slams" we have the various ATP (association of Tennis professionals) tournaments, in which the winner is usually decided once 2 sets are won, thus the game may last up to 3 sets. Both types of tournaments are professional ones and the players win points towards their overall ranging, besides all the sponsoring financial gains that each one earns from each competition that he participates. There is also a joined ITF and ATP organized competition called the Tennis Master Cup with the top 8 ranked players, plus a number of nationally organized tournaments sponsored by the tennis federations of each country.

[Sotos]

I think he is number 8 now. If he doesn't drop from this position he will play in the Masters Cup Maybe he can even win it?