Open 13, Marseille, Feb 12-18

[christos]

Õeah well done Marcos!!!!!
We can think about title now?

[choupi]

Well I think it's only logical we think about the title. But...I'm superstitious, so let's wait.

Here's what Marcos said yesterday, right after his match. From the site of the tournament:

How do you analyze this QF?

I've been a bit lucky to win it today. Mikael really was the boss, I've defended a lot, I gave all I could give. It wasn't easy. I just couldn't find the solution to win, It was frustrating. And on top of that, I also was making some little errors.
I had to struggle to reach the tiebreak in the 2nd set, in which I play very well, I make 2 totally incredible passing shots. And then, the 3rd set has just been exceptional. At first, I lose a bit of my pace, and he doesn't miss any ball, he serves, he's aggressive, it's like a machine. But I manage to break him for the 1st time, and at the end, he broke down a bit. I've been a bit lucky to win today.

The smile that you have on your face, under all circumstances, during the match, that's some evidence that you're relax, but isn't it a way also, to have your opponent lose focus?

Well, that's the way I am. That proves I'm ok. I don't know if that can make my opponent lose his focus, anyway, I don't do it on that purpose. I can do whatever I feel like between points, that's the way I am, I like it to push myself, to motivate myself, to pull funny faces at me......(laughs)

What did you think of the mood? Do you feel you've been adopted by Marseille?

Yeah!! That's really nice. A totally crazy atmosphere. The crowd helped me a lot.

www.open13.org/infos-jour-81.html

[christos]

Thanks for this.It seems that Marcos is at his best!!
With Nieminen will be again a good match I think.

[choupi]

Marcos will play his 2nd final in a row. He just defeated Nieminen 3-6 6-3 6-2. Woohoo!! Still having fun on the court, still very dangerous when he's got his back to the wall.

When interviewed, after the match, he said that he had some trouble entering the match in the 1st set, some tiredness from yesterday, obviously. Then, in the 2nd set, he felt he was entering the match and he fought, like always. He had fun and he gave all he could. He thanked the crowd for helping him, cheering him on. He will be back tomorrow, for the final, ready to play, feeling like having fun and ready to give his best. Of course, he'd like to win!!

He's loveable!!! Not many players would admit that what they put first is the fun of playing and not their will to win. Of course, he wants to win, but what matters is that he feels like playing and therefore has fun playing. Good luck tomorrow Marcos!!

[choupi]

My translation of the after match interview (from the site of the event):

Marcos, you had to be in great shape today to beat Nieminen?
Yes, Jarkko's a very solid player. I had to fight, really, again...I know he likes it to be aggressed, so I let him come and it just paid.

And, is that a tactic to lose the 1st set? (laughs)
No, but yes, it's true that I've had some trouble entering the match, I was pretty tired after my QF. Yesterday, I went to bed pretty late, and waking up this morning hasn't been easy. When I got up, I told myself that it was gonna be hard today. But at the end of the 1st set, I felt I was better physically, my legs were back. All the great work I've done with my physio has been all benefit.

You're a bit in very peculiar game conditions here...
Yes, it's a bit like home here. The crowd of Marseille is great, that helps. I feel good here. Each time I enter the court, I really get the feeling.

With all these victories, you must be feeling confident, but all those matches in a row, don't they risk to affect you physically?
Indeed, that makes it to 9 victories now, so, at the moment, the self confidence is good. When it comes to the physical aspect, well, I don't think that fatigue will influence things a lot tomorrow. I feel good and I have more time than yesterday to recover.

Talking about tomorrow, precisely, will you content yourself with the final?
Well, it's not that bad. Of course, I feel like winning and I will do all I can for that, but you have to accept what you got in life. There are worse things in life than losing a tennis match. I'm a cool guy and I'm happy with my life. If I don't win, it won't be a shame. I will keep on smiling.

Last question. Which opponent would you like to face tomorrow in the final: Robin Söderling, who's a bit like a "machine", or Gilles Simon?
Yes indeed. Söderling plays very well at the moment. But, there are times when the machine breaks, no? And even if I don't prefer playing against Gilles, I wish him to win today and be in the final. I know him well, he's a very nice guy and this would really be a good thing for him.

www.open13.org/infos-jour-83.html#debutcontenu

[Hackie]

Grr, I'm sorry he had to beat Jarkko on his way to this final. Good luck, Marcos!

[choupi]

I know. I've thought of you Hackie, watching the match.

[choupi]

From the ATP site:

Seventh seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus (pictured at left) stormed back from an opening-set loss for the second straight day, beating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Saturday in the semifinals of the Open 13 at Marseille.

Baghdatis, 21, has now won a career-best nine matches in a row. He captured the second title of his career at Zagreb earlier this month (d. Ljubicic). The 21-year-old Cypriot evened his career record with Nieminen at 1-1 with Saturday's win.

In Friday's quarterfinal match, Baghdatis erased a one-set deficit against Mikhail Youzhny, prevailing 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-5.

Against Nieminen Saturday, Baghdatis won 63 percent of his return points on the Finn's second serve (22/35), compared to only 48 percent for Nieminen (20/42). In a break-filled match, Baghdatis turned the trick six times, and Nieminen repaid him with four. The victor won 80 points overall, compared to 78 for the vanquished.

Baghdatis has a stellar record of 14-3 so far this year. He debuted in Marseille last year with a first-round loss to Ancic.

The Cypriot has a career mark of 2-2 in title matches. He beat Ancic in Beijing last October and lost to Gonzalez in his first final at Basel in 2005 and then to Federer in the final of the 2006 Australian Open.

Baghdatis will try for his second title of the year Sunday against home country hopeful Gilles Simon, who beat Sweden's Robin Soderling in the semifinals Saturday, 6-2, 7-6(2). The combatants will be facing each other for the first time in ATP competition.

www.atptennis.com/1/en/news/news2.asp

[choupi]

2nd final in a row but not 2nd title. Marcos lost to Simon 4-6 6-7.
Friendly handshake. Those 2 are friends, that was obvious. Even the speeches were full of mutual respect. I loved, as always, the way Marcos brings humour into his speeches. And nice way from Simon to begin his speech saying that tennis needs guys like Marcos for all he can bring to the game.

Another great week from Marcos. Keeps up his good start in the 2007 season. Now, he's got a break before the US TMS coming up. He will be back in Dubai.

[choupi]

Interview of Marcos, after the final: (my translation)

Marcos, you say there are far worse things in life than losing a tennis match, but it's still a pity to lose in a final, no?
Yes, of course, I'm disappointed. But you have to accept it.

What did you lack today?
The attitude!! I lacked the will on the important points, Gilles had it...on those points, I didn't really fight, I didn't have the will of yesterday, and that's what made the difference. I've also had many oppotunities on his serve that I just couldn't convert, but Gilles could on mine...the little thing that makes you win has come later in the match, at 5-3 in the 2nd set, when I broke back. And then, after that, in the tiebreak, I win the 1st point which is very important, but then, I can't win a single point on my serve, and I don't hit any 1st serve. And that's simple, he's played better than me.

Were you tired physically?
No, my body was fine. The tiredness was more mental.

Too much pressure?
On the contrary, maybe not enough...

What's your view on that last week?
I'm happy about how I played this event, I'm gonna have some short rest and then I leave for Dubai. But everything's alright, I'm happy with my life, and I've had a great week here. I feel like training, go and play again.

Last question: what did you say to Gilles Simon, at the end of the final?
I told him his victory was deserved. I've congratulated him for his week because he's defeated great players. I also told him to enjoy it and have a blast tonight!!

www.open13.org/infos-jour-91.html

[christos]

Ok I was little disappointed, but it was a great week anyway!!!! We can't win all the time