Qatar Exxon Mobil Open, 1 Jan-7 Jan, 2007

[choupi]

This is the 1st event of the year that Marcos takes part to. A return to competition.

Here's the Entry List:

1 Nikolay DAVYDENKO
2 Ivan LJUBICIC
3 Tommy HAAS
4 Marcos BAGHDATIS
5 Andy MURRAY
6 Mikhail YOUZHNY
7 Robin SODERLING
8 Sebastien Grosjean
9 Stanilas WAWRINKA
10 Kristof VLIEGEN
11 Nicolas AL MAGRO
12 Olivier ROCHUS
13 Fillippo VOLANDRI
14 Jurgen MELZER
15 Gael MONFILS
16 Hyung -Taik LEE
17 Jonas BJORKMAN
18 Ruben Ramirez HIDALGO
19 Max MIRNYI
20 Philipp KOHLSCREIBER
21 Alberto MARTIN
22 Christophe ROCHUS
23 Daniele BRACCIALI
24 Guillermo LOPEZ
25 Thomas JOHANSSON


The main draw is available here:
www.qatartennis.org/qemo2007/draw_singles.htm

Marcos will also play doubles in that event, associated to Stanislas Wawrinka. Draw here:
www.qatartennis.org/qemo2007/draw_doubles.htm

[choupi]

Marcos won his 1st round match against Kohlschreiber 6/4 7/5.

I'd say it was a good match, considering it's a return to competition. Marcos has absolutely to improve his serve, because he almost had no 1st serve, and even when he was successfull, it wasn't efficient enough.

The 1st set has been full of breakpoints opportunities for Kohlschreiber (6) that he's been unable to convert. Marcos has had only 1, which was the set point that he converted.

In the 2nd set, Kohlschreiber, frustrated after that 1st set, played really good tennis, and Marcos lost a bit of concentration. Hence the break for the German. Marcos kept on fighting and finally broke back when Kohlschreiber was serving for the set, bringing it back to 5/5. That 11th game has lasted and lasted....with break opportunities for both, but finally, Marcos, who was encouraging himself a lot, won his serve game. I guess that's where Kohlschreiber lost grip on the match.

But he lost his doubles match, associated to Wawrinka 6/4 1/6 5/10 (super tiebreak).

[choupi]

Second round match today, against Ramirez Hidalgo.

Wednesday OOP:

Center Court 3.30 PM

Andy Murray vs. C.Rochus

followed by
Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo vs. Marcos Baghdatis

followed by
Younes El Aynaoui vs. Ivan Ljubicic

followed by
Nikolay Davydenko vs. Jonas Bjorkman

Pame Marcos!!

[sdimitri]

Pame Marcos for another win.
Hope he is in better shape today!

[choupi]

I more than likely won't get coverage of the match. But, like me, you can watch the match live from the eurosport livestream.

www.eurosport.com/tennis/mc_vid31860.shtml

You can also click on "Doha Day one" to get the highlights of Marcos vs Kohlschreiber.

[christos]

Eurosport 2 will broadcast it

[choupi]

I sadly don't get Eurosport 2. But I've watched the match with the live stream. Well, I'm still worried about the serve......

Marcos won easily 6/2 6/0. He had some fun, especially in the 2nd set. I suppose Ramirez-Hidalgo didn't appreciate all those dropshots......

[choupi]

Thursday OOP:

CENTER COURT
3.30 PM

Mikhail Youzhny vs. Ivan Ljubicic

followed by

Robin Soderling vs. Marcos Baghdatis

followed by

Andy Murray vs. Max Mirnyi

followed by

Nikolay Davydenko vs. Olivier Rochus

[choupi]

From eurosport.com:

Baghdatis toyed with Ramirez Hidalgo in a one-sided match with the Spaniard.

"It feels great to be in the quarter-finals of the first tournament of the new season," Baghdatis said.

"I'm moving very well and my serving is good. I'm really looking forward to the Australian Open later this month," added last year's Melbourne runner-up.

[choupi]

Marcos lost to Soderling 3/6 2/6. He made too many errors to bother Soderling who played a solid match, seizing all opportunities, putting pressure on Marcos. The score is logical. Marcos congratulated his opponent with a big smile on his face, when they shook hands.

He reached the QFs in Doha, like last year. Hope he keeps that pace up, like last year.

Onto Sydney now........