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Post by choupi on Jan 10, 2009 3:52:40 GMT -5
This is only an exhibition tournament but it's been a long time that players choose to play that event right before the AO to get some match practise in the same conditions as at the AO. Hope Marcos can get some parctise and good wins, though the results don't matter much in that type of event. Official site of the event: www.aamiclassic.com.au/HomeThe draw will be announced on Tuesday 13th January 2009. Schedule of Play:Wednesday January 14th - 4 matches from 11am Thursday January 15th - 3 matches from 11am Friday January 16th - 3 matches from 11am Saturday January 17th - 2 matches from 1pm (including the final) List of players: Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Fernando Verdasco, Fernando Gonzalez, Marin Cilic, Marat Safin, Marcos Baghdatis, Carlos Moya. |
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Post by Getta on Jan 12, 2009 17:02:07 GMT -5
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Post by Getta on Jan 12, 2009 21:18:15 GMT -5
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY 2009
From 11AM
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Followed by
Roger Federer (SUI) v Carlos Moya (ESP)
Followed by
Marin Cilic (CRO) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Followed by
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) v Fernando Gonzalez (ESP)
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Post by Getta on Jan 13, 2009 11:46:19 GMT -5
www.aamiclassic.com.au/files/09AAMICLASSICPRESSCONF13.01.09.doc.doc... JASON DUNSTALL: We are certainly looking forward to seeing you in action. Marcos, you had a terrible run with injuries last year. You played just the 12 tournaments. I am sure everyone would like to see you back at your confident best.MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I'm pretty fit. I worked hard this winter, I had a bad year last year and I'm happy to be back on court and play some tennis, and I hope I will do my best here and also next the tournament, which is Aussie Open, to play my best tennis and have fun. ... Q. Marcos, I think you said last week you weren't completely match fit in Brisbane. How do you feel about it going to be 39 degrees tomorrow? How does that make you feel?MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I will see on court, I will see tomorrow on court. But I feel okay. I had some leg problem in Brisbane. I had pain on the - - ROGER FEDERER: Thigh. MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Thigh, yes. So that's all. I had some pain there. Now it's feeling better. I got some three days' practice here. I arrived here on Friday, so we will see how it goes tomorrow. Q. And it does still feel a good place to come, Australia? Is it a good place to start, to come back from injury?MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, I am very happy to be here, especially back on court, and I am happy to be back in Australia and play some matches.
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Post by getta on Jan 13, 2009 21:22:48 GMT -5
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Post by getta on Jan 13, 2009 22:21:33 GMT -5
Marcos lost to Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-2.  ================================================ The after-match interview transcript: www.aamiclassic.com.au/files/09AAMICLASSICBAGHDATIS14.1.09.docAAMI CLASSIC Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
MARCOS BAGHDATIS Q. How much did you take out of that?A. What can I say? I didn't play very good, that's all I can say. I wasn't here today - I don't know where I was - and that's all. Stan played a great match. He was serving pretty good, he was making winners whenever he needed to, so that's all I can say. I can't say anything more. Q. Marcos, how is your leg? You were talking about you had some thigh problems in Brisbane?A. Very good. Physically I feel okay. I'll have a hit also this afternoon. It's a bit disappointing, you know, coming here playing a match like that, not only for me but for the crowd too, and for Stan too, but that's the way it is. I'm sorry, and I hope I can win after tomorrow and play better and have some time on court. Q. At the end of last year and again in Brisbane it seemed like every time you stepped on the court you'd get hurt, like last year and in Brisbane. Does that get inside your head a little bit?A. A bit, yes. Every time now I wake up and I feel some pain I'm scared, you know, so I need to get some confidence in me, in my game, in my body, and I think it can take time. So I'm trying now not to put pressure on me. I'm trying to just go out there and have some fun like today - no, I'm joking, not like today - and just get some confidence in my body and my mind. Q. You had five foot faults; does that reflect that lack of confidence and that rhythm?A. Yes, today also the wind was a bit - on the serve, I didn't feel very confident because of the wind also, but it's not an excuse. I'm not going to find excuses, but yeah, I had some foot fault calling also in Brisbane, so I guess that is a point I need to work on too. Q. You have still obviously got more matches here. Is it important for you to have a win to get your confidence back?A. Win, no, but feel good on court, yes. That is the most important, of course. If I win a match, I would be very happy, but the most important is to have a good match, a good fight, playing good and that's all. Q. Marcos, what happened to your hair? The commentators were asking, is it superstitious?A. No, I just cool off at night. I just wanted to shave it, and that's what I did. That's all. Nothing superstitious. And my beard, I have more hair here than there. Q. (Inaudible)?A. I have been working on physical, I have been working a lot on my body last month and a half, basically, and then the serve and some strokes. But like I said, the main thing - everything is fine, I'm playing very good in practice, and the main thing is to get some confidence in me and my game and my body and everything, and I think I'll be back. It's not a matter of tennis, it's just a matter of confidence and feeling good on court, finding the rhythm, the tactics, and that's all. Q. You changed coach a few times last year. Are you happy now?A. Yes, I'm very happy, and I think I'm looking for the long term, so we'll see how it goes. Q. Do you draw confidence from the fact that you have done so well in Melbourne previously?A. Sorry? Q. Do you draw confidence from the fact that you have done well in Melbourne?A. What does 'draw confidence' mean? Q. Does it give you confidence?A. Yes, it gives me confidence, not only the final in Melbourne but my whole career I have had great results, and that's why I want to play tennis. I don't accept being 97 in the world or 100. I want to be back in the top 10, and that's what I think every day, and that's why I am doubting in myself, which is good to do sometimes, to have doubts in yourself. So I'm just looking to find a way to come back in the top 10. Like I said before, it will take time. I don't know how much time it will take, but I am ready to do anything to get back. * * * AAMI CLASSIC 14.1.09 |
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Post by getta on Jan 14, 2009 0:20:09 GMT -5
I watched the match at bet365. I'll add my comments after watching the tomorrow's match. Unless I'm mistaken, Marcos will face the loser of the match Ivan Ljubicic - Fernando Gonzalez tomorrow (BTW, Gonzo just took the first set). Prefer to get the whole picture, you know, I'd like to speak a little bit about that tomorrow.
Choupi, I registered today. Since I don't have time to follow all my faves until the end of April, such a bunch of cuties it is, Marcos and Gastón will be the focus of all my attention from now on... Lucky guys, aren't they?
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Post by getta on Jan 14, 2009 18:25:40 GMT -5
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2009
FROM 11AM
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Followed by
Roger Federer (SUI) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Followed by
Carlos Moya (ESP) v Marin Cilic (CRO)
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Post by getta on Jan 14, 2009 20:28:14 GMT -5
Marcos took the first set 7-6(3). First time Marcos smiled was in the ninth game when he broke Ljubo's serve to make it from 3-5 to 4-5. He played a pretty good tie-break to take it 7-3. Brought back good memories...
3-2 for Marcos in the second set now. Ljubo is serving.
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Post by getta on Jan 14, 2009 23:18:32 GMT -5
Marcos defeated Ivan Ljubicic 7-6(3) 6-4. Today, Marcos played way better than yesterday (Marcos was simply atrocious during his match against Stan, I'd better not discuss the details), but still there is a lot of room for improvement. For example, in the 23rd game the scoreline was 5-4, 40-0 for Marcos on Ljubicic's serve. Ljubo saved 3 match points to make it 40-40. Ljubo also saved a fourth match point before Marcos finally closed the match. Wasting four match points is not a good sign. Yeah I know it's just an exho and we must take a light-hearted look at it, but at the AO a more talented palyer (Ljubicic, the Croat with the big serve, in on decline) would take advantage of Marcos' lack of concentration and punish him appropriately. Soules felt relieved that Marcos won the match. Windy conditions and scorching heat not quite so helpful for high-quality encounters at Kooyong. As Marcos is a typical "it's all down to confidence" case, this win was nice. Even nicer was the big full smile on his face at the of the match. Love it.  |
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Post by getta on Jan 14, 2009 23:59:40 GMT -5
The after-match interview transcript: www.aamiclassic.com.au/files/09AAMICLASSICBAGHDATIS15.1.09.docAAMI CLASSIC
Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club
Thursday, 15 January 2009
MARCOS BAGHDATIS
15 January 2009 Q. Marcos, congratulations. You just looked a lot more confident out there today compared to yesterday?A. Yeah, much more confident, I can say, and - well, yesterday after the match I went back to Melbourne Park, had a hit for an hour and a half, hour and forty minutes, so that felt good and, I mean, now I'm in the minute now. Now I play two matches here, one in Brisbane, I'm starting to feel good on court so starting to, you know, to feel good. Q. What aspects of your game in particular, today, did you feel were stronger than yesterday?A. Moving, moving. Just make my game, not thinking, just being myself on court, and I think that's the most important thing, and that's all. After the serve I need to work on, then I have four days left to work on the serve, so we will see how it goes these four days. Q. How important do you find an event such as this leading into the first Grand Slam of the year to perform well, to give you the confidence going into the Australian Open?A. It's very important to have some matches on your feet and basically the Classic, AAMI Classic, is good, good preparation, because even if you lose you have had two matches in your feet, so I think that's a perfect preparation for the Aussie Open, and that's why I'm here. Q. And apart from your form, Marcos, how nice is it actually to have a win under your belt?A. Very nice, to tell the truth, very nice. It feels great. Smile is back so, you know, it's a relief going into the Aussie Open, so that's the most important thing. Q. Given it has been a while, how were you feeling on those match points today?A. Not so good. I was stuck in the head a bit. I made unforced errors there, but the most important thing is I won, and it's better that it happened today than in the Australian Open, so it's good. Q. Marcos, do you have a message for your Melbourne fans and the Cypriot community here in Melbourne to get along to the Australian Open, because if we go back a couple of years you revved up the crowd and that smile that you brought to all the fans at Melbourne Park?A. I know they are watching me on the tellies, I know they are watching my results, so I want to thank them a lot for all they have given me in the past, and I hope to see them next week. * * * |
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Post by choupi on Jan 15, 2009 2:44:19 GMT -5
Nice to know that the smile is back on Marcos's face!! It's been a long time since we had been waiting for it to come back  Getta, thanks for the comments about the matches you've seen. I personally couldn't watch anything so I appreciate to know more than statistics and scores. And yes, Marcos and gaston are 2 very lucky guys |
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Post by choupi on Jan 15, 2009 3:01:42 GMT -5
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
FRIDAY 16 JANUARY 2009
FROM 11AM
FERNANDO GONZALEZ (CHI) V STANISLAS WAWRINKA (SUI)
Followed by
MARCOS BAGHDATIS (CYP) V MARIN CILIC CRO)
Followed by
IVAN LJUBICIC (CRO) V CARLOS MOYA (ESP)
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Post by getta on Jan 16, 2009 0:03:40 GMT -5
Marcos defeated Marin Cilic 6-3 6-2. I only watched the second set. Marcos looked very relaxed and showed his ability to dictate the rhythm of the game. Encouraging signs for his performance at the Grand Slam just around the corner. No need for more sophisticated words. By the way, the main draw of Australian Open has been announced. Marcos had peace of mind when he walked out onto court to play against Cilic. |
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