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Post by getta on Oct 22, 2012 2:52:13 GMT -5
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Post by choupi on Oct 23, 2012 11:34:25 GMT -5
Awwwww they are so cute...
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Post by christos on Oct 23, 2012 15:13:06 GMT -5
hehe great news!
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Post by getta on Oct 24, 2012 4:13:24 GMT -5
from Marcos' official site:baghdatis.com/articles/view/marcos-presents-zaharaMarcos Presents ZaharaWednesday, 24 October, 2012It was an intense weekend for former Marcos. After losing his semi-final contest with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the If Stockholm Open on Saturday afternoon, the 27 year old received a phone call, while he was still in the locker room, to say that his wife, WTA player Karolina Sprem, was about to give birth to the couple’s first child. Happily, a baby girl, Zahara Baghdatis was delivered by caesarean section shortly after at 3:30pm, weighing 2,960 grams and measuring 55 centimetres in length. “As I got to the lockers I picked up my phone to call Karolina, as she was going in the morning for a check up at the doctor,” explained Marcos. “The phone was ringing and it was her sister. She told me, ‘you are going to be a father today.’ I was a little confused as Karolina wasn’t due to go in until Thursday, but she told me, ‘she is in now.’ So I told her I will arrange my tickets to get to Croatia. “[Then] as I was walking up the stairs to say goodbye to the tournament staff and leave, I got a call and Karolina’s sister told me ‘You are a father.’” Marcos was forced to wait to meet baby Zahara. Having rushed to catch a flight from Stockholm airport on the Saturday night, he missed the connecting flight in Munich and had to spend the night in Germany before resuming his journey to Zagreb on the Sunday morning. “The worst was when my in-laws picked me up at the airport,” recalled Marcos. “It was so funny as I was sweating so much from excitement, anxiety and all these emotions.” Remembering the first time he saw his wife and baby, Marcos said, “I saw Karolina first and gave her a big hug. All the emotions were going through my body all the time, all the adrenalin. Everything is good, ‘Zahy’ is slowly getting into a routine and Karolina is doing very well. “Karolina chose her name,” continued the Cypriot. “She liked it very much. The name is derived from the Greek word ‘zahari’, meaning ‘sugar’. I liked it too, and we even have a nickname for her, ‘Zahy’. Everybody says she look like me.” “Honestly, this is the best year of my life,” said Marcos. “Having these two special people in my life, I truly feel like I am a lucky guy. That’s all I can say!” After seeing the doctor on Tuesday, Marcos received the all clear on the small tear in his left groin that had caused him to retire in the match with Tsonga. He will resume training by Friday and play his final tournament of the season at next week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.
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Post by choupi on Dec 23, 2012 7:49:41 GMT -5
Marcos did an interview in which he speaks about the 2013 season and other topics. It's been published on his official website. 2013 Will Be My Best Year Friday, 21 December, 2012 At a meeting with Cypriot media, Marcos was very optimistic about the 2013 season, saying that "it will be the best year of my life."
The 27 year old answered questions on his preparation for 2013, his coaching arrangement with Yiannos Hadjigeorgiou, whether he will play in the Davis Cup, mixed doubles in 2016, and even revealed if he is changing the diapers of his newborn baby daughter.
Marcos, what did you make of the 2012 season? "I was expecting something better. The positive came at the end, where I found a good rhythm, I got a good level and I played well. But now we look ahead. We shall carry on strongly. I have confidence on the court and I just hope not to get hurt.”
How is working with Yiannos Hadjigeorgiou? “There is a motivation and a chemistry with Yiannos. This chemistry is working, he is helping me a lot and I feel very well."
What is a regular day like for you now that you are preparing for the new season? “I did five weeks physical exercise in Croatia with my trainer, where I spent more time on the track. I run 400 meters, then 5,000 meters. There is a big difference in my physical condition. Now I am waking up early in the morning, I do physical exercise and then I play tennis for 1-2 hours. In the afternoon I am jogging at Lanitio or at the beach in Limassol.”
Do you attract people’s attention when jogging on the beach? “I usually go at 6 in the evening, so there is not a lot of people there.”
What are your goals for 2013? “I always wanted to win a Grand Slam. This will happen should I find my stability. We decided with Yiannos to have as a target the World Top 20, but with a good year it is possible for me to get into the Top 10.”
Would you have preferred 2012 not to have ended considering the rhythm you found at the end of the season? “No I wouldn’t wish for 2012 to continue. Besides, I started working on my physical condition immediately after the US Open in order to be ready in 2013. I am working seriously every day for the coming year. 2013 will be the best year of my life. I am ready mentally and physically. I just need to stay injury-free. Plus I matured; I am not living the life I used to.”
How has your new family changed your life? “Only the fact that Karolina got pregnant changed my life a lot. I am now much more responsible and I have more motivation. I go home for a reason, my family is there. I found a motivation.”
Do you change diapers? “My wife does not let me! (laughing). I feed her sometimes though.”
Why doesn’t she let you? “Because the baby is hers!”
Will you play in the Davis Cup tie away against Lithuania (1-3 February)? “I do not know yet if I will participate. It depends on how I go in Australia. There are two or three talents that can play in the National Team. We are trying, Yiannos and myself, to promote them and get improve them. It will be the best for them. But definitely I will be present at the second tie (5-7 April), because I cannot let Cyprus drop down a division, if we lose to Lithuania”.
Will you play even if we play with Benin away? “It is easier for me to go to Benin than to Lithuania.”
What is your opinion for the new federal coach, Nick Papadopoulos? “Very good! He worked with Yiannos for two years and learned a lot. He is clever and a good person and from what I see, he has a good chemistry with the young tennis players”.
What will your schedule be at the beginning of 2013? “I will go to Brisbane and then to Melbourne. I won’t compete in Sydney. A lot of things have changed in the facilities of the Australian Open and I want to be there early to adapt.”
You lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Stockholm semi-finals and immediately after you received a phone call to say that Karolina had given birth. If you would had beaten Tsonga, would you have played the final? “I don’t know. As she had already given birth I may have been able to wait one extra day. If she had called me before the birth I would definitely have tried to make it home in time.”
Is your family now your priority? “My family is certainly coming first. As I said prior to the Olympics, Karolina is doing everything to make my dreams come true. The family is most important for me”.
What should we expect from you in 2013? “More consistent success and more good tennis - if I stay healthy, which I will."
Have you considered the possibility of playing doubles with Karolina in Rio in 2016? “It would be a dream for me and Karolina. She is thinking of playing in one or two tournaments next year to maintain her protected ranking. As well as the 2016 Olympics, we are thinking of playing together also at the Hopman Cup”. www.baghdatis.com/articles/view/marcos-2013-will-be-my-best-year
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Post by getta on Feb 16, 2013 15:46:35 GMT -5
www.tennisalternative.com/rotterdam-atp-2013-grigor-dimitrov-vs-marcos-baghdatis-match-report-rn2043.htmlRotterdam ATP 2013: Grigor Dimitrov vs. Marcos Baghdatis match reportThe first of Friday's quarterfinal matches was the match between good friends Marcos Baghdatis and Grigor Dimitrov. Both guys had done well earlier in the week by beating some good opposition in the likes of Montpellier finalist Benoit Paire and Montpellier winner Richard Gasquet (Baghdatis) or Sydney champion Bernard Tomic with "always plays well in Rotterdam" Nikolay Davydenko (Dimitrov). There wasn't much that seperated these two players in the first set as there were no breaks of serve. Dimitrov did have a few chances to break but Baghdatis withstood those and grabbed the opener in a tie-break. Dimitrov broke early in the second set and even had chances to go up a double break when 4-2 up but couldn't convert and got broken back himself. He broke his racquet, which got him a warning. He showed great mental strength by not giving up but holding in there, and he sneaked out that second set in a tie-break and levelled the score to one set apiece. The Bulgarian broke Baghdatis' serve at the start of the final set to go up 2-0. and by serving and hitting big. and also defending well he took the match home 6-3 in the decider. The two friends gave eachother a long hug afterwards and they both got a standing ovation from the crowd. People were talking about the match the whole day as it clearly made an impression on a lot of visitors. Duncan, reporting for you from Rotterdam
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Post by getta on May 11, 2013 21:11:28 GMT -5
from Marcos' official site:baghdatis.com/articles/view/new-coaching-partnership-for-marcosNew Coaching Partnership For MarcosSaturday, 11 May, 2013Following a joint decision with my good friend and coach Yiannos Hadjigeorgiou, I would like to announce that our professional relationship has been terminated with immediate effect. The reasons why we came to this decision is the lack of sporting infrastructure available in Cyprus, especially for tennis, as well as the difficulties we face for intensive training, due to the lack of domestic professional players. As a result of the above, Cyprus remains a very difficult choice for the needs of my workouts and preparation. Due to this, we decided Yiannos could not take me any further, despite our best efforts during the recent months. I would like to thank him for our time together and all that he has offered me. From tomorrow, I will start a new coaching arrangement on a trial basis with Zeljko Krajan, who until recently coached the Croatian Davis Cup team and rising WTA star, Laura Robson.
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Post by choupi on May 13, 2013 12:23:41 GMT -5
From the ATP site: Baghdatis To Work With Krajan
Former World No. 8 Marcos Baghdatis has begun working with Croatian coach Zeljko Krajan on a trial basis until Wimbledon. The Cypriot ended his existing relationship with Yiannos Hadjigeorgiou last week, citing the limited training opportunities in his home country.
Struggling to find his top form in 2013, Baghdatis turned to former World No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic for advice on where to turn next. The Croatian recommended his countryman, Krajan, who is from the same city in Croatia as Baghdatis’ wife, WTA player Karolina Sprem.
“I chose [Krajan] because I called Ljubicic; I wanted advice from a guy who played tennis before and knows the sport a lot,” explained Baghdatis. “I want to find something and then stick to it. It's not good that I change coaches all the time; I need stability. I asked Ivan if he can help me out and we thought about him. He's from the same city as Karolina, which helps when I'm back home in Croatia.
“We’re on trial until Wimbledon. He has worked a lot with the women’s tour, but he was Top 100 before on the ATP World Tour, so I think he has a lot to offer. He’s the Croatia Davis Cup coach as well. I think he can help me a lot.”www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/05/20/Coaching-Change-Baghdatis.aspx
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Post by christos on May 18, 2013 8:38:19 GMT -5
Marcos gave an interview at the cypriot channel, CYBC yesterday afternoon. I recorded it and I will try to upload soon.
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Post by choupi on May 19, 2013 5:51:15 GMT -5
Thanks in advance for that Christos
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Post by christos on May 20, 2013 5:05:15 GMT -5
Here it is
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Post by choupi on Apr 1, 2014 12:22:46 GMT -5
After Miami, Marcos will keep on playing in the US, taking part to the US's Men Clay Court Championships in Houston. He received the 1st wildcard. From the site itself: Baghdatis Joins River Oaks Field
Mar 27, 2014 Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, a former Top 10 player and Australian Open finalist, has received the first wild card for the Fayez Sarofim & Co. US Men's Clay Court Championship that will be held at River Oaks Country Club April 7-13.
Baghdatis (bag-DAH-tees) has reached 11 career ATP finals, including the 2006 Australian Open where he fell to Roger Federer in the title match. Baghdatis is among the most successful Davis Cup players in history, and stands fifth among current players for most match wins with a 62-13 record overall and 43-3 mark in singles. His current 32-match Davis Cup singles winning streak is the second-longest in history and leads all active players.
Baghdatis, who was awarded the first of three wild cards for the tournament, joins a field that includes World No. 10 and defending champion John Isner along with former champions Juan Monaco (2012),Lleyton Hewitt (2009) and Ivo Karlovic (2007). Spaniards Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro, two of only four active players on the ATP with more than 200 career match wins on clay, are also entered into the River Oaks tournament.
Two of the top doubles teams on the ATP World Tour have also committed to play the 2014 tournament. Bob and Mike Bryan, the twin-brother tandem that has won four titles at the US Men's Clay Court Championship, and the Spanish duo of Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero, champions at the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals, have both been entered into the doubles draw. In addition, one of the hottest doubles tandems on tour - Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah - will come to Houston having reached three straight finals and five on the season, including this week in Miami. www.mensclaycourt.com/index.php/news/view/baghdatis_joins_river_oaks_field
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Post by choupi on Apr 16, 2014 2:18:19 GMT -5
Marcos has decided to play challenger events in the upcoming weeks (Taipei and Gimcheon). This should bring him some good practice for gaining self confidence and climbing up the ranking
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Post by choupi on Jun 24, 2014 2:34:22 GMT -5
Here's an interview Marcos made right before the beginning of Wimbledon. Baghdatis Ready To Start New Chapter At Wimbledon
Wimbledon, Great Britain
by ATP Staff | 21.06.2014
Marcos Baghdatis is looking to come back stronger at Wimbledon.
Marcos Baghdatis is ready to start a new chapter of his career at Wimbledon.
The Cypriot, once an Australian Open finalist and placed as high as No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, has plummeted to World No. 115 and in need of a wild card to compete at The Championships, where he was a semi-finalist in 2006 (l. to Nadal).
But, a sabbatical from the ATP World Tour during the past three months, spent at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has breathed new life into the 29-year-old Baghdatis, who is ready put smiles on the faces of the fans, as well as his own, once more. “I think it was a huge break for me,” Baghdatis told ATPWorldTour.com. “Mentally it recovered me from all those years of travelling. All those [years] running after [ranking] points, running from tournament to tournament.
“It was great also to spend some time with my wife (WTA player – Karolina Sprem) and daughter (Zahara). Actually, I made the mistake not to spend so much time with them since she was born (in October 2012). traveling a lot. I think that tired me a lot mentally. To get a chance and spend three months with them was just fantastic. I should do that more often, I think,” explained Baghdatis, who will return to Florida after Wimbledon to train there until the US Open, with the possibility of staying longer if it continues to suit so well.
“I am back. I am more fresh and I want to play and I’m more happy to be here than I was before,” said the Limassol native. “I think that is the difference. I’ll be playing less tournaments from now on and just enjoying family time and working really hard on my fitness and just doing the things I have to do. I think I have been working hard all of my life. It’s just that now I am doing it more in the right way and taking more care of my body and trying to spend more time with family and make myself more happy than I was before.”
The new approach brought instant success for Baghdatis. On his return to action, the Cypriot triumphed at the Aegon Trophy in Nottingham, an ATP Challenger Tour event, beating the likes of Benjamin Becker and Marinko Matosevic en route.
He looked set to back it up with a run at The Queen’s Club, but so many matches over the course of seven days has been a rarity for Baghdatis in the past 12 months and tightness in his back and shoulder forced him to rest for a few days before his Wimbledon preparations could begin.
“Honestly it felt great being back,” said Baghdatis. “I know it’s just a Challenger, but I feel I had a great week, playing great matches. It’s not the win, it’s the way I played and how I prepared for the tournament.”
Another difference for Baghdatis in this new phase of his career is that he is going it alone, for the time being at least, and attempting to play the free, instinctive tennis that carried him to such success in the early years of his career. Working with just a fitness coach, Baghdatis is relishing the freedom to make his own decisions on the court.
“I feel good because I have nobody telling what to do on the court,” explained Baghdatis. “Especially I have no one telling me technical things and this and that. The next coach I’ll find is just to have somebody around to give me confidence and just push me in the way I want to play tennis and not the way he thinks I should play.
“I am very happy with the way , especially because I found again the rhythm. the player I want to be, with the attitude I want to have on court. It was the way I want to be and think on court without having somebody in my head judging me. I’m that kind of a person and I am very happy the way things are going lately.
Baghdatis“I can do a lot of things on court. There is no limit for me. Some coaches were pushing me to just do one thing, like being aggressive and going forward. But that’s not the way I see myself playing. I can play different styles for different opponents, find my way through.”
Baghdatis will open his ninth Wimbledon campaign against Dustin Brown, the dangerous German who toppled Lleyton Hewitt at the All England Club last year and who took out Rafael Nadal in Halle last week. Baghdatis, though, is relishing his return to the big stage, where he has played some of the most entertaining matches of his career. As well as a semi-final showing in 2006, he was a quarter-finalist in 2007, losing to Novak Djokovic in five sets.
“It’s a privilege to be at Wimbledon again,” said Baghdatis. “I’ll try my best. I’m not seeded. I hope I’ll be lucky and have a good first few rounds. If that happens, I’ll be ready for anything. Every time I’ve lost there, it’s been against great players. I love playing there. I like the atmosphere there. I’m just going to go out there and enjoy my time and make the crowd enjoy it too.”
www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/06/25/Wimbledon-Preview-Baghdatis.aspx
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Post by choupi on Feb 10, 2016 4:57:36 GMT -5
Here's an interesting article about Marcos, interviewed after his win over D. GOFFIN in Rotterdam. He honestly speaks about what he's been through during the last years (injuries), how his wife helped him setting reachable goals and how much joy his little family brings him. He has set himself some goals for the next 3 years. Baghdatis Back With Renewed Sense Of Purpose
Cypriot credits wife, Karolina, with finding himself on court again
Marcos Baghdatis has seen his fair share of highs and lows on the ATP World Tour — from reaching a career-high of No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and playing the Australian Open final in 2006, to enduring a catalogue of injuries and dropping outside the Top 150 a couple of years ago.
But with the support of his wife, former WTA player Karolina Sprem, and his family and team, the ever-popular Cypriot is approaching his 14th year on tour with a renewed sense of optimism after rediscovering his love for the game. With clear goals for his remaining time on tour, Baghdatis is hoping for big things over the course of the next three years.
Speaking after his first-round win over fourth seed David Goffin on Tuesday at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Baghdatis told ATPWorldTour.com, “I got tired at one moment. I lost myself a bit, trying different things. That's what you can't do. Then injuries came, some health problems that were bothering me. The past four or five years have been a long road for me.
“Karolina was very important because she also played tennis. She also went through a career and she had some injuries herself. She helped me a lot first of all to have someone to listen to me, who has felt what I've been through. Having her around was like having an ex-tennis player, like Pat Cash, or a player like that. An important person in tennis. To have her around was very important and she helped me take some decisions towards what we are doing now. It's great.”
The Baghdatis family welcomed their second daughter, India, in the off-season and the Cypriot explained that having his own family at home has given him a greater sense of perspective when he steps onto the tennis court. It was that perspective and a sense of calm that ultimately made the difference in his close battle with Goffin, which saw him win a 41-shot rally on match point.
“It's tougher and tougher!” Baghdatis joked at living in a house with three girls. “It's the best thing that ever happened to me. Everyone's asking if we'll go for a third one and try for a boy! We don't know. We are happy to have two lovely children. They're healthy and everything is good. My wife is handling it well. She's healthy and I couldn't ask for me. For now, we're just enjoying the time.
“Whenever I get home it's even nicer for me because I get to spend more time with the older one, Zahara. I get to know her much more. Before it was bit tougher, she wanted mummy all the time. But now mummy's not so available, I'm more available, so it's always nice to spend some time with her and do things together.
“I think some pressure comes off [as a father]. Like for example today, I was playing against Goffin. If I lose, I go home tomorrow to my child. So you don't get too stressed during the match or before it. If I lose today, tomorrow I'm home to hug my daughter, which is one of the best things in the world. Really it takes a lot of pressure off you.”
Last season saw Baghdatis re-establish himself in and around the Top 50, highlighted by a run to the Atlanta final (l. to Isner). Despite frustrating spells out due to injury, it was his most consistent campaign for a long time, but the 30-year-old Baghdatis is hoping for even better this season and over the course of the next three years.
“I learned from it a lot,” said Baghdatis. “I'm looking forward to continuing the same way we did last year, because I think towards Wimbledon and after Wimbledon, I hit my peak and then I got injured again. I feel good, healthy and happy and just enjoying my time now.
“I have some long-term objectives that I would like to achieve before I retire. With my wife, my family and the new people in my team, we've put good goals. We managed to balance everything around my tennis, which is the most important thing for my career, to make me go out there and just play tennis and not think about anything else.
“Last year so many 30 and over guys won the tournaments. It's encouraging to see,” continued the Cypriot. “They're playing their best tennis and I think I am playing my best tennis. I think I can play even better and be more consistent. That's what we're working for. Now it's a matter of staying fit. I hope to play another year in the Top 50 and maybe make the step to Top 30, which is the goal.
“I think it will help me enormously for the next three years. That's where I will get more consistent playing matches at this level, like last week I played against Richard Gasquet, a Top 10 guy, against Tsonga in Australia and now against Goffin, a Top 20 guy. So for me it's very important to play this level very often this year and try to stay there, in the Top 30. Big things will come in the next three years.” www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/baghdatis-2016-rotterdam-tuesday
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