Pilot Pen Tennis, New Haven, Aug 23-29

[choupi]

Marcos, after a semi against Federer and a win over Nadal in Cincy, will be playing in New Haven. Some will say he'd better have that week off before the USO but that's his decision and I respect it.

Official site of the event: www.pilotpentennis.com/

Main singles draw: assets.usta.com/assets/664/15/Mens%20Main%20Draw%20Singles.pdf

Marcos has a bye and then will play either Andreev or Clément.

Good luck Marcos!

[getta]

Aug 22, 2010 2:27:15 GMT -5 choupi said:

Some will say he'd better have that week off before the USO but that's his decision and I respect it.

i had lots of mixed feelings about it, but on second thought i agree with Marcos' take on the situation. he'll be the 16th seed at the Open, expect him to fall the second Monday. so why not the New Haven? he has actually a chance to finish first the Olympus US Open Series. as of right now he stands fifth with 105 points (link 1). if he wins New Haven he gets extra 70 points (link 2, second chart shows the points distribution). and that's it!

hehe, the funny thing is that based on this scenario no one gets the $1,000,000 bonus this year (link 2, first chart shows the complete breakdown of the bonus payouts)... unless, of course, Marcos wins them all...


Marcos, just play your best tennis in New Haven.

[getta]

Tuesday OoP

STADIUM

Starting At: 10:00 am
Elena VESNINA (RUS) vs. Maria KIRILENKO (RUS) - WTA

followed by
Radek STEPANEK (CZE) vs. Fernando GONZALEZ (CHI)

followed by
Alisa KLEYBANOVA (RUS) vs. Flavia PENNETTA (ITA) - WTA

Not Before 4:30 PM
Marcos BAGHDATIS (CYP) vs. Igor ANDREEV (RUS)

Not Before 7:00 PM
Sara ERRANI (ITA) vs. Samantha STOSUR (AUS) - WTA

followed by
Alexandr DOLGOPOLOV (UKR) vs. James BLAKE (USA)

[getta]

"Andreev's forehand is more powerful than Nadal's. you never know where he's gonna place the ball" Marcos stated three years ago. ha, Marcos, everyone knows that's his best weapon. Igor can hit from anywhere on the court to anywhere on the court leaving his opponent cross-eyed. at least, today the ball won't bounce as high as on clay and none of your opponents in your recent matches retired mid match (remember Hajek, huh?) to leave you baffled as to how you would have functioned having missed the opportunity to efficiently accommodate your insatiable appetite for fight... and after Jan's retirement you were still there hitting away half an hour later, but your galloping pace was not naturally swift as it should be... two days later Igor proved to be too wiry and quick...

now it's time to get the monkey off your back, Marcos.

and one more thing. being outplayed by Igor once again is one thing, dropping the match into a tank of gasoline is another.

[getta]

Marcos on twitter:

Really glad to be in New Haven, I like this tournament and will do my best today ! :-)
about 5 hours ago via TweetDeck

======================================================================

how nice to hear that.

[getta]

6-2 6-4. never thought this was going to be so easy. i'm sure Marcos has endured practice sessions that were far more grueling. shouldn't be too many problems with tiredness for him at this point as he plays Chela next. or have i spoken too soon?

Chelita, loved all those tenispro clips.

[getta]

www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/08/34/New-Haven-Tuesday-Baghdatis-In-Form.aspx

Baghdatis Continues March To US Open

New Haven, U.S.A.
by ATP Staff | 24.08.2010


© Getty Images
Marcos Baghdatis is making
his fourth appearance in New
Haven.

It’s been a good summer for Marcos Baghdatis on U.S. hard courts, and the Cypriot continued his fine form as the top seed Tuesday at Pilot Pen Tennis – the final stop before the US Open – with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Russian Igor Andreev.

Baghdatis capitalised on four of his break point opportunities and dropped serve just once to pick up his 10th win of the North American summer swing (10-4). With the exception of a first-round loss at the Rogers Cup in Canada, the 25 year old has reached the quarter-finals or better at his other US Open Series tour stops.

His run over this past month has included three Top 10 wins. He defeated World No. 10 Fernando Verdasco en route to final at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (l. to Nalbandian), and last week in Cincinnati upended No. 7 Tomas Berdych and No. 1 Rafael Nadal before falling to Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

Baghdatis will look to maintain his form as he returns to Flushing Meadows next week for the first time in three years. The year’s final major has been the least successful Grand Slam for the 2006 Australian Open finalist, who has yet to advance beyond the second round in New York.

The top seed will next face Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, who earned his 20th match win of the season as he rallied past American wild card Donald Young 5-7, 6-4, 6-0. Baghdatis and former World No. 15 Chela have split their four previous matches, including a first-round meeting in New Haven five years ago – a match the Argentine won in straight sets.

[getta]

Wednesday OoP

STADIUM

Starting At: 10:00 am
Elena DEMENTIEVA (RUS) vs. Kateryna BONDARENKO (UKR) - WTA

Not Before 12:00 PM (to finish 01)
Alexandr DOLGOPOLOV (UKR) vs. James BLAKE (USA)

followed by
Daniela HANTUCHOVA (SVK) vs. Dinara SAFINA (RUS) - WTA

followed by
Marcos BAGHDATIS (CYP) vs. Juan Ignacio CHELA (ARG)

Not Before 4:30 PM
Victor HANESCU (ROU) vs. Radek STEPANEK (CZE)

Not Before 7:00 PM
Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) vs. Dominika CIBULKOVA (SVK) - WTA

followed by
[Sergiy STAKHOVSKY (UKR) or Peter LUCZAK (AUS)] vs. Tommy ROBREDO (ESP)

[getta]

Marcos won 1-6 6-3 6-2.

[getta]

experimenting with his game is the sort of luxury that Marcos affords himself these days.

[getta]

Thursday OoP

STADIUM

Starting At: 10:00 am
Evgeny KOROLEV (KAZ) vs. Thiemo DE BAKKER (NED)

Not Before 1:00 PM
Elena DEMENTIEVA (RUS) vs. Marion BARTOLI (FRA) - WTA

Not Before 2:00 PM
Teymuraz GABASHVILI (RUS) vs. Denis ISTOMIN (UZB)

followed by
Marcos BAGHDATIS (CYP) vs. [Sergiy STAKHOVSKY (UKR) or Tommy ROBREDO (ESP)]

Not Before 7:00 PM
Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) vs. Flavia PENNETTA (ITA) - WTA

followed by
Viktor TROICKI (SRB) vs. Radek STEPANEK (CZE)

[getta]

Sergiy Stakhovsky, it is.

the draw for the US Open has been unveiled. Marcos has been handed such a good draw that there isn't any good reason for tanking in New Haven.

vamos Marcos!

[christos]

Great news then!

[getta]

Marcos lost to Stakhovsky 5-7 6-1 7-6(4). Marcos refused to give in until fatigue finally caught up with him. he was having to perform heroics just to hold his serve and his ground-strokes, more reliable than Stakhovsky's in the first set, fractured and frayed.

his abundant energy will return surely, but at this point he needs above all to keep his feet on the ground.

Marcos, good luck at the Open!