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Post by christos on Jun 15, 2007 13:45:38 GMT -5
Gooooo Marcos!!!!!!! I enjoy this tournament
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Post by choupi on Jun 15, 2007 14:06:25 GMT -5
From the Gerry Weber site: Baghdatis spoils German semi-final party Marcos Baghdatis spoiled what could have been an all-German semi-final as he defeated Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-3 in the round of last eight. Mayer came off a spectacular second-round win over Nikolay Davydenko but did not stand a chance against Baghdatis. He dropped his service in the third game before wasting a break point which could have made it 5-4. Baghdatis fired his third ace to survive and took the first set. It was a well-balanced act until the eighth game in the second set. A horrible backhand volley marked the beginning of the end. The Cypriot later served his seventh ace to convert his first match point after 58 minutes. Mayer was respectful of his opponent, who turns 22 on Sunday. "He deserved to win."
Even though Baghdatis has lost to Kohlschreiber twice this year, Baghdatis fancies his chances against the German. "Those two matches were played on clay but he also plays well on grass," lauded Baghdatis. "I have to play as solidly as I did today."
Mayer will play a challenger tournament in Braunschweig next week - on clay, not on grass. "You should not play too much on grass," he said. On the other hand, Baghdatis would love to play more grass court tournaments in the next years. Until then, he is looking for a perfect birthday present on Sunday.www.gerryweber-open.de/en/current-news/news-gerry-weber-open.html?id=1881
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Post by choupi on Jun 15, 2007 15:06:31 GMT -5
The match is scheduled at 2.30PM tomorrow!!
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Post by choupi on Jun 16, 2007 9:16:34 GMT -5
Third final of the year for Marcos!! He's defeated Kohlschreiber 7-6 6-4. He'll play Berdych tomorrow. Allez Marcos!!!
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Post by choupi on Jun 16, 2007 15:17:01 GMT -5
From the Gerry Weber site: Marcos Baghdatis storms into final
Marcos Baghdatis has completed his first-ever run to the GERRY WEBER OPEN final courtesy of a 7:6 (1), 6:4 victory over German hopeful Philipp Kohlschreiber. He has now set his sights on a very special birthday present. "I hope I will be able to celebrate my birthday in a very special way," the Cypriot said with a smile. The youngster turns 22 tomorrow. Judging from his good form, he should be able to continue his winning streak in Halle.
He knows what he has to do. "The most important thing is for me to stay concentrated," he revealed after briefly losing his focus against Kohlschreiber. He raced to an early 3-0 lead but was broken after a controversial call. "That ball was clearly out," he stated. "But I got nervous, thought too much about this point and then I had lost my serve."
The incident helped Kohlschreiber to find his rhythm. He even earned three consecutive break points (40-0) at 4-4 but failed to convert them. Baghdatis eventually took the tiebreak of the first set 7-1. Up 3-2 and receiving, Kohlschreiber was up 40-0 again but failed to benefit once again. "Those were the key games," he said. "In the last couple of matches I won the big points but unfortunately not today.
While the German is now shifting his full attention to Wimbledon, Baghdatis is only thinking about the title in Halle. "It will be a tough match against Tomas. He is good on the serve. It will be important for me to return well," he stated.www.gerryweber-open.de/en/current-news/news-gerry-weber-open.html?id=1902
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Post by choupi on Jun 16, 2007 15:19:57 GMT -5
Interview of Marcos, after his win over Kohlschreiber: Q: You seemed pretty fired up today? BAGHDATIS: After the bad call I started to los my nerves. I was a bit nervous after that. That’s why I wanted so badly to win and I was a bit fired up, yes.
Q: James Blake yesterday complained he found a lot of calls went against him and today that ball did look fairly long. BAGHDATIS: I didn’t look long, really, it was long. And there was another point at 3:0 deuce, I hit a return forehand on the line. It was on the line. But I’m pretty happy I won today. I was a bit nervous after that point, didn’t serve well, lost my concentration. After, I tried to keep calm and tried to push myself to win. So, I’m pretty happy I found a solution.
Q: You saved 2 breakpoints twice in crucial situations. How did you do that? BAGHDATIS: I don’t know. I remember I was 0:40 down in the second set at 3:2. There I served two aces and one good second serve on the body and he made a mistake. I guess I served pretty good in the important moments.
Q: How was it playing in front of the German crowd? BAGHDATIS: They were really good, very good. It was very nice.
Q: What do you think you will have to do tomorrow to be successful? BAGHDATIS: Return. He serves pretty good, pretty big. I will have to return all the time and make him play.
Q: There were a few bits of theatricism. Did you enjoy being a bit of a showman? BAGHDATIS: That’s what you guys call me. I enjoy it. It’s funny. It’s fun to play tennis instead of crying in the corner and being nervous and not enjoying it.
Q: How do you fancy your chances for tomorrow? BAGHDATIS: It’s the final. It’s my birthday. So, I have good chances I think. I’m playing pretty good, pretty solid. I think I will have to stay focus and find a solution to return and make him play, serve well. But the key is to stay concentrated.
Q: So you will sleep into your birthday? You will not celebrate tonight? BAGHDATIS: Yes. I will call my friends later. Q: Could be a good party tomorrow night then? BAGHDATIS: Yes, could be. Why not. I hope so.www.gerryweber-open.de/en/current-news/interviews/marcos-baghdatis-2007-06-16.html?jahr=2007&monat=06
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 3:02:46 GMT -5
Happy Birthday Marcos!!! Make that Halle title yours, as a nice present for your 22nd Birthday
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Post by Mrs B on Jun 17, 2007 5:58:56 GMT -5
Good luck, Marcos, and Happy 22nd Birthday! That would be a lovely present indeed if you win today. ;D
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Post by Heide Hugentobler on Jun 17, 2007 6:00:26 GMT -5
and i bet 1000 vCash on him today. ;D
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 6:11:04 GMT -5
1000 vcash??? Well, he better win now.
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Post by Heide Hugentobler on Jun 17, 2007 8:27:27 GMT -5
He lost. 7-5, 6-4. Berdych played well and hit hard.
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 8:35:35 GMT -5
Yes, Berdych's been the strongest today. No shame on Marcos though because he gave his all, as always. Just hope he's gonna celebrate his birthday the way he should, despite this loss. Congrats Marcos for this week!!
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 23:31:54 GMT -5
From the ATP site: Baghdatis: "On grass it’s important to serve well on important points. That’s what makes the difference. Today I did not do that and Tomas did. So, he was much better than me today."
Would the loss sour his birthday?: "No, my birthday is my birthday. My mother will still call me."
Why he is getting better on grass: "It’s just that my game suits to grass and I needed time to play on grass. It’s like clay. In my whole career I did not play a lot of matches on clay, especially at this level. So I had problems and slowly, slowly I’m finding a way with more experience to find out how to play on all the surfaces in all the tournaments. It’s more like experience, feeling the game on the surface."www.atptennis.com/1/en/news/news7.asp
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 23:35:26 GMT -5
From the Gerry Weber site: The fourth-seeded Czech certainly spoiled what Baghdatis had hoped to be a very special birthday party. The Cypriot turned 22 on Sunday, but Berdych would not give him any presents on the court. Much on the contrary - he put his opponent under constant pressure from the first second on.
Berdych earned a break point in the first game of the match and had little trouble holding his service throughout. His only weak period came in the tenth game when he saved two set points. With momentum on his side, he broke Baghdatis to go up 6-5 and then took the first set. " I think he just started to make more mistakes from the baseline and I took advantage of my chances," the 21-year-old said afterwards.
Berdych carried over the momentum into the second set where he broke his opponent in the first game. He never looked back and wrapped up the issue after 81 minutes - but not without saving a break point in the last game of the tournament. The win helped to make amends for last year´s final which he lost to grass court supremo Roger Federer. Maybe even more importantly, he also pulled even with his girlfriend Lucie Safarova who also has three WTA tournament titles to her name.
Baghdatis was disappointed but admitted he will still be able to celebrate his 22nd birthday. The whole stadium chanted "Happy Birthday" after the match. "I´ve never had so many people singing for me," he stated. "I will still celebrate - my mother will still call me." The Cypriot congratulated his opponent and thanked the organisers for a great week.
Baghdatis took the positives out of the defeat. "It is good to lose the final. It helps for Wimbledon. I had the chance to win there last year so there is no reason why I should not be able to win it this year," he said. Berdych believes he is also in a position to triumph at SW19. In the past four years, the winner of the GERRY WEBER OPEN - Roger Federer - has always gone on to lift the trophy in London. "Why not," Berdych stated. Federer´s late withdrawal from Halle certainly boosted his chances in Germany. "It gave me a chance and I made the most of it," he addedwww.gerryweber-open.de/en/current-news/news-gerry-weber-open.html?id=1941
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Post by choupi on Jun 17, 2007 23:44:36 GMT -5
Interview of Marcos, after the final: Q: Not the birthday you expected? BAGHDATIS: That’s life. I’m still 23. It was a tough match today. Tomas was playing very good, serving very well. I could not read his serve. It was tough to read, a high percentage of first serves. I struggled a bit at the important points, especially at 5:4, I did not take my chances on his second serves. So I’m a little disappointed because I know I had my chances, especially at 5:4. I lost my serve after without putting a first serve in. It was a tough match and Tomas was on top of me. He was playing much better. Lost a bit of confidence.
Q: You seemed to have the crowd behind you though? BAGHDATIS: Yes, I did. But like I said, after the first set, Tomas was on top and did not give me a chance to come back. I lost the match on the first set on 5:4. That’s where I had my chances and did not take them.
Q: So, is your birthday spoilt now? BAGHDATIS: No, my birthday is my birthday. My mother will still call me.
Q: You often talk about trying to find a solution and you almost did find a solution in the first set when you had those 2 setpoints. Once that opportunity was gone what was going through your mind. Were you constantly dwelling on the fact that you missed those chances? BAGHDATIS: Yes, I was thinking about those chances. I did not put the first serves in. I was going too fast. On grass it’s important to serve well on important points. That’s what makes the difference. Today I did not do that and Tomas did. So, he was much better than me today.
Q: You proved your potential on grass. How do you fancy your chances this year at Wimbledon? Do you consider yourself one of the favourites? BAGHDATIS: I don’t know if I’m one of the favourites but I have a chance to win it. That’s for sure. Every player has a chance to win it. I will try to.
Q: What has increased in your game for grass? BAGHDATIS: It’s not that it’s increased my game. It’s just that my game suits to grass and I needed time to play on grass. It’s like clay. In my whole career I did not play a lot of matches on clay, especially at this level. So I had problems and slowly slowly I’m finding a way with more experience to find out how to play on all the surfaces in all the tournaments. It’s more like experience, feeling the game on the surface. Q: What do you expect at Wimbledon? You will be seeded around 15, 16 that implies fourth round. Do you think you can do better than that? BAGHDATIS: Last year I played semis and had the chance to play finals and the chance to win. So, why not try to do it this year. I think I have a chance.
Q: What will be your best memory of this year in Halle? BAGHDATIS: Best memory? Birthday cake (laughs). I don’t know. I had few. Every time I won a match I was very happy. I cannot say there was a big memory, but I played good here, I was feeling good on the court. I have good small memories.
Q: Does it help to have been in the final with the pressure of going to Wimbledon? BAGHDATIS: Yes, for sure. It’s good to lose a match. It may sound silly but it’s important to lose a match, to make mistakes, so you can learn. That’s why we play tournaments before to prepare. Today I know what was wrong. I did not take my chance at the important points. If I have the same chance next time I will do something on his second serves and take my chances.
Q: Have you ever had that many people sing happy birthday? BAGHDATIS: No.www.gerryweber-open.de/en/current-news/interviews/marcos-baghdatis-2007-06-17.html?jahr=2007&monat=06
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