Rakuten Japan Open, Tokyo, Oct. 1st-7th

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Marcos will be back on the courts in Tokyo next week.

Official site: www.rakutenopen.com/

Marcos plays a qualifier for the 1st round.

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From Marcos's official site:

Marcos advanced to the second round of the Rakuten Japan Open tennis Championships on Tuesday in Tokyo with a 7-6(3), 7-5 victory over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky.



Marcos rallied from a break down in the first set to win it on a tie-break before breaking Stakhovsky in the final game of the match to prevail in one hour and 38 minutes. Marcos hit six aces and won 72 per cent of points on first serve.



Victory for Marcos avenged the defeat he suffered against Stakhovsky in the New Haven quarter-finals two years ago. It marked his first win since reaching the second round of the US Open last month. He is bidding to win back-to-back tour-level matches for the first time since advancing to the third round of the London 2012 Olympics, where he fell to eventual gold medallist Andy Murray. He has a 28-21 record on the season.



For a place in the quarter-finals of this ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament, Marcos will face either fourth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco or Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. The pair will contest their first-round match on Wednesday in Tokyo.

www.baghdatis.com/articles/view/marcos-advances-in-tokyo

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Marcos is through to the quarters! ;D

From his official website:

Marcos advanced to the quarter-finals of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships on Thursday in Tokyo as he overcame fourth seed Juan Monaco 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes.


Marcos found himself in trouble in the eighth game as he double faulted to go down a break point. But three big first serves pulled him out of trouble as he levelled at 4-4. He then made his move on Monaco’s serve in the 11th game. A deft drop shot gave him a foothold and he gained a 15/40 lead as Monaco netted a forehand. Another well-executed drop shot from Marcos secured the break and subsequently the first set.


Marcos was denied on two break points in the first game of the second set and went on to rue his missed opportunities as the in-form Monaco, a winner last week in Kuala Lumpur, raced into a 5-1 lead and levelled the match.


However, Marcos regrouped well. He drilled a backhand up the line to break Monaco for a 2-0 lead in the third set and with the Argentine fatiguing, Marcos took full advantage. He served out the match to 15 in the ninth game, closing out his first Top 10 win of the season.


“It was a very tough match. When you go on the court, you always believe that you can win. I’m very happy I won today and look forward to tomorrow’s match,” said Marcos, who goes onto face either Dmitry Tursunov of Russia or home hope Tatsuma Ito. “I’m very happy I’m here. Every time I come here, I love it. The people are great, the tournament is great, and the atmosphere in centre is very good. I just want to go out there to find a way to win and fight in every match.”

www.baghdatis.com/articles/view/monaco-ousts-fourth-seed-monaco

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Marcos defeated Tursunov and is through to the semis!! He won 6-2 6-4


Saturday Order of Play:
Centre Court Start 12:00 noon

[1] Andy Murray (GBR) vs [6] Milos Raonic (CAN)

Followed by

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) vs [8] Kei Nishikori (JPN)

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Unfortunately Marcos lost to Nishikori 2-6 2-6.

But he had a great week in Tokyo and that's what matters

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From ATP World Tour site:

On Saturday, Nishikori will take on Marcos Baghdatis, who dismissed qualifier Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-4 in his quarter-final match. Baghdatis capitalised on three of his six break point chances and saved all three break points he faced to beat Tursunov for the second time this season in one hour and 21 minutes. The Cypriot also won their meeting at the Apia International Sydney.

“Dmitry is a tricky player,” said Baghdatis. “He can find a way to come back with his big shots, big serves and big returns. I felt pressure in the whole match. I’m very happy because when there was pressure, I served really well and took my chances at the beginning of the match and the beginning of the second set.”

With the victory, Baghdatis recorded 30 wins in a season for the fourth time. The World No. 46 will contest his first semi-final since February, when he lost in the Zagreb semi-finals to Lukas Lacko. Baghdatis is looking to win his fifth ATP World Tour trophy, with his latest triumph coming in 2010 at Sydney. His most recent final appearance was in Kuala Lumpur last year.

www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/10/40/Tokyo-Friday-Baghdatis-Beats-Tursunov-Berdych-Plays-Nishikori.aspx