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Post by choupi on May 25, 2007 7:11:19 GMT -5
Serious things are on again for Marcos. Time for Roland Garros. The main draw is out and Marcos will play Grosjean in the 1st round. No doubt he looks forward to doing great things on the Parisian ground. Section of the main draw: www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/scores/draws/ms/r1s3.html |
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Post by choupi on May 28, 2007 13:56:37 GMT -5
Tuesday OOP:
Court PH. Chatrier starting at 11am:
Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI)
vs Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)[6]
followed by
Roger Federer (SUI)[1]
vs Michael Russell (USA) To Finish 6-4 4-1
Marion Bartoli (FRA)[18]
vs Aravane Rezai (FRA)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)[16]
vs Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
vs Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
Marcos doesn't play doubles, he's not in the mens doubles main draw.
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Post by choupi on May 31, 2007 2:09:09 GMT -5
Sorry for the lack of updates, but I was at RG and had no internet opportunity. And no, sadly, I didn't see Marcos play nor train.
Anyway, he defeated Grosjean 6-3 6-2 6-4. And now he plays Pless. He's scheduled today, 1st match on Court 1.
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Post by choupi on May 31, 2007 6:20:12 GMT -5
Marcos won 7-5 6-3 6-4.  |
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Post by choupi on Jun 1, 2007 13:26:31 GMT -5
Marcos is 3rd match on the Lenglen tomorrow. He's gonna play Hajek. Gonna be the 1st time he plays him.
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Post by choupi on Jun 1, 2007 13:37:49 GMT -5
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Post by choupi on Jun 2, 2007 4:29:40 GMT -5
Interviews of Marcos (from the RG site):
After the match against Grosjean:
Q. You're very happy with your first round, very satisfactory.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, I'm delighted because I've won the match and it was a solid display on my part. So I'm really happy with my performance today. And this is the first round at Roland Garros, the first time on center court. I'm playing against a French player. It's not an easy task, and I've played well. And I didn't give him the opportunity to find solutions in order to win. I was the boss of the match and I'm very happy.
Q. Why do you feel so good? It is true that the past few weeks, I mean, you have had some ups and downs. Why is it so?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I went to Cyprus and I live in Cyprus now, and I feel good. I have a new coach. So it's good. I'm working well, and I work more diligently, I would say. I would say that I'm quite peaceful.
Q. What about your choices in terms of your coach? I mean, what has changed in your life? I mean, now you're back to Cyprus after quite a long time.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: It's great. I have some friends there. And I can lead a life of a guy who is 22 years of age. I'm 22 years of age. I need to have friends and I want to live and I couldn't do that elsewhere.
So I can tell you that my motivation flagged a little bit, but now I'm more motivated. And I've decided to go to Cyprus to live with my brother, with my family. My family lives there, so when you feel good out of the court, you feel also better on the court.
Q. What about the practicing session, do you feel that you'd be able to practice as rigorously as in the past?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, it's quite possible. And if it's not possible for me to practice as rigorously as I can, I mean, I would change. But now I'm very happy to be in Cyprus. I can practice well there.
Q. What about this decision? Is it a decision that you've thought about it?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, I've thought about it for quite a long time. And all of a sudden, I've decided to make the best decision, that is to go to Cyprus.
Q. You were not really happy, but how long haven't you been quite happy?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know exactly, but I would say, oh, the past six months, past five or six months.
Q. What about your coach?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: He is 43. My coach is 43. What do you want me to tell you? He's like a father. I have a lot of respect for him. So before joining the tennis academy, I mean, I was with him and he knows me very well and he's a father for me. I mean, we get along with one another on the court and outside the court. And I hope that I've answered your question.
Q. In terms of tennis, I mean, do you have your bearings now in terms of tennis?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Not yet. I mean, I'm gradually coming to terms with my tennis level, I would say.
After the match against Pless:
Q. Good morning. What do you think about this match? What can you say just walking out of the court?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: A difficult match, playing at 11 o'clock in the morning, getting up early, changing your rhythm, your momentum. I was a bit stressed at the beginning of the match. I didn't feel very comfortable, but I managed to fight and find a solution to win.
And I'm very happy to win today because it was a difficult match. A bit of a job, and it wasn't easy.
Q. It's more or less the same question, but in English. What were the good points about the match today from your point of view?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Like I said in French, it was a tough match today. I mean, it was a tricky match today coming up. It was first match on, 11:00 o'clock, change my rhythm of sleeping, waking up early in the morning. And the first couple of games, I didn't feel good going on court. I was a bit stressed. Slowly, slowly I found the rhythm and the way to win. So that's the most important thing.
Q. You say you were the first up, but is that better than being the last on court when the conditions have been so difficult?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: The conditions today are good, so...
Q. No, on a rainy day, for example.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, I'm not saying it's very difficult. I just said it was tough today. Normally it's not tough, but tough today because I played against Sebastien late yesterday. It was raining. So I went and practiced indoors, and today I woke up, I found out last night I was ‑‑ late on, I was playing first on, so I had to wake up early, so for me it's tough.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, only.
Q. You've been to the final in Australia and the semis at Wimbledon. How confident are you that you can match that level here on clay at Roland Garros?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I didn't play so good on clay last year, and I had some difficulties playing on clay. Slowly, slowly I'm finding my game on clay. I'm starting to feel good on clay, starting to feel the way I have to play on clay. I don't know. I don't know.
For me it's something new to feel good on clay. So I'm confident, I'm playing good. Why not play like I played on hard court and on grass here.
Q. Have you looked further down the draw and seen some of your routes further into the second week?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I just saw my next opponent. I don't know who I'm playing after, I know I'm playing Ulihrach or Hajek, so I have a good draw. I'm favorite.
So I just go on court, fight, try to find the solution to get today my rest, and I'm pretty confident.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.
Q. You're quite close to where you train and practice. So how do you feel in Paris here for this first week?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Well, I really feel a bit like at home, because I've been living here for eight years. I speak the language. I know Paris, so I feel at home because I'm playing with fans who like me, people who supported me all my career.
So it really is nice. I'm happy I'm here. I'm happy I play here, and I feel comfortable on clay this year, so it's a plus.
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Post by choupi on Jun 2, 2007 8:20:02 GMT -5
Marcos wins 6-2 6-2 ret. against Hajek. Onto the 8th of final!!
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Post by choupi on Jun 2, 2007 14:57:23 GMT -5
Interview of Marcos, after his match against Hajek (RG site):
Q. Did you realize that your opponent was a little bit injured?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I was in my match, but after the first set, I realized that he couldn't serve. And he has a pain in his arm and that's it.
Q. Then after the match, I mean, you've decided to hit the ball again.
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, of course. I didn't know how to get my bearings. I mean, he couldn't serve. It was not pleasant, basically. There was a kind of false rhythm in the match, and after the match, I wanted to play again in order to get my bearings.
Q. In the three rounds, you spent less than five hours. It's good. What is your assessment?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I'm very happy, because for the first time, I'm through to the second week. I'm not tired, of course. I'm ready, physically, in order to fight.
Q. Roland Garros, what does it represent? It's the first time that you've reached the Round of 16. You spent some years in France, met many French players in the draws. So basically you will be in the right position. How do you manage that?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I do stay in my bubble, with my coach, people around me.
It's very nice to play in front of people that you love and people who have encouraged you all along your career. So it's very nice to play in front of them. It's really motivating.
Q. In the press, people don't talk about you. Is it positive for you?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, it is. So it means that I'm not sought after and people don't expect me. So that's nice.
Q. More seriously, French players say they're under pressure. What do you think of that?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: In Cyprus, I don't have much pressure, so that's good. I can handle everything because I don't have a lot of pressure upon my shoulders. I've read some interviews of French players and I would say that the French media put too much pressure on the French players. That's what I think. But I don't have any pressure as far as I'm concerned.
Q. Have you seen some pictures of the match between Andreev and Paul‑Henri Mathieu?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I've seen the match point.
Q. Andreev seems to be on a roll. What do you think of them?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: He plays very well on clay and he likes the surface. And I'm the outsider, the runner‑up. But I feel good. I think that I will fight and I will take the initiative and I will try to find the solution in order to outplay him.
Q. Back to the French players, Olivier Patience is playing at the present time on the court. You're familiar with French tennis. Why do French players, including Amelie Mauresmo, have a hard time at Roland Garros?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know, but I can't speak for them. And it is true that Amelie Mauresmo has a lot of pressure upon her shoulders. I don't know exactly. We're all different and we have different strategies when it comes to handling the situation. But we have to allow them to live in peace, and they shouldn't be pressured too much.
Q. You've played against Richard Gasquet in the US Open, junior final, and you've both advanced to seniors. What do you think of that?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: He has matured, basically, because he reached the final of the Master Series. So that's good for him. He has a better ranking than my ranking. He's a very talented player. He's very skillful. We work differently and we try to come up with our own way and we try to go as far as possible in the tournament. And I think that he has the means to succeed.
Q. What about your ambitions? Any ambitions?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: To win the tournament, of course. It is true that I'm the runner‑up; I'm the outsider; this is not my favorite surface. But I feel great. I feel good on the surface. I've won three matches, so I feel okay. And when I feel okay, I'm not afraid. I don't buckle under pressure and I can fight and I can find the solution.
Q. The weather is warmer, so the balls will be quicker, faster. What do you think of that?
MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yes, that's true. So it's a little bit warmer now, so we are like in Cyprus here basically. We're going to take some sunbathing.
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Post by choupi on Jun 3, 2007 13:41:11 GMT -5
Marcos will play Andreev tomorrow, 2nd match on the Lenglen. Not an easy match for sure, as Igor plays very well on clay. Good luck Marcos!! |
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Post by christos on Jun 3, 2007 14:27:34 GMT -5
Hi!!!!! Sorry for not posting all this time, but I lost the url of the forum....
Anyway Marcos is going well in Paris!!!! Keep it up!
Choupi you'll go to see him tomorrow?
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Post by choupi on Jun 3, 2007 23:21:59 GMT -5
Choupi you'll go to see him tomorrow? Well, sadly no. I was in Paris for 1 day only, as I don't live near and I couldn't take more off my work. But I will cross my fingers that this is the match they're gonna show on tv.........though I'm afraid Nadal vs Hewitt might attract more ppl.  Anyway, good luck Marcos!! |
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Post by choupi on Jun 3, 2007 23:22:24 GMT -5
Btw, nice to have you back Christos!!
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Post by choupi on Jun 3, 2007 23:42:19 GMT -5
Ok, now, a little present to every Marcos fan. Couldn't resist it the 1st time I saw it. Still can't!! Haha...it's from "1 Jour à Roland", the short video show we have here in France, every evening. Enjoy!!  ma-tvideo.france3.fr/video/iLyROoaftQkw.html |
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Post by christos on Jun 4, 2007 10:27:12 GMT -5
hahahaha great! Thanks!
though its getting little hard the match and Eurosport hadn't show it, except one point!
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Anyway, good luck Marcos!! 