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Post by choupi on Jan 12, 2013 8:10:48 GMT -5
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Post by choupi on Jan 13, 2013 9:40:58 GMT -5
The match against Ramos is scheduled on Monday on Margaret Court Arena, starting at 7PM.
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Post by choupi on Jan 14, 2013 8:52:35 GMT -5
It took more than 4 hours to Marcos to defeat Albert Ramos. Final score: 6-7 7-6 6-4 3-6 6-3.
Next opponent Tatsuma Ito (JPN)
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Post by choupi on Jan 14, 2013 8:58:21 GMT -5
Marcos is playing doubles, teaming with Grigor DIMITROV. They're gonna play the pair M. Ebden/R.Harrison for the 1st round.
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Post by choupi on Jan 14, 2013 9:03:59 GMT -5
Summary of the match, from the Australian Open website: Baghdatis outlasts Ramos
It didn’t come easily for former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, but his struggles to the finish line paid off with a 6-7 (0) 7-6 (4) 6-4 3-6 6-3 first round win over Albert Ramos of Spain on Monday.
From the moment the first set started, the 35th-ranked Baghdatis appeared to be fighting an uphill battle. He had to hold off a tenacious Ramos, and his own lacklustre play, to find a path to the second round.
What really hurt the 28th-seeded Baghdatis in the opening set was his serve. He was only able to get 14 of 41 first serves in the opening set into play. While he won the point on 12 of 14 of those first serves, that offered little comfort.
Baghdatis started to settle into the match in the second set, racing to a 4-1 lead. However, the 51st-ranked Ramos was unwilling to go away easily, pulling even to 4-4, and eventually forcing Baghdatis into another tiebreaker. This time, the tiebreaker worked to Baghdatis‘ favor.
At 3-3 in the third set, Baghdatis scored the service break with an exquisite and untouchable backhand winner down the line. Baghdatis celebrated the winning shot – and the service break that would enable the Cypriot to nail down the third set - by raising his arms in triumph to the crowd.
After exchanging early breaks in the fourth set, Baghdatis dropped his serve in the eighth game by flinging a forehand long. Ramos held serve to even the score to two sets apiece.
Being a feisty competitor wasn’t enough for Ramos, who was visibly cramping during the fifth set. The Spaniard surrendered his serve in the fourth game when at 30-40 he hit a backhand into the net. Baghdatis, who went up 3-1, held on to his lead to serve out the four hour, 15 minute match on his second match point with a backhand crosscourt volley into an empty court.
As an exhausted Baghdatis gestured to his boisterous supporters in the stands, Ramos was left to rue his exit from the tournament after a match where he’d won more points than his opponent (186-185).
Baghdatis arrived at this year’s Australian Open a very different man than he’d been in previous visits to Melbourne. Last year, he went from bachelor to family man. He married former Croatian player, Karolina Sprem. In October, the newlyweds welcomed daughter, Zahara, to their family.
The Cypriot has enjoyed his best Grand Slam results at the Australian Open. He reached the 2006 final, losing to Roger Federer, but his run to the decider came with three top 10 scalps - Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian - who all fell prey to Baghdatis’ wily ways.
Baghdatis owns a winner’s trophy from the Australian Open. He scored the junior boys’ title in 2003.
This Australian Open marks the first time that Baghdatis is seeded at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2011.
The 51st-ranked Ramos, one of 19 Spaniards in the men’s draw, has only reached the second round at a Grand Slam once in seven appearances at the majors.www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/match_reports/index.html |
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Post by choupi on Jan 15, 2013 10:49:42 GMT -5
Wednesday Order of Play:
On the Hisense Arena, start at 11AM:
Nicolas ALMAGRO vs Daniel GIMENO-TRAVER
followed by
Na LI vs Olga GOVORTSOVA
followed by
Tatsuma ITO vs Marcos BAGHDATIS
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Post by choupi on Jan 16, 2013 4:05:48 GMT -5
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mbag
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by mbag on Jan 16, 2013 10:04:28 GMT -5
Marcos really needs to win the first set against Ferrer if he's to have any chance of winning the match - which he couldn't do against Ramos or Ito.
Still, I hope he can cause an upset - and then with (probably) Nishikori in the next round he would have a great chance of making the last 8. I can only hope...
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Post by choupi on Jan 16, 2013 10:53:51 GMT -5
Well the only time Marcos beat Ferrer was at the AO in 2010. Hope this brings back great memories. For sure Ferrer won't give anything away. It's gonna be a tough match and I do hope Marcos can make an upset  |
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Post by choupi on Jan 17, 2013 4:16:35 GMT -5
Marcos and Grigor defeated Ebden/Harrison 7-6 6-2. Next up are Mirnyi/Tecau.
On Friday, Marcos will play his 3rd round match against Ferrer on the Rod Laver Arena as last match of the night session.
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Post by choupi on Jan 18, 2013 7:02:01 GMT -5
There's been no upset, sadly. Ferrer defeated Marcos 6-4 6-2 6-3. There was nothing that Marcos could do to stop Ferrer. I don't know if it's much comfort, but Ferrer said, in his post match interview to Jim Courier, that today he had played his best match of the tournament so far... But we shouldn't forget that Marcos is still in the doubles competition in Melbourne |
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Post by choupi on Jan 18, 2013 9:00:44 GMT -5
Summary of the match, by Matt Cronin, from www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/match_reports/2013-01-18/201301181358513870946.html
Marcos Baghdatis has played some of his best tennis at the Australian Open over the years, but he could not find a way through the brick wall that is Spaniard David Ferrer in a 6-4 6-2 6-3 defeat in the third round on Friday night.
Baghdatis was never really in the contest, except for a brief period in the first set when he came from a break down to even the score at 4-4. But as he almost always does, Ferrer pushed his foe back, rarely made mistakes, and simply ran the Cypriot off the court.
Ferrer broke Baghdatis to love to go up 5-4 when the 28th seed committed four straight unforced errors, and then won the set when Baghdatis erred on a forehand.
Baghdatis tried to dictate play by coming to the net whenever he had a reasonable opportunity and dictating with his backhand, but Ferrer has improved a great deal over the last few years, as his first serve is now a weapon, his forehand is heavier and he can take care of points at the net.
He easily won the second set by breaking Baghdatis to love when he ripped a backhand passing shot. He broke him early in the third set, and then finished the contest in style with an ace.
Ferrer, who reached the Australian Open semis in 2011, did not play brilliantly, but finished the contest with 25 winners and 30 unforced errors to just 16 winners and 42 unforced errors for Baghdatis.
“It was my best match of the week, I played solid,” Ferrer said.
“I felt good physically and I was strong.”Highlights of the match available here: www.australianopen.com/en_AU/video/index.html#ooid=lua25pODoZMDzWRBMOsQbuI3XQRgv5Qw |
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Post by choupi on Jan 18, 2013 9:01:57 GMT -5
Marcos and Grigor will play their match against Mirnyi/Tecau on Saturday, as last match on Court 7.
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Post by choupi on Jan 19, 2013 8:49:34 GMT -5
Marcos and Grigor defeated Mirnyi/Tecau 3-6 6-3 6-2. Next opponents: Cabal/Farah
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Post by choupi on Jan 20, 2013 10:59:18 GMT -5
Marcos and Grigor will play against Cabal/Farah on Monday. They're scheduled 2nd match on Margaret Court Arena (day session).
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