Baghdatis ready to wow Aussie fans again

Marcos Baghdatis has touched down in Sydney confident he is a more complete player than when he enthralled tennis fans with a Hollywood-style run to last year's Australian Open final.

The Cypriot sensation has opted to complete his Open preparations at the Sydney International, rather than the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, so he can visit his large band of relatives in the Olympic city.

"I have lots of cousins here. I don't even know how many," he said. "About 14 cousins, my grandmother, my uncles ...

"It's great to be back. (Last year) was the best emotions of my life, the best two weeks of my life, so I'm looking forward to going back to Melbourne and why not maybe live the same memories as I did last year."

Baghdatis understands he will arrive at the season's first grand slam next week with added expectations but feels ready to cope with the pressure after proving with his surge to the Wimbledon semi-finals that his 2005 Open odyssey was anything but a fluke.

A former world junior champion, the 21-year-old has risen to 12th in the senior rankings and is adamant he has improved since his last appearance down under.

"I'm more experienced outside the court and in the court," he said.

"In the off-season, I was working a lot on my footwork to get faster on the court.

"Before I didn't work on anything special. Maybe my serve a bit. Mostly physical.

"I will just try to do my best, try to fight every match I play and try to find the solution and that's the only thing I can do.

"It's the beginning of the year and it's not so easy. Everybody's playing good, everybody's ready, so I feel good physically and that's the most important thing.

"I'm ready for some good battles."

His dazzling grand slam exploits, which also included an unforgettable five-set US Open loss to Andre Agassi in front of 23,000 spectators in New York - which the Cypriot described as a career highlight - as well as a maiden tour triumph in Beijing have fuelled him with confidence.

One of the most popular players on tour, Baghdatis will also benefit from the support of his army of fans.

He had the large Greek community in raptures at last year's Open and he described the fanfare for him in Australia as unparalleled.

"There's a lot of Greek Cypriots everywhere in the world. In Toronto when I played, there were a lot. In New York, there were some. In Wimbledon too, so they are a bit everywhere but not this crazy," Baghdatis said.

"I heard there were a lot of Greeks here (in Sydney), so many Cypriot Greeks here, a big community, so I just came maybe to play a bit for them also because last year I played in Melbourne.

"Also I have my family here and I came to see them also."

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some chick at work said she heard on radio that baghdatis won. That must mean he has won 2 games in a row at sydney international. Well done to him!!!

He's thru to the quarters!!! Lets hope he makes the final!!! Where can tickets be got?

I saw Baghdatis 2day, I think he's struggling with a few minor injures and he seemed a little jaded when I saw him after the match but if we all get behind I'm sure he will lift just like he did today

OPOPOPOPOPO BAGHDATIS OPOPOPOPOPO BAGHDATIS S'AGAPW


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ITHELA NA PAROUME TO KYPELO AFTO!!!!!

AGAPW AGAPW MIA PITSIRIKA....EINAI TRELA EINAI TRELA AP TIN KYPROOOOOOOOOOOOOO


EVERYONE IN SYDNEY...COME AND SUPPORT MARCOS !!!!!

cannot wait for the australian open.


MARCOS EISAI TRELLA ME THN ASPRI SOU FANELLA!!!

i so hope its a federer (all time fav player) v bagdadis (he's from my parents homeland..... enough said) final again this year.... and it would be an even better birthday treat if federer wins it again!

Fuck Federer, the only reason why he win Grand Slams is because he has no competition besides Nadal and maybe Bgahdatis in a few years time.

Yes he is a good player but put him with when Sampras, Agassi etc were playing and he wouldn't have been so prolific.

agreed. I hate federa with a passion, i have ever since he won his first grand slam. He knows he's good, and frankly its getting rather boring having him dominate all the grand slam events.

He's Swiss, who gives a shit. They're neutral

Shit he lost!

He's choked like Panathinaikos chokes!!!!!!

Serving for the match and to lose!! my god!!

Apparantly it's blazes fault we lost cos everytime he sees a match live he loses!!!

saw a couple of you greekplaneteers on tv

I saw HBK on tv the little hooligan!!!!!!

Nai kala, that's just superstition, I'm not a grousouzi >_<

A couple of shots from the game. (taken with my phone)

HAHA, yesterday was great!! Hellas fan club were awesome!! Sorry Senna if i was annoying.. i was losing my voice too, meh.. I met heaps of ppl.. looking forward to more of those type things.. Mini_T, you should have been there.. Apparently im mini chopper in the making.. but i think im more of a 'Blazaki'.

OPOPOPOPOPO BAGHDATIS OPOPOPOPOPO BAGHDATIS S'AGAPW

haha, you rememba my fatsa lol


It was a great night out for everyone involved, we cheered our lungs out for Baghdatis but unfortunately he lost but I'd rather him lose here and go well in the Australian Open then vice-versa. Few GP'ers were there too, it was a good night and you all missed out especially with the TV exposure and we'll see Baghdatis next year

My favourite chant was AIDE...KAI....GAMISOU..... MOYA MOYA MOYA and the mad "EISAI MALAKAS!!!!"to the umpire

Oh and nothing beat good old Blaze's "IREMIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Baghdatis battles with heavy load



MARCOS Baghdatis is feeling so much pressure from his entourage that he is considering changing his training schedule to seek more privacy.

Baghdatis revealed after his two-and-a-half-hour 6-4 2-6 6-3 6-2 first-round win over 2003 Australian Open finalist Rainer Schuettler on Rod Laver Arena yesterday that all was not well.

The Cypriot dispelled any doubts over his physical fitness, saying that his left the ankle, which he rolled against Carlos Moya in the Medibank International quarter-finals in Sydney last week caused him no problems yesterday.

The problem is from the combined pressure he is feeling from his supporters.

When Baghdatis reached the 2006 final against Roger Federer, his support group consisted of coach Guillaume Peyre and his girlfriend.

That relationship has since broken up, and his entourage has swollen in size.

"There's a lot of pressure - not by media or stuff, it's more like my group and stuff," Baghdatis said.

"I feel a bit of pressure from them.

"My father is here, my brother is here, so it's not a normal tournament for me. You know, that changes things. I will just try to deal with it and try to speak to them and find a way."

Baghdatis stressed that his father, Christos, was not interfering or causing disruption.

"It's just off the court it's not the same," he said.

"I don't have the same routines with my coach and stuff."

When Baghdatis was told that he looked like a man carrying a great weight on his shoulders, he was quick to refute suggestions that he was troubled this time around.

Footballers often struggle under the effects of "second-season syndrome", when a player breaks onto the scene with a flurry one year and then gets lost in the quagmire the next.

"No, I'm not," Baghdatis said.

"I'm happy. Nothing is wrong."

But Baghdatis did say he would change his routine over the next two weeks, and seek more privacy, if the off-court pressure did not subside.

He might have to do it soon.

The world No.11 is up against the ever-improving French teenager Gael Monfils tomorrow.

"He's got a big serve and has a great physique, and he's a great fighter," Baghdatis said of Monfils.

Schuettler showed some of those characteristics yesterday, while Baghdatis struggled with a first-serve percentage of just 43 per cent.

"It was not a great match," Baghdatis said.

"I was a bit tight in the beginning coming in the match, thinking too much and wasn't serving so well, and wasn't feeling good on the court.

"I'm just thinking because all the pressure and stuff.

"I mean, I went through, and I will get myself ready for the next match."


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Tomorrow on Rod Laver Arean(main court) Baghdatis is playing in the evening match. It will be televised live and follows the Amelie Mauresmo match that starts at 7:30pm. So approximately 9pm or 10pm the Baghdatis is on!!! Can't wait.


When is this match?? I know it was delayed due to the heat today, but I can't find when it has been rescheduled?

Marin Cilic CRO
vs.
Ilia Bozoljac SRB

Eleni Daniilidou lost to Aiko Nakamura from Japan 6-4 6-0. That's shit!

womens matches dont go that long, it would be about 8.30-9 that baghdatis starts.

Yeah, beer garden here i come!!!!!!!!!!!

ooo Re Baghdati exw trella mes sto mialo
opou kai na paizis panta tha sa akoloutho
gia sena tha pethano kai gia sena mono Zw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON BAGHDATI DO US PROUD TONIGHT!!

Bagdatis is thru to the second round of the doubles with Greek player Economidis. He's not leaving these shores just yet!!!

I'm so happy for him that he won today. It was upsetting seeing him lose last night, just the hurt look on his face made me upset. But i did hear that he was having so much fun today playing and he was even joining in with the chanting.

Marcos played really well, no matter what, he made the Melbourne tennis fans love him again next year he will return quicker and stronger than before

Bravo Marcos u made us proud

maybe we should go see him play next time. Im happy he won today!

yeah, want to come on sat with me? My bro and i are going. WOOOOOOO

is he playing sat, damnit i have to work. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. stupid fukn ajhsdjahskjdajksda

But we don't know what time yet, might be a night game. So just relax would ya.

lol ok, *breathes*

lol ok, *breathes*

He is actually playing today not Saturday, three days in a row. If they win today maybe there is a game on Saturday, not sure.

Ahhh damn that, ur right. That sucks bigtime cos i wanted to go and see him. Maybe it'll be delayed cos of the rain and i can make it in time. LOL. I wish.

I hope they go well today too so i can see them play at least once. GO BAGHDATIS!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!

Yeah unfortunately its today. Hopefully there's a match on tomorrow as I'm stuck at work today.

The rain is delaying play so they might not get to play that match at all today. I'm so hoping that happens cos i want to go tomorrow so badly. Who wants to come with me?

i want to but i dont live at melbourne hahaha

Damn they lost, i guess that means no more tennis for me this year. Booooooo...

next year, we're there.

You and me Shorty, next year, we will be prepared. We will use the refresh button to the max to get those tickets that we desire so much, make sure our cameras r charged and ready to snap like the stalkers that we are and we will mingle more with the pagans and chant with them. I guess taking photos of the pagans works too, i took some the other day. Hehe

[youtube]tm1nEHiJz5g[/youtube]

and

[youtube]QELF-etpNDY[/youtube]

OI, ur the stalker not me, get it right. haha na. refresh button to the max, thats right, we WILL get there, even if we ebay it. haha. i got some photos of em too from the first day. hot stuff.