Baghdatis: I will be ready for Lleyton
Marcos Baghdatis has quickly shrugged aside suggestions that his late night five-set epic against Marat Safin will leave the Cypriot in less than ideal condition to face what is shaping as another drawn out battle, this time against Lleyton Hewitt on Saturday night.
“I’m pretty fit. I worked hard in the winter and I’m ready for matches like that,” Baghdatis said.
“I’m pretty happy with the way I’m playing at the moment. I’m playing very good. I’m moving good on court. I’m fit. So I guess I’m ready for any opponent.”
Baghdatis appeared to be coasting to an early night when he established a two set lead, frustrating Safin with his energy and shot making. The Russian stepped up his game and stormed back into the match, taking the third and fourth sets.
“He was just playing unbelievable,” Baghdatis said. “He was hitting the lines. He was just playing so big.”
Both players were noticeably fatigued during the final set, but it was Baghdatis that steadied and made fewer mistakes.
“Maybe I played better than him in important points and I served much better than him in the fifth set. I served pretty big. I guess that’s where I made the difference.”
Baghadtis and Hewitt have clashed only once, in the 2006 Wimbldeon quarter finals, Baghdatis won in four sets.
“He started the match really bad. It was a very good fight at the end,” Baghdatis said.
| > | Safin: I should have won in straight sets |
| > | Blake beats friend, bogeyman Grosjean awaits |
| > | Ivanovic cruises into third round |
| > | Hewitt: Opponent faked injury |
| > | Lleyton makes hard work of win |
| > | Santoro: Federer beating was fun |
| > | Healthy Federer fit and firing |
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