BAGHDATIS PICKS HIS MOMENTS WELL IN DUBAI TENNIS OPENER
▶ Cypriot battles through first set before easing to victory against Serbia’s Troicki
Marcos Baghdatis attributed his first-round victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to playing well in the “key moments” after defeating Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-2 last night.
World No 112 Baghdatis, who reached the Dubai final in 2016, was handed a tough task for his first round match. In Troicki, he was taking on a player ranked 46 places higher and who had won their past two encounters.
On paper this looked an evenly-matched contest, and so it proved throughout an opening set that lasted one hour and 11 minutes. Breaks were exchanged when Troicki levelled at 3-3 having handed the advantage to Baghdatis three games earlier.
From there, the set went with serve as both players fended off break points until Baghdatis claimed the all-important break to lead 6-5 before serving out the set.
Based on the evidence from the first set, it looked as though the spectators inside the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, most of whom were cheering for Baghdatis, would be bedded in for the long haul.
However, after falling behind, Troicki’s resistance evaporated and Baghdatis quickly raced into an unassailable 4-0 lead in the second set.
The ease with which the Cypriot held serve in the second set was in stark contrast to the first where three of his six service games went to deuce. In the second set, he did not face deuce once.
“It was a great battle in the first set,” Baghdatis, 32, said. “First match of the tournament, it’s always hard, especially when you play a player like Viktor who knows you so well.
“I played pretty well in important points, key moments of the match. I came strong in the first game of the second set to make some great returns and break him there. I think then it went like a routine. I started playing better and better, more confident.”
Dubai holds some good memories for Baghdatis, who two years ago came within one win of clinching the title. On that occasion, Stan Wawrinka, the three-time grand slam winner from Switzerland, proved a challenge too far for the former Australian Open champion.
“It’s an amazing place to be,” Baghdatis said. “Best place to be at this time of the year. I’m having fun whenever I come here. I love the conditions. I love the club here. The crowd comes out here and shows you so much energy, gives you so much energy. It’s always a pleasure being back.”
Baghdatis will next face either Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano or Troicki’s fellow Serbian Filip Krajinovic in the second round.
Top seed Grigor Dimitrov begins his campaign today when he takes to Centre Court in the first match of the evening against Tunisian wildcard Malek Jaziri.
Dimitrov, the Bulgarian world No 4, is making his second appearance in Dubai. His first came in 2011 when he was defeated in the first round by Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who incidentally competes in today’s first match on Centre Court when he faces Croatian Borna Coric.
That contest is followed by Gasquet’s compatriot and second seed in Dubai, Lucas Pouille, who takes on Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis. The action on Centre Court concludes with Damir Dzumhur, the fourth seed from Bosnia-Herzegovina, against German qualifier Yannick Maden.
It was a great battle in the first set. First match of the tournament, it’s always hard MARCOS BAGHDATIS
A little less than 12 months ago, Philipp Kohlschreiber was involved in the most nail-biting tie-break the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships tournament had seen.
It lasted 31 minutes and a record-equalling 38 points and Kohlschreiber, playing at his maximum capabilities, had seven match points to eliminate then world No 1 Andy Murray in the quarter-finals. Instead, Murray sealed the breaker before marching through the deciding set and on to the title.
Kohlschreiber, the world No 33, was back in Dubai on Monday for the first time since that marathon exchange to get his 2018 campaign up and running. The 34-year-old German had a far more straightforward outing this time out, booking his place in the second round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gleb Sakharov, the qualifier from France.
The memory from last year’s epic may still live long in Kohlschreiber’s mind, but the German is far more focused on what is ahead.
“I know it was a very entertaining match. It was great atmosphere, I think one of the best I ever experienced,” Kohlschreiber said in reference to his match against Murray. “But at the end I also lost in the quarter-finals. I couldn’t say it was a great success from the tournament side. It was a great success how I played tennis.
“Of course, I know I can play really great tennis, especially here in these conditions.
“That gives me a lot of confidence for this year that I do well, I can go deep.”
Kohlschreiber looked assured in his first-round performance and will be the favourite for his second-round match when he takes on Greek wild card Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in the first match on Court 1 yesterday.
“I’m happy with my performance,” Kohlschreiber said. “First match, you always adjust a little bit. But I felt comfortable in my game, very solid, moved my opponent well and served well. Overall I think it was a good match.
“I feel always very comfortable here. Dubai is a great city, it’s a great tournament.
“It makes it a little bit easier to play good tennis.”
Roberto Bautista Agut, the highest seed to take to the courts yesterday, also made safe passage to the second round, dispatching Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court.
The Spanish world No 23, seeded third in Dubai this week, was broken three times on serve but five breaks of his own ensured victory.
However, Bautista Agut insisted that it was impressive returning, and not vulnerable serving, that was the cause of all the service breaks.
“I felt great on the court,” he said. “He was mixing up his game, and he was playing very aggressive on the return. We made a lot of good returns, both of us. We did a lot of breaks on the match. I think I did a great job.”
Bautista Agut, 29, will face either Portugal’s Joao Sousa or Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert for a place in the third round.
Dutchman Robin Haase survived a scare against French qualifier Quentin Halys to book his place in the second round.
Haase, the world No 43, recovered from a break down in the final set to emerge victorious 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes.
Haase, 30, will face either top seed Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria or Tunisian wildcard Malek Jaziri for a place in the third round.
Roberto Bautista Agut, the highest seed to take to the courts, also made a safe passage, dispatching Germany’s Florian Mayer