I am blessed to have beautiful kids and a lovely wife: Marcos
dubai — Marcos Baghdatis was only 20 when he reached the Australian Open final in 2006.
Now 12 year later, the Cypriot is still around, despite suffering myriad injuries.
The world number 112 still remains hugely popular player and that probably is one of the reasons why the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships organisers have offered him a wild card.
And, the former world number eight feels his biggest achievement in his life was not the Australian Open final appearance.
“My proudest achievement has been to inspire kids in Cyprus to play tennis. After my success at the Grand Slams, lot of kids in my small country began to pick up a racquet. That’s something that gives me great satisfaction,” the affable Cypriot said during the draw for the men’s event of the Dubai tennis championships on Saturday. So what keeps him going? “I am blessed enough to have beautiful kids and a lovely wife, my parents, my wife’s family who help us a lot. That motivates me every day to wake up and push to my limits and try to improve my body and my tennis and be the best I can be,” he said.
His wife, Karolina Sperm, was a top tennis player who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2004.
“Of course it helps. She understands me and spends time with me on the court and helps me. There is a different motivation for me when she is on court and helps me around. It is just a different sort of motivation for me,” Baghdatis said.
But Baghdatis said he would never force his children to become tennis players.
one thing i want for my kids is that they have to be happy. Whether they are learning dance or they are good at academics
Marcos Baghdatis
“One thing I want for my kids is that they have to be happy. Whether they are learning dance or they are good at academics. The most important thing is that they are happy. That’s how I grew up and that’s how I want my kids to grow up and that is the main objective for my family,” he smiled.
Baghdatis will play Serbian Viktor Troicky in the first round in Dubai. “It is going to be a tough one. Viktor is one of the experienced players. He knows me very well. He knows how I play. I know how he plays. It is going to be like a chess game and the one who can control emotions and be the best on that day will win the match.”
He then thanked the Dubai tennis organisers for offering him the wild card.
“I love coming here and whenever I do I have great memories, great emotions and it’s fun coming back,” he said.
“I am feeling great. I had a tough last year as I was injured throughout last year. Bad foot injury and then a back injury and I stopped early. I took some time this year and I didn’t play too many tournaments.
“So I was lucky to have the honour of getting a wild card. I appreciate that and I will do my best.”
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com