Baghdatis, Verdasco triumph
January 17, 2010, Sunday
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MARCOS Baghdatis of Cyprus overcame the distraction of a lengthy rain interruption to beat France's Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the final of the Sydney International yesterday.
Baghdatis, who burst on to the world stage when he made the Australian Open final in 2006, regained his composure after a lapse in concentration to claim his fourth ATP title in the final lead-up event before the first grand slam of 2010.
The 24-year-old made a flying start at the Sydney Olympic tennis center, breaking Gasquet's opening service game then taking the first set, but lost his way after a 75-minute delay early in the second set.
Gasquet quickly established a 5-2 lead and served for the set but Baghdatis broke back and eventually sealed victory in the tiebreak.
"I felt pretty good on court," Baghdatis said.
"(I've) just won a tournament, confidence is up, feeling pretty fit ... I think everything is positive."
Baghdatis has been plagued with injuries over the past two seasons and was reduced to playing on the Challenger circuit last year.
He won three Challenger titles and an ATP event in Stockholm and has been in great form this week, advancing to the final after tough three-set wins over Lleyton Hewitt and Mardy Fish.
He is drawn to play Italian Paolo Lorenzi in his opening match at the Australian Open, which begins tomorrow.
Gasquet, who faces Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the first round at Melbourne Park, missed two grand slams last year after the 23-year-old became involved in a doping case.
In Melbourne, Spain's Fernando Verdasco issued a warning to rivals ahead of the Australian Open with an emphatic 7-5, 6-3 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to clinch the Kooyong Classic yesterday.
World No. 9 Verdasco, who pushed defending champion Rafael Nadal to five sets in an epic semifinal at Melbourne Park last year, broke the 10th-ranked Frenchman late in the first, then twice early in the second to seal the win in blustery conditions at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
"I think that is -- and I hope -- that is going to help me a lot to be ready for the next two weeks," Verdasco said.
The Spaniard beat world No. 8 Roger Soderling of Sweden in straight sets prior to demolishing third-ranked Serb Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday at Kooyong, a tournament seen as a form guide for the Australian Open.
Earlier, Djokovic was upset by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 in another exhibition match.
In Auckland, New Zealand, big-serving American John Isner saved a championship point before beating France's Arnaud Clement 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2) to win the Auckland Open yesterday. The 24-year-old Isner staved off match point in the 12th game of the final set to drag the score to deuce before he smashed two aces past the French veteran to send the match into a tiebreak.
Baghdatis, who burst on to the world stage when he made the Australian Open final in 2006, regained his composure after a lapse in concentration to claim his fourth ATP title in the final lead-up event before the first grand slam of 2010.
The 24-year-old made a flying start at the Sydney Olympic tennis center, breaking Gasquet's opening service game then taking the first set, but lost his way after a 75-minute delay early in the second set.
Gasquet quickly established a 5-2 lead and served for the set but Baghdatis broke back and eventually sealed victory in the tiebreak.
"I felt pretty good on court," Baghdatis said.
"(I've) just won a tournament, confidence is up, feeling pretty fit ... I think everything is positive."
Baghdatis has been plagued with injuries over the past two seasons and was reduced to playing on the Challenger circuit last year.
He won three Challenger titles and an ATP event in Stockholm and has been in great form this week, advancing to the final after tough three-set wins over Lleyton Hewitt and Mardy Fish.
He is drawn to play Italian Paolo Lorenzi in his opening match at the Australian Open, which begins tomorrow.
Gasquet, who faces Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the first round at Melbourne Park, missed two grand slams last year after the 23-year-old became involved in a doping case.
In Melbourne, Spain's Fernando Verdasco issued a warning to rivals ahead of the Australian Open with an emphatic 7-5, 6-3 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to clinch the Kooyong Classic yesterday.
World No. 9 Verdasco, who pushed defending champion Rafael Nadal to five sets in an epic semifinal at Melbourne Park last year, broke the 10th-ranked Frenchman late in the first, then twice early in the second to seal the win in blustery conditions at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
"I think that is -- and I hope -- that is going to help me a lot to be ready for the next two weeks," Verdasco said.
The Spaniard beat world No. 8 Roger Soderling of Sweden in straight sets prior to demolishing third-ranked Serb Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday at Kooyong, a tournament seen as a form guide for the Australian Open.
Earlier, Djokovic was upset by Australian teenager Bernard Tomic 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 in another exhibition match.
In Auckland, New Zealand, big-serving American John Isner saved a championship point before beating France's Arnaud Clement 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2) to win the Auckland Open yesterday. The 24-year-old Isner staved off match point in the 12th game of the final set to drag the score to deuce before he smashed two aces past the French veteran to send the match into a tiebreak.
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