A 20 year old made all Cypriots proud

Category: Sports Bar

Post 1 by nikos (English words from a Greek thinking brain) on Thursday, 26-Jan-2006 20:01:05

From bbc sports.

Unseeded Baghdatis reaches final

Baghdatis did not let a rain delay in the deciding set affect the outcome
Unseeded Marcos Baghdatis reached the final of the Australian Open with a dramatic 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over David Nalbandian of Argentina.
Fourth seed Nalbandian had looked in control after taking the first set and holding off Baghdatis in the second.

But the 20-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, clawed back the next two sets.

In the decider, the Cypriot twice came from a break down, and held his nerve after a rain delay, to earn a showdown with Roger Federer or Nicolas Kiefer.

Baghdatis was appearing in his first Grand Slam semi-final after stirring wins over Andy Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic.

And his remarkable victory was met with a huge roar of approval from the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena.

Everything is like first time here for me - getting to the quarters was a first time and the semis and now I hope it continues on Sunday night

Marcos Baghdatis
But Nalbandian left mystified by his defeat after squandering a two-set lead.

"It was quite tough," said the 24-year-old. "He's very good player. "I had a lot of chances to win the match, so I can't understand how I missed that opportunity to win it."

Surprise package of the tournament, Baghdatis had struggled early on as Nalbandian started ripping winners from both sides to seal the first set and race to a 5-1 lead in the second.

But he refused to give up, rallying to level at 5-5 before the local fireworks to celebrate Australia Day seemed to affect the young Cypriot's concentration.

Number four seed Nalbandian rattled off the next two games to clinch the set but Baghdatis continued his fightback.

He survived an early break to take the third set and broke Nalbandian for the only time that he needed to in the fourth, holding serve the rest of the way.

Nalbandian led 4-2 in the final set before the former world junior number one reeled off the last four games to secure an astonishing victory.

Full credit to Baghdatis - really gave it his all when he was up against it


I wish him good luck for Sunday.
Nikos

Post 2 by nikos (English words from a Greek thinking brain) on Sunday, 29-Jan-2006 11:25:38

Unfortunately he didn't manage to win Roger Frederer in the final but we are still all proud for him.
He is only 20 years old he will have time to improove.
Nikos