Photo: Ron C. Angle
Marcos bowed out in the second round at Roland Garros on Thursday as he was beaten 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(6) by Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer.
Mayer, who considers clay to be his favourite surface, attacked Marcos early and after being denied a break point chance in the seventh game, broke through in the 11th game before serving out the one-set lead.
Marcos was again under pressure early in the second set and fended off a break point in the third game with a second serve ace before Mayer penetrated his defences in the fifth game by forcing a volley error from the Cypriot.
Despite the score line and momentum being heavily weighted in Mayer’s favour, Marcos refused to concede without a fight and broke the Argentine’s serve to lead 3-1 in the third set. He could not protect his lead, though, as Mayer struck back in the seventh game forcing a subsequent tie-break.
Marcos had his chances in the tie-break as he frustrated Mayer and opened up a 6-4 lead. However, he was unable to convert his two set point opportunities and paid the price as Mayer went on to claim victory in two hours and 32 minutes.
Marcos will now prepare for the grass-court season, during which he has enjoyed much success in the past; reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2006 and the quarter-finals a year later, and finishing runner-up in Halle in 2007.
Check back to www.baghdatis.com on Monday for full details of his intended grass-court schedule.
