Photo: Arne Forsell/rca productions
Marcos cruised into the quarter-finals of the If Stockholm Open with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory over American Robert Kendrick Thursday at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament.
It will be the third ATP World Tour quarter-final this season that Marcos has contested, following last-eight appearances in Johannesburg and Delray Beach in February.
Against No. 86-ranked Kendrick, Marcos made a fast start, breaking twice to race to a 4-1 lead. Kendrick scrambled to recover one of the service breaks and reduce the deficit to 4-2, but Marcos quickly regained his double break advantage before closing out the one-set lead 6-2.
Always in control of the pair’s first meeting, Marcos broke through in the fifth game of the second set to lead 3-2 and won the last three games of the match to seal victory after 53 minutes. Marcos served out the match to love, with his seventh ace bringing up match point.
If Stockholm Open Photo Gallery
"I'm feeling fit which is the most important thing,” said Marcos afterwards. “When you wake up in the morning and you don't feel any pain, it's easier to play good tennis. I'm having a good run now and enjoying myself on the court. I'm hungry to do well and I want to come back stronger than before.”
For a place in his first ATP World Tour semi-final since February 2008, Marcos will face fellow former Australian Open finalist, Arnaud Clement. The French qualifier advanced courtesy of a three-set victory over Michael Berrer today.
The 31-year-old Clement has rediscovered his form this week, having endured a tour-level win-less streak since Roland Garros coming into Stockholm. The right-hander, currently No. 138 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, is playing his first ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season.
Marcos has played Clement three times previously and leads their head-to-head 2-1, having won their past two meetings at Zagreb in 2007 and Marseille in 2008.
Marcos vs. Clement: Head-to-Head
The match will take place last on Centre Court on Friday, starting not before 8:15 p.m. local time (GMT +2hrs). Check out the full order of play here.
Point-by-point live scoring of the match is available here.
You can check to see if you have live TV coverage here.
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for the latest news on Marcos’ progress in the Swedish capital.
Go, Marcos!
