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Marcos began the 2013 ATP World Tour season in strong form on Monday, dismissing Australian wild card Benjamin Mitchell 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Brisbane International. Marcos broke serve once in each set and saved all four break points he faced to clinch victory in 77 minutes.
"I think for the first match of the year there was some positive stuff," said Marcos. "I think [Mitchell] plays pretty good, he serves pretty big. There were some good rallies from his side; it was not easy. He had nothing to lose; he was hitting the ball quite aggressively. I did what I had to do; I found a way to win."
After eight weeks out of competition, working in the gym and on the practice court during the off-season, Marcos said it was good to put his hard work into a match situation. “For sure, it's not the same thing,” he explained. “After a set I felt a bit heavy-legged, because it’s a completely different thing to play a match compared with work outside the court and at the gym and just hitting balls on court.
“The way I was moving was OK. After the first set I lost a bit of explosiveness in the second set, but I had my serve whenever I wanted it.”
Marcos will play a doubles match with Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday, before he takes to the court again later in the week for his second-round singles match against sixth-seeded German Florian Mayer. Marcos beat Mayer in their only previous meeting five years ago.
“I'll see what I have to do on court and what to improve with my coach tomorrow,” said Marcos. “I have doubles tomorrow, which will help me get used to returns, dealing with the ball coming back fast from the serve, the speed of the game. I have to get used to that.
“I'm playing great tennis. I’m moving well on court. I just need to work on a few small things and find the way to win against Florian.”
Marcos and Nieminen will take to the court against third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah last on Show Court 2 on Tuesday. See the full order of play here: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/339/op.pdf
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for all the latest news from Brisbane.
Go, Marcos!
