Photo: Ron C. Angle
Marcos is through to the third round of the Australian Open after cutting short Juan Martin del Potro’s return to Grand Slam action with a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over the Argentine on Thursday evening on Rod Laver Arena.
It is the sixth time in seven appearances in Melbourne that Marcos has reached at least the third round; in 2006 he went on to reach the final, where he finished runner-up to Roger Federer. He next will face World No. 11 Jurgen Melzer of Austria.
“I'm improving every year, like all the players are improving,” said Marcos. “I can say I'm playing the best tennis of my life every year. Everybody's improving. Tennis is changing. It's not like 2006. Everything is moving. I think I'm in good shape, best shape.”
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The 22-year-old del Potro came into the match unseeded, having been sidelined for the majority of 2010 after undergoing surgery on his right wrist. The 2009 US Open champion showed his quality in the early stages, though, as he threatened Marcos’ serve in the third game. However, Marcos was able to save all three break points he faced and made del Potro rue his missed chances in the following game as he broke to lead 3-2 with a rifling backhand winner up the line.
With the momentum in his favour, Marcos raised his game again to break del Potro in the sixth game before serving out the one-set lead with a love service game.
Marcos went up an early break in the second set in bizarre fashion, as del Potro’s racquet flew out of his hand on a second serve on break point. At that point, the Argentine consulted an ATP trainer about his wrist, but given the all clear, was fine to carry on. He could find no answer to Marcos’ strong play, though, and the Cypriot broke serve again to seal the set in the ninth game with impressive, aggressive play on his backhand.
A loose game from Marcos at the start of the fourth set gave former World No. 4 del Potro a glimmer of hope. The Tandil native was not able to maintain his lead as Marcos levelled at 3-3, but the quality of his play had improved and he broke again in the ninth game before clinching the fourth set on serve.
At the sit down, Marcos received treatment on his right lower leg and came out firing in the fourth set. An improvised backhand pass earned him a 15/40 lead on del Potro’s serve in the second game and he converted his second chance to break with a stinging crosscourt forehand forcing an error from the Argentine. Marcos then went on to serve out victory in the ninth game, finishing with his 15th ace.
“I had a not so good first round match. I had to fight out there. I won that one today. With my coach, I think we put a great tactic in place and it worked pretty well,” reflected Marcos afterward. “I just won a great match today. I played really good. [I’ll] go talk with my coach about what I did well, what I have to improve, then start talking about Melzer tomorrow.”
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for all the latest news and photos from Melbourne.
Go, Marcos!
