Photo: Ron C. Angle
Marcos made a winning start to the 2010 ATP World Tour season by edging World No. 55 Mardy Fish 7-5, 7-5 on Tuesday in the first round of the Brisbane International.
Victory marked Marcos’ 10th straight win, following a Challenger title in Tashkent and his triumph in Stockholm in his last competitive appearances in October. He next will face fourth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, who accounted for Australian qualifier Nick Lindahl 6-2, 6-4 in his first match of the new season.
In a keenly contested opening match Tuesday, the players were inseparable in the first set until the 12th game, when Marcos earned the first service break of the match to open up a one-set lead.
Fish was quick to respond, though, and despite playing just his first match back after left knee surgery in September, produced a strong serving display and high level of tennis to break Marcos’ serve in the first game of the second set.
The American continued to serve well to protect his break advantage until the eighth game, but Marcos’ form was improving game-by-game and he was justly rewarded with two break-back points at 15-40. Ground stroke errors by Marcos, which were a source of frustration in the second set, saw Fish recover for deuce, but Marcos earned a third chance courtesy of a rifling backhand cross-court passing shot and converted as Fish’ attempted drop shot failed to clear the net.
Two comfortable service games from Marcos saw him establish a 6-5 lead and he immediately put Fish under pressure as the American served to stay in the match. Powerful forehand play from Marcos forced an error from Fish to earn his first match point at 30-40 and he sealed victory as Fish committed his third double fault of the match after one hour and 41 minutes of play on the packed Pat Rafter Arena.
“It wasn’t my best match, but I’m very happy with the way I played today. It’s my first match since two and a half, three months, so I’m pretty happy,” Marcos said.
"In the off season I worked hard on my fitness. I am quicker, fitter and I am enjoying it. I see myself winning a Grand Slam, I don’t know when, I don’t know if it’s coming this year or not, but I’m waiting for it.”
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for all the latest news from Brisbane.
Go, Marcos!
