Photo: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
In blustery and hot conditions Monday afternoon at the The Aviation Club, Marcos fought through stomach cramps to reach the second round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over eighth seed Gilles Simon.
Marcos, who afterwards stated he is suffering from food poisoning, needed to take a medical timeout and leave the court in the 10th game of the match before returning to hold serve and level for 5-5.
Maintaining his composure well, Marcos earned the first service break of the match in the following game, with a telling return off a second serve from Simon forcing the error from the Frenchman. However, Marcos was unable to close out the set at the first opportunity, with two forehand errors proving costly as Simon hit back to force a tie-break.
With Simon lacking in match practice, having endured a recent spell on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury, Marcos was able to capitalise and play the big points well in the tie-break, racing to a 6-2 lead before an ace – one of 14 he struck in the match – secured the one-set lead.
An early break of serve saw Marcos earn a 3-1 lead in the second set, but he was pegged back as the resilient Simon fought back to level at 3-3. Marcos, who is extremely well liked in Dubai, continued with his patient brand of tennis though, forcing errors from Simon, and was rewarded in the 10th game as successive forehand errors from the Frenchman handed Marcos victory after one hour and 42 minutes.
Video courtesy: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
“The only thing I can say is I fought through and that's all,” said Marcos. “I didn't feel too much. I was concentrating on not throwing up on the court or some points. It is food poisoning. I have cramps in the stomach, and I'll go see a doctor and we'll see what's going to happen.”
Next up for Marcos on Wednesday is either Swiss Marcos Chiudinelli or Indian qualifier Somdev Davvarman. “I'll have a day off and see how my stomach goes, see how I feel,” said Marcos. “Maybe I beat Gilles today, but if I'm not fit, I can lose to anybody.”
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for all the latest news on Marcos’ progress in Dubai.
Go, Marcos!
