Photo: Nikki Boertman
Marcos was forced to call on all his fighting qualities and high levels of fitness Thursday to earn his place in the quarter-finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. After rain had allowed him just one game on Wednesday evening, he returned to record two three-set victories in hot conditions in Washington D.C., to reach the last eight.
"I'm really happy to get through two matches in one day,” said Marcos. “It's nice to know all the hard physical work I've been doing has been worthwhile."
First up was Somdev Devvarman in the second round. Marcos was looking to make amends for the defeat he suffered to Devvarman in Indian Wells this season, and made the perfect start to their third meeting as he quickly clinched the opening set with two breaks of serve. However, India’s Devvarman struck back strongly in the second set and reeled off six straight games to level the match.
Marcos did well to halt Devvarman’s growing momentum and looked to have made the decisive break in the match when he went up 4-3 in the final set. Serving for the match in the 10th game, though, Marcos was challenged again by the No. 65-ranked Devvarman, who broke back to draw level. Undeterred, Marcos immediately regained his advantage and, at the second time of asking, served out the 6-2, 0-6, 7-5 victory in just over two hours.
After a couple of hours rest, Marcos then returned to court to face Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci, who had beaten Tommy Haas in three sets in the second round earlier in the day. World No. 36 Bellucci made the better start to the match, converting one of his two break points to take the opening set.
Strong serving from Marcos gave him the foundation to recover, though. Overall he hit won 83 per cent of points behind his first serve, including 15 aces, and lost only 12 more points on serve in the second and third sets. He broke Bellucci once in the second set, and three times more in the third as he claimed the 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
Through to his fourth ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season, Marcos will face American Donald Young on Friday. It will be their first meeting after World No. 128 Young defeated countryman Michael Russell 6-3, 6-3.
“I expect a tough match tomorrow,” said Marcos. “Young has nothing to lose and will be the crowd favourite, but I fought really hard today and am going to do the same tomorrow.”
The match is scheduled to take place on Stadium court Friday, beginning not before 5:00pm local time (9pm GMT, midnight Cyprus). Check out the full order of play here.
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Go, Marcos!
