Marcos endured mixed success at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles on Wednesday. In his opening singles match, he was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Yen-Hsun Lu, but later rebounded with American Michael Russell to win his first-round doubles match.
Playing his first match since Davis Cup, Marcos suffered a straight-sets defeat to Lu of Chinese Taipei. The former World No. 33, a quarter-finalist in Atlanta last week, broke serve once in each set and denied Marcos any break back opportunities.
“I didn't play very good,” Marcos told his web site. “I lost my serve twice a bit stupidly and had some chances on his serve but never took them. Towards the end I felt that I could get into the match, but he actually played really well.”
The disappointment did not linger too long for Marcos, though, as he and Russell dismissed Brazilians Bruno Semenzato and Marcio Torres 6-0, 7-6(5) in 72 minutes to reach the doubles quarter-finals. Semenzato and Torres were a late replacement for Chilean wild cards Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu.
“The positive thing is that I am feeling really good in practise and that I just need to transfer it in the matches,” added Marcos. “Doubles was a help to get a win and I could work on my serve and return a bit. Michael is a great guy; it’s fun to play with him.”
Marcos will be back in action on Friday at the ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tournament, looking to advance further in doubles and get more valuable match practice at the start of his US Open Series campaign. He’ll spend Thursday on the practice court and working out in the gym to tune up for the quarter-finals.
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