Photo: Ron C. Angle
Marcos makes his return to action at next week’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome. The draw was made today and Marcos faces a tough task on his first appearance in the Italian capital since 2007.
Placed in the top quarter of the 56-man draw, Marcos opens his campaign against Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who won his first ATP World Tour title in Delray Beach in February. Marcos has a 4-0 record against the No. 44-ranked Gulbis; this will be their first meeting on clay.
Should Marcos dismiss Gulbis in the first round, he would face World No. 1 and two-time Rome runner-up Roger Federer in the Swiss’ first clay-court match of the season. Marcos famously overturned a 0-6 record against Federer to defeat him in a third-set tie-break in Indian Wells. As with Gulbis, this would be Marcos’ first match against Federer on a clay court.
Also in the top quarter of the draw, are No. 8 seed Marin Cilic, No. 11 seed and Indian Wells champion Ivan Ljubicic, and No. 15 Sam Querrey. Four-time champion Rafael Nadal is in the same half, as is last year’s Roland Garros runner-up Robin Soderling.
Check out the full draw here.
Main draw action gets underway on Sunday, 25 April. Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for news on when Marcos will play his first match.
Go, Marcos!
