Photo: Tashkent Challenger
Interview of the Day: Marcos Baghdatis
By Sunder Iyer
Tashkent Challenger
Media Team
Marcos Baghdatis made it to his third ATP Challenger Tour final of the year by reaching the finals of Tashkent Challenger without losing a set so far. Having seen the best times and worst times on the ATP World Tour, Marcos candidly shares his views with the media team on various issues.
Q. Marcos, Congratulations on your third final and it’s great to have you with us, your thoughts on your performance so far?
Marcos: I’m happy to be doing well in spite of the tough conditions against me. Basically the courts are fast and the balls are hard and it doesn’t suit my game. I’m happy that I’m winning matches finding solutions to these problems and winning which is very good.
Q. You’ve not lost a set so far, and seemed to be playing solid tennis?
Marcos: I can tell you this is not my best tennis, the conditions are not in my favour. I’m just playing 45 per cent of my game, but am happy that I’m learning to counter these conditions.
Q. It’s been a rough period in terms of your health, your tennis your ranking in the past year?
Marcos: My game depends on my physique, I had lot of pains for a last year and a half and suffered many injuries, which led to me being out for some time. But now I’m fighting very hard to make a come back and the last three months have been good.
I have a new coach who is working on the mental side of tennis. He’s taught me to think positive everyday. My game is coming back and I won two challengers in the last three months and played a good match against Nadal recently (at the China Open).
I’ve learnt to try and control what I can and leave out things which are not in my control. This thought process is certainly helping me.
Q. We’ve all seen you during the week as a serious and committed player with a sense of purpose off court, which is in contrast to your personality on court?
Marcos: Smiles, yes on court I’m a lively person, having fun, laughing. But off the court I’ve always been a committed and focussed tennis player since I was 14 years old. I left my house, my country to train and this was a huge responsibility on me.
I worked hard, went to bed early, got up early as I had to take a one-hour train journey to the place of practice every morning. All this has certainly taught me to give my 100% and sometimes more in whatever I do.
Q. What keeps Marcos Baghdatis going, and what would you like to tell young tennis players trying to make a career in tennis?
Marcos: Be positive - it’s a matter of character, wanting more than the other person. Getting up in the morning and wanting, wanting, and wanting more and more from whatever you do.
Sometimes you give a lot to sport, a lot, but the sport doesn’t give the same back to you. Like in my case, I’ve been in the sport since the age of 10, but am still not getting the results, rankings I want.
But you should learn not to get disappointed and give up. You should keep giving the best and want the best and that is my secret and my message.
Q. What is your immediate objective?
Marcos: I want to finish in the Top 70 by the year end so I can play at the bigger events. You can set objectives easily if you're in the Top 10 or Top 15 as you can expect an easy couple of rounds. For others, it is the luck of the draw because you might just end up playing Federer or Nadal in the very first round as you cannot control the draws. My priority is to play and win every match I play.
Q. You are out of the top bracket, but continue to have fans who like you like here in Tashkent?
Marcos: I want to thank my fans for the love they have shown me and the love for my game. I’m honoured to be here in Tashkent and happy to know I have fans here too. I like the people and the culture and the tournament here. I’ve played here before
Q. Traveling so much, do you have time to pursue any hobbies?
Marcos: It’s difficult to have hobbies, as I travel a lot. I like soccer and play it when I’m home. I like to hang out with my friends whenever I go back home. But I like to spend time with my parents, drinking coffee with them and sharing an occasional cigar.
Q. Any thoughts on the finals tomorrow?
Marcos: Denis is a good player and has played grand slams this year. I’m playing him at home and he knows the conditions well and the courts. If he has to win he has to play better than me tomorrow, as I’m going to give everything I have
