Marcos Baghdatis continues winning ways with an upset win over Serbia Viktor Troicki in the second round of the Medibank International.
Marcos Baghdatis defeated. Viktor Troicki in two sets, 7-5, 6-3.
Baghdatis will take on No. 4 seed Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals today (Thursday).
Hewitt and Baghdatis have only played twice before but on both occasions they were matches to savour. The first time was at Wimbledon in 2006, the year the Cypriot reached the Australian Open final, and he scored a four set win.
At the 2008 Australian Open they clashed again and produced one of the most memorable matches of recent years. It went five sets, Hewitt came away as the winner and the last ball was hit at 4am.
Both of them have enjoyed a resurgence with their tennis after months away because of injury. Hewitt has brought his ranking back to No.22 while Baghdatis won the title in Stockholm last October and is now at No.42.
“He had a couple of injuries and he’s bounced back well from those,” Hewitt said. “He was always a class player. Great ball-striker and moves well from the back of the court.”
Baghdatis acknowledges that Hewitt is playing some solid tennis.
“He’s on fire,” Baghdatis said. “It’s just he has to keep healthy. It’s not very easy because a lot of guys now are fit. It’s a tougher, more physical game than before so it’s not that easy. I think you have to be unbelievable fit to get back in the top 10. That’s what I’m trying to do.
“I think he’s trying. He’s a great guy. He’s done a lot for this sport. I think he’s working out hard.”