For Marcos Baghdatis, it must feel like his Australian Open campaign was over before it started.
Drawing world number 49, Uzbekistani Denis Istomin in the first round of the Grand Slam, Baghdatis struggled to steal enough games to secure a win and lost for the first time in the first round.
He went down in three sets, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, but fought hard to keep the Uzbekistani on his feet.
He rallied from an early break down in the second set to push it close and saving two match points in the final game before eventually succumbing.
Yet, his fans were right behind the Cypriot, filling Margaret Court Area and belting out cheers for their hero.
Istomin was strong on serves, fending off eight of the nine break points he faced and making 77 per cent of his first serves.
It is the first time in 10 appearances at Melbourne Park that Marcos has fallen in the first round. He dropped to a 22-10 tournament record.
It’s been eight years since Baghdatis managed to get to the finals of the Australian Open, and his ranking has gradually fallen ever since, now sitting at world number 108.
