Former junior Australian Open champion Marcos Baghdatis returned to form this week, as he made a surprise run to the Dubai final. Despite losing the final to Stan Wawrinka, it was an encouraging week for the popular Cypriot who looks to finally build on his early career potential.

Baghdatis Reaches His First ATP 500 Final For Six Years

Dubai was his first ATP500 final since 2010 (Photo: Getty Images/Warren Little)
Dubai was his first ATP500 final since 2010 (Photo: Getty Images/Warren Little)

Former world number eight Marcos Baghdatis has been struggling for form in the past few years, with injuries affecting any momentum the Cypriot started to build. There have been signs of improvement in the last few months from Baghdatis, culminating in a surprise run to the Dubai final. The showdown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was his first ATP500 final since Washington in 2010, and included beating three seeds including the in-form Roberto Bautista Agut.

His first round clash with Viktor Troicki seemed a tough draw, but Baghdatis had other ideas and cruised to victory in the second set after winning a tight opening set. Next up was Vasek Pospisil who was dispatched to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Bautista Agut. The first set could have gone either way, but the unseeded Baghdatis clinched the opener, and then completed a second set bagel to stun the fourth seed. Novak Djokovic was expected to be his semifinal opponent, although he retired after losing the first set against Feliciano Lopez. In the semifinal the Spaniard took the first and had the advantage in the second, but lost a one-sided tie-breaker leading to him only winning one of the last seven games.

Wawrinka proved just too strong (Photo: Getty Images/Marwan Naamani)
Wawrinka proved just too strong (Photo: Getty Images/Marwan Naamani)

World number four Wawrinka awaited in Saturday’s final, in a head-to-head that did not read well for Baghdatis and his passionate fans. There was nothing to separate the pair in their sixth meeting, as they each exchanged breaks midway through the opener. At *4-5 Baghdatis played a poor service game, and despite initially saving four set points, was unable to prevent the Swiss taking a set lead. A tie-breaker was required in the following set after neither player could create a single break point opportunity. Wawrinka threw away a 4-1 lead, and had to save a set point to level things up at 6-6. It was Baghdatis’ turn to save a big point, as he saved three championship points to level an incredible tie-breaker at 13-13. He had a chance to set up a set point on his racket but handed a vital mini-break to the second seed, who finally capitalized on his fourth championship point. Baghdatis had thrown everything into the match and lost to a player who has shown he can blow any player off the court at any occasion, so there is plenty of momentum to use for the rest of 2016. No-one expected ‘Baggy’ to even make the final, and he arguably put in one of the best weeks in his career.

Recent Form Is Improving

Atlanta was Baghdatis' first final for four years (Photo: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)
Atlanta was Baghdatis' first final for four years (Photo: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)

Although Dubai was Baghdatis’ first ATP500 final in six years, it was the Cypriot’s second ATP tour final in recent months after going all the way to the Atlanta final back in August. That was his first final for four years but the past few years have seen success on the ATP Challenger tour with four titles in five finals. He has already matched the amount of wins he secured back in 2014, where he hardly featured due to injuries and a drop-off in the rankings. That year his best achievement was reaching the third round in Miami, but won challenger events in Nottingham, Vancouver, Aptos and Geneva. A final followed in the City of Onkaparinga challenger tournament, Ryan Harrison the only player proving too strong. He registered a 26-19 year to date win/loss ratio last year, where alongside the final in Atlanta, reached the final four in Stockholm and Nottingham.

The improved performances in 2015 have been continued this season where he has reached the quarterfinals in Montpellier, only losing the eventual champion Richard Gasquet. He impressively defeated David Goffin in Rotterdam, alongside a first round defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne at the first Grand Slam of the year. The Cypriot’s form has been rewarded as he has risen up to thirty-nine in the latest rankings to secure a top forty spot for the first time since 2013.

Retirements have been an unwanted theme during the recent years, with four matches being cut short due to various different reasons. These retirements seem to be a thing of the past though, and if this is to continue then it will not be a surprise to see a break back into the world’s top thirty players.

What Is Possible From Here?

Baghdatis on his run to the Wimbledon final four in 2006 (Photo: Getty Images/Phil Cole)
Baghdatis on his run to the Wimbledon final four in 2006 (Photo: Getty Images/Phil Cole)

Baghdatis is back in Davis Cup Action for Cyprus next weekend in Group III, in a round-robin format leading to two countries promoted up to Group II. The Cypriot’s must start as favourites between the fourteen other countries, as Baghdatis is the only player within the world’s top one-hundred who is scheduled to feature.

From there, the first masters event of 2016 in Indian Wells is Baghdatis’ next stop on the ATP Tour, with his name featuring on the entry list. Miami is likely to follow, before he starts his clay season at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships alongside John Isner and Kevin Anderson. Historically clay has not produced his best results, with the grass season again likely to show his best achievements after he reached the Wimbledon semifinals back in 2006.

Look out for Baghdatis’ name at Stuttgart, Halle, Queens or Nottingham, where he’s likely to pose a threat to all those registering at these events. Who knows, with this return to form he could surprise a few at SW19 this year…

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About the author
James Froud
Recent graduate with a strong interest in sports journalism. Huge sports fan, with strong passions in Football, Rugby and Tennis.