Andy Murray vs Marcos Baghdatis French Open preview
Andy Murray’s tough French Open draw continues with a third round match against Marcos Baghdatis on Suzanne Lenglen Court today.
The Scot began his campaign at Roland Garros with a four hour and four minute match against Richard Gasquet, with Murray outlasting the Frenchman over the five sets that it took to book a place in the second round.
A second round match against Juan Ignatio Chela looked an easier task, but with rain delays ensuring that four set match finished more than 24-hours after it started, Murray is left with less than a day’s recovery time before another danger match, this time against Baghdatis.
The Cypriot shouldn’t take much of an advantage out of that fact, however, as he too was forced to complete his second round match against Marcel Granollers on day five at Roland Garros after play was halted on day four with Baghdatis holding a two sets to one lead. Admittedly, he finished his day with a couple more hours to spare than his British opponent.
“It will be a great fight,” Baghdatis told reporters when asked about what was still, at the time, a potential match-up with Murray. “You know, Andy is a great player. Not only a great player, but great fighter on court. He can last, so I'm looking forward to playing a great match with him.”
As well the 25th seed might, having beaten Murray in their two previous meetings, including in a fourth round match at Wimbledon in 2006.
A lot has happened since the pair last faced off across the net in the round of 64 at the Masters tournament in Cincinnati in 2007, however. That was a time when Baghdatis’ game was at a peak which took him to the Australian Open final in 2006 and a career-high ranking of world No. 8 in the same year.
Injury has wreaked havoc with his career since then, but the 24-year-old has been attempting to build his ranking back towards the top ten since late last year.
While Baghdatis battled injury, Murray’s career was on the up and up, taking him to a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and the finals of two Grand Slams – the US Open in 2008 and the Australian Open this year.
"He's a very talented player,” Murray said of his third round opponent. “He's tough to play against, great shot-maker, moves well, big serve. I haven't played him for a long time but I've seen him play a lot of great matches. He's very entertaining to watch, it's going to be tricky."
It will be a contrast of styles then, with Murray’s patient counter-punching approach pitted against a player who is a bit more flamboyant in his approach; and Baghdatis’ serve pitted against Murray’s well-documented talent at returning.
Perhaps it will be Murray’s other big attribute, his fitness, that will give the fourth seed the edge here. And after two big matches in the first two rounds, and little recovery time after the match against Chela, Murray might need all of his staying power against Baghdatis.
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