Julien Benneteau capsizes Marcos Baghdatis in the semi-final – Apia International Sydney 2012
French veteran, Julien Benneteau, ended an emphatic run of the Cypriot world number 43, Marcos Baghdatis, in the semi-final of Apia International Sydney on Friday. An hour and 56 minute long contest started off well in the first
set but the 30-year-old dominated the second half and ruled the show with a final score of 6-4, 6-4.
It was a brilliant opportunity for the Cypriot to level the head-to-head scores, as he trailed by one match 2-3. He tried his hard to confirm a place in the grand finale but was clearly not in the same tone as he was against the
top seed, Juan Martin Del Potro. The French had defeated the former world number eight at the Roland Garros and Rogers Masters in 2006. Baghdatis had to wait three years to have revenge and finally got off the mark with a win in the Australian Open 2009. Another
victory last year in Munich levelled the head-to-head score but Benneteau once again took the lead with a straight set win in Open de Nice Cote d’Azur tournament in 2011.
The psychological advantage of victory lead seemed to have played its part, as the French broke in the first game and hung on to his serve; took 2-0 lead upfront. Another break in the fifth game for the French consolidated his
position further but Baghdatis replied back in the next game to minimize the trail; scores were 4-2 in favour of the French.
The Cypriot finally levelled the scores with a break in the eighth game but his glory was short lived, as his opponent broke in the next game to regain the lead. Benneteau held his serve in the last game to call off the first set.
Trailing one set down but fuming with confidence, Baghdatis never looked disappointed from his performances and was ready for the task at his hands.
Both players started vigilantly in the second set as they held their respective serve games to push the scores to 2-2. The Cypriot seemed confident about a comeback but his dreams were crushed in the fifth game as his opponent
smashed three back to back winners down the line to break serve and took the lead. Baghdatis didn’t lose heart and kept on fighting but his hunt for the break was not awarded at any stage of the game. Last game of the set consisted of five deuces but the experience
of the French helped him in winning the match.
Julien Benneteau contests against the Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the grand finale.
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