Marcos Baghdatis battles past Alejandro Falla into the second round at the Mutua Madrid Open
World number 24, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis survived a tough opening round match as he fought past qualifier Alejandro Falla of Colombia in three thrilling sets at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday. Baghdatis needed two hours and 34 minutes to undo his opponent in a tough match.
Baghdatis had a good start as he broke Falla once in the opening set, winning it 6-3. The Cypriot hit some thundering serves, firing seven aces in the first set. The 25-year-old delivered 54 percent of the first serves and won 80 percent of the points on them in the opening set. In comparison, Falla kept his first serve percentage at 70 percent, converting 69 percent of the first serves into points in the first set. Baghdatis converted one of the two break points he received and saved the only one he faced in the opening set.
The second set went in Falla’s favour with the same score line as he broke Baghdatis in the sixth game to capture the set 6-3.
Baghdatis’ poor serving helped Falla’s cause in the second set. The Cypriot managed to hit just 39 percent of the first serves, winning 78 percent of the points on them in the second set. Whereas, Falla fired three aces and 64 percent of the first serves in the second set. The Colombian grabbed 66 percent of the first service points in the second set. The 27-year-old saved all the four break points he faced and converted one of the three opportunities he created in the second set.
As the match got tied at one set all, it was expected that the deciding set would see a fierce battle and it proved right as both players tried their best to break each other. Baghdatis drew the first blood as he broke the Colombian in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. However, Falla broke back in the seventh game and held his serve in the next game to level the score at 4-4. The set went into a tie-break and Baghdatis clinched a single mini-break to seal it 7-5.
The Cypriot delivered a couple of aces and committed a single double fault in the final set. The six feet tall hit 51 percent of the first serves and claimed 75 percent of the points on them in the third set. Baghdatis capitalized on one of the seven break point opportunities he created in the deciding set. The Cypriot failed to save the only break point he faced in the third set.
Baghdatis will face King of clay, world number 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain in the second round.
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