Marcos Baghdatis commits to AEGON International – Tennis News
Former world number eight, Marcos Baghdatis, has announced that he will participate at this year’s AEGON Championships in Eastbourne from 16th to 23rd June. The Cypriot will give final touches to his preparations
for the Wimbledon Championships at the grass courts of Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Centre.
Giving an interview to the media, Baghdatis said, “I’m very much looking forward to coming to Eastbourne and competing in the AEGON International this year.”
The right-hander has never won a title on grass courts but had given a couple of brilliant performance at the Wimbledon Championships in past. He reached last four at the SW19 in 2006, losing to the then world number two, Rafael
Nadal of Spain, in the semi-final. Baghdatis had beaten home favourite, Andy Murray; and former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt, on the road to last four. The Cypriot also reached the quarter-final at the All England Club in 2007, going down to Novak Djokovic
in a five set thriller 6-7(4), 6-7(9), 7-6(3), 6-4, 5-7.
He added, “I have always loved playing tennis on the grass and I’m told the courts at Devonshire Park are up there with the best in the country, so should serve me well going into Wimbledon.”
The Cypriot will take part at the AEGON Championships for the first time in his career. He used to feature at the UNICEF Open in the past. He never reached the title match at that pre Wimbledon tournament, getting ousted in the
semi-finals twice.
Baghdatis said, “Eastbourne is not a venue I have played at before but I have only heard good things about it so I can’t wait to see for myself what it’s like.”
Home favourite, Andy Murray, captured the title at the AEGON Championships last year, as he defeated Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in three sets 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the final. Tsonga had stunned Nadal 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1 in the quarter-final.
The 26-year-old has a 15-9 win/loss record in 2012. The 6ft tall made a good start to season, as he reached quarter-final or better at three of the first four events he participated. However his performance went down in the last
five tournaments, clearing the second round on only one occasion. The Cypriot was upset by Italy’s Fabio Fognini, ranked 57 at that time, in straight sets 5-7, 6-7(4) in the round of 16 at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest last week.
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