Marcos Baghdatis crashes in the second round of Grand Prix Hassan II
World number 26 Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus was upset by Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, ranked 244th in the world, in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 in the second round at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca on Wednesday. Baghdatis,
seeded second at the event, lost the match in two hours and four minutes.
Kuznetsov broke Baghdatis in the seventh game of the opening set and held his serve in the next game to take a 5-3 lead. The Russian served out the set at 5-4.
Both players had a low first serve percentage in the opening set. Kuznetsov delivered 46 per cent of the first serves, winning 75 per cent of the points on them. While, Baghdatis hit 41 per cent of the first serves and converted
85 per cent of them into points in the opening set. The Cypriot saved two of the three break points he faced in the first set.
Kuznetsov was looking to seal the match quickly as he broke Baghdatis in the second game to race to a 3-0 lead. However, Baghdatis won six of the next seven games, breaking the Russian twice in the process to win the second set
6-4.
The Cypriot was too erratic with his first serves in the second set. The 25-year-old managed to fire just 38 per cent of the first serves. He delivered a couple of aces and the same number of double faults in the second set. The
right-handed capitalized on two of the four break points he received in the second set.
After the score getting tied at one set apiece, the deciding set was expected to see a fierce battle. Kuznetsov and Baghdatis broke each other on a number of occasions in the final set. However, Baghdatis served pathetically in
the tenth game as he served to stay in the match, handing over the deciding set to Kuznetsov 4-6.
Baghdatis served like an amateur player, committing six double faults and delivering just 28 per cent of the first serves in the third set. The Cypriot won 64 per cent of first service points in the final set. Kuznetsov converted
three of the eight break point opportunities he received in the set. The Russian saved three of the five break points he faced in the third set.
Kuznetsov will meet world number 58 Victor Hanescu of Romania in the quarter-finals. The Romanian prevailed over German Michael Berrer, ranked 81st in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(4) in the second round.
This will be the second meeting between Kuznetsov and Hanescu. In their only previous meeting, the Romanian beat Kuznetsov in five thrilling sets 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in the first round at Wimbledon last year.
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