Steve Darcis overcomes Marcos Baghdatis in the round of 16 – AEGON International 2012
World number 72, Steve Darcis of Belgium, advanced to his third quarter-final of the season, as he stunned the 42nd ranked, Marcos Baghdatis in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round at the AEGON International
in Eastbourne, England on Wednesday.
Darcis took lead from the beginning of the contest, as he struck in the very first game and held his next serve to go up 2-0. The Belgian did not allow Baghdatis to bounce back throughout the set, serving it out at 5-4.
The Saive, Belgium, resident neither hit an ace nor committed any double fault in the opener. He maintained a satisfactory first serve percentage of 73 and won five of the eight points on them. In comparison, Baghdatis pounded
four aces but he also committed the same number of double faults. The Cypriot put in just 40 percent of the first deliveries but his conversion rate was good, as he grabbed 12 of the 14 points on them.
Darcis and Baghdatis gave a steady performance at the start of the second set, holding their serve in the first eight games and squaring off the score at 4-4. The Cypriot struck in the ninth and capitalised on the breakthrough
to seal it 6-4.
Baghdatis improved his first serve percentage to 62, capturing 14 of the 18 points on them. The right-hander also did a fair job on the second ones, as he bagged seven of the 11 of them. The Cypriot did not give any break opportunity
to his opponent and utilised the only one he got of his own in the second set.
In the decider, both players broke each other in the opening two games to even out the proceedings at 1-1. They won their serve in the next six to take the score to 4-4. Darcis snatched a break in the ninth and it proved decisive,
as he sealed the final set 6-4.
Serve proved to be the main weapon for the 28-year-old, Darcis, as he smashed two aces and 78 percent of the first ones, securing 15 of the 21 points on them. On the other hand, Baghdatis delivered pathetically, as he committed
six horrible double faults and just 49 percent of the first serves.
The Belgian required two hours to throw his higher ranked opponent out of the competition.
Darcis will meet Australia’s Marinko Matosevic in the quarter-finals. Matosevic stunned the top seed, Richard Gasquet, in the second round.
Tags: