Baghdatis faces Tursunov test in Sydney

Marcos Baghdatis will take on Russian Dmitry Tursunov in the opening round of the ATP World Tour 250 Apia International Sydney in the early hours of this morning.

Baghdatis and Tursunov have met only once so far on the tour and that was seven years ago in the first round of the US Open when the Russian eventually came out victorious 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2 after just under three hours of playing time.

Should the Cypriot number one overcome Tursunov, he would then take on the local wild card entrant Matthew Ebden who surprised the seventh-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain in his first round encounter 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. The top-se eded Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro could be a potential opponent for Baghdatis in the quarterfinals.

The Limassol native has never played against Ebden at an ATP World Tour, Grand Slam or Davis Cup main draw event, while he is leveled at 1-1 in the overall head-to-head series against Del Potro, with Baghdatis celebrating in the second round of the last year’s Australian Open.

The Sydney event will be Baghdatis’ final stop before the first Grand Slam of the season and after withdrawing from the tournament last season due to a groin injury any advancement at the event could see him improve him ATP South African Airways rankings.

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