CYPRUS star Marcos Baghdatis is in confident mood and declared he is ready for the start of the Australian Open after a satisfying few months of steady improvement.
Following his semi-final effort at the Brisbane International last week, Baghdatis is competing in the AAMI Classic, an exhibition tournament in Kooyong that gives him guaranteed match practice against Top 10 players before the Australian Open starts on Monday.
In the early hours of Friday morning however, the world number 31 was beaten by towering Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-1 in barely an hour in Kooyong.
The 27-year-old Cypriot, the Australian Open finalist in 2006, made more than 20 unforced errors in strong winds, saying afterwards: “It was just an exhibition, nothing to worry about.”
Baghdatis didn’t let the defeat affect his confidence, as with the strong finish he had to 2012 and his good form last week in Brisbane, he is hopeful of another strong run at Melbourne Park where he will open his campaign against world number 51 Albert Ramos of Spain.
“It’s important to test yourself, especially in Melbourne, close to the Open, where you can practise also onsite before the match and get your routines going,” said Baghdatis. “I think it’s a great tournament because of that.
“I do try and work on things the week before a major, but I don’t think I have too many things to work on.
“I’m just trying to keep the way I’m playing and the rhythm and that’s what I’m trying to do at Kooyong. It is a bit more relaxed in an exhibition, but still you want to keep the rhythm of the matches and keep the stress going; it gives you more adrenaline. I don’t want to lose the rhythm.”
If 29th seed Baghdatis beats Ramos he will then take on the winner of the match between local wild card entrant John Millman and Japanese Tatsuma Ito in the second round. World number four David Ferrer awaits in the third round.
Before his first round appearance at Melbourne Park Baghdatis was due to conclude his Kooyong participation with a match against Czech Tomas Berdych scheduled for early Saturday morning.
“I’m very happy with the way I’m playing. I’ve improved a lot the past 6-7 months,” he added. “The way I move, the way I play with the forehand, more aggressive, serving much better, returning. Basically everything is getting much, much better,” he said.
“I want to play good in Australia, get to the second week, that’s my objective.
“The most important thing is to continue playing the way I am and keep the consistency. It’s not only one tournament in the year. I want to keep it going all year.”
