MARCOS Baghdatis broke down in tears on his arrival back in Cyprus yesterday as he was reunited with family and friends, and greeted by hundreds of cheering fans who flocked to Larnaca Airport welcome him home.
Baghdatis’ mother Andri who was hospitalised during the Australian final and underwent an operation for gall stones a day later, was there to greet her son, along with her Lebanese husband Christos and other relatives and friends.
She became emotional as they family drove into the airport after seeing the crowds that turned out welcome him home. Baghdatis’ eight-year old sister carried a bouquet she said was for his girlfriend Camille Nevieve.
Baghdatis’ arrival was marked by emotional scenes as he and his mother hugged and kissed.
Wiping away tears, he said “It’s very emotional to be back. I’m a little overwhelmed and I’m not sure what to say. I’d like to thank all who came and everyone who followed my game. It was a great experience for me and for our country.”
Inside the VIP lounge where a special ceremony was arranged, Baghdatis broke down in tears. “I want to thank my parents and all who believed in me, and the people of Cyprus,” he said. “I am here because of my parents and I thank them.”
The exploits of Baghdatis, from the Limassol village of Paramytha, meaning ‘fairytale’, had seized the imagination of tennis fans worldwide as he roared into the Australian Open final more than two weeks ago.
World number one Roger Federer eventually proved too good for the unseeded Baghdatis in last Sunday’s final but the defeat did nothing to dampen Cypriot pride as his charisma and infectious smile won the hearts of everybody watching.
“I didn’t win but I had the chance to work very hard and it was great knowing that all of the people of Cyprus were behind me,” Baghdatis said at the airport. He said he hoped his success would help to give other young hopefuls inspiration to believe in themselves as he had done with the help of his parents.
“That is the secret,” he said.
“During the bad times when I was feeling down I would think of the sacrifices I made and the sacrifices that were made for me.”
Baghdatis is now ranked 27th in the world, up from 54th before the Melbourne final and is being hailed in Cyprus as the greatest sportsman Cyprus has ever produced.
Scores of young fans carrying bouquets of flowers lined the exit from the airport’s VIP lounge, some carrying banners saying “Our Champion” and “Welcome Home”.
Part of the welcoming committee was Education minister Pefkios Georgiades, officials from the Cyprus Tennis federation, the Cyprus Sports Organisation and the Cyprus Olympic Committee while television stations ran live coverage of the event.
Georgiades praised Baghdatis as a shining light of Cyprus sports, an ideal role model for the island’s young people, and an ambassador for his country. He said he had no doubt Baghdatis would write more pages in the history, not only of Cypriot sport, but the entire world of sport, in the not too distant future.
“The heart of Cyprus that beat with you during your two-week titanic fight, beats today from joy, emotion and pride. In your face I see all the hope of the youth of Cyprus,” the minister said. “You are welcome home Marcos of Cyprus.”
Philios Christodoulou, head of the Cyprus Tennis Federation described Baghdatis as a athlete with “passion, spirit and a broad smile”. ‘Marcos you have made this nation proud,” he said. “We love you and we will continue to be next to you whatever happens.”
Patrick Mouratoglou, the owner of the French academy where Baghdatis has trained since the age of 14 called him a very special person. “He has gotten where he is, not only because he is a special person, but because so many people worked to help him,” he said paying special tribute to Baghdatis’s parents.
“It’s a team who had success because this guy was special,” he added.
Baghdatis’s mother told reporters earlier that close family ties had played an important part in her son’s success. ‘This was very important,” she said. “We were always close to our children and what they were doing.”
From Larnaca Airport Baghdatis travelled to his home town of Limassol where he was to be given the golden key to the city during a ceremony expected to be attended by thousands of well wishers.
Today more events will take place in the capital Nicosia, following a meeting in the morning between Baghdatis and President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Later in the afternoon Baghdatis is due to attend a football match in Limassol where his favourite team, Apollon is playing rivals APOEL.
He leaves the island tomorrow morning for France to resume training.
Yesterday morning before his departure from Heathrow Airport dozens of London-based Cypriots went to see Baghdatis off at 7.30am, applauding him loudly. The tennis player was travelling with a group of 19 people and signed autographs for all of the children on board the Cyprus Airways flight.
