Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus rallied in the second set to beat Jesse Witten of the United States 6-4, 7-6 (2) on Wednesday as his rowdy, flag-waving fans shouted and stomped to the beat of throbbing music in the first round of the United States Men’s Clay Court Championship.
Top-seeded Andy Roddick had little trouble in defeating Oliver Maranch of Austria 6-3, 6-4 in a second round match. He’ll face former champion Tommy Haas of Germany in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Baghdatis was down 2-5 in the second set when he finally gave his vocal fans something to cheer, just as he did when he came from far down in the rankings to reach the finals of the Australian Open in January. He lost in the finals but became a national hero in Cyprus.
Baghdatis held serve in the eighth game and broke Witten in the ninth game when Witten drove a forehand into the net trying to return a drop shot by Baghdatis. That brought Baghdatis’ fans to their feet, sensing the comeback.
”I think Cypriots are everywhere,” Baghdatis said. ”It’s fun playing in front of your countrymen, your own people. It’s a big responsibility. The whole country sees what I do, especially the kids so I try to have a good image for them and try not to do any bad things in life, trying to show them good examples.”
The two players then served out to force the tiebreaker. Baghdatis won the final four points of the tiebreaker and won the match at the first match point on Witten’s errant service return.
Baghdatis had a tough time to start the second set. He lost 12 of the first 13 points of the set. Witten closed out a love third game with an ace for a 3-0 lead. Baghdatis held in the sixth game after surviving two break points.
Baghdatis played 11 sets in two days in Europe last week and then showed up at Westside Tennis Club with jetlag from a long flight to Texas.
”I wasn’t expected to play good today,” Baghdatis said. ”I just told myself to try to get through and fight at the important moments and that’s what I did. It paid off for today. I played good at the end of the second set.
”It was important not to go to the third set. I think that will help me to get some sleep and be fresh for tomorrow.”
Fifth-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany was down 5-2 in the second set but charged back to a 6-1, 7-6 (7) victory over countryman Alexander Waske in a second-round match. Haas broke Waske in the ninth and 11th games. Then, Haas suffered his only service loss of the match in the 12th game for a 6-6, forcing the tiebreaker.
Tied at 7-7 in the tie-breaker, Haas hit an overhead winner and won at the first match point on Waske’s forehand net error.
Roddick escaped one break point in the sixth game of the second set but finally held on Maranch’s backhand error. Roddick ended the match with an ace. Roddick hit 70% of his first serves.
”I was a little low on energy all day,” Roddick said. ”I wasn’t expecting back to backs but I understand why. I’m glad to have a day off before I play Tommy [Haas] on Friday.”
Roddick lost to Haas in the finals of the 2004 clay court event. Roddick says he’s ready for a good performance.
”I’m looking forward to it,” Roddick said. ”Tommy’s been playing great. I feel like I’m playing well, I’ve turned the corner and this will be a great test. He’s in form and on a surface he likes. I want to play well against an elite player.” – Sapa-AP