By Sunder Iyer
Tashkent Challenger
Media Team

Marcos Baghdatis, made it to the third Challenger final of the year reaching the finals at Tashkent Challenger without losing a set so far. Having seen the best times and worst times on the Men’s Professional Tour, Baghdatis candidly shares his views with the media team on various issues.

Q. Marcos, Congratulations on your third final and it’s great to have you with us, your thoughts on your performance so far?
Marcos:  I’m happy to be doing well in spite of the tough conditions against me. Basically the courts are fast and the balls are hard and it doesn’t suit my game, I’m happy that I’m winning matches finding solutions to these problems and winning which is very good.

Q. You’ve not lost a set so far, and seemed playing solid tennis?
Marcos:  I can tell you this is not my best tennis, the conditions are not in my favour, I’m just playing 45% of my game, but am happy that I’m learning to counter these conditions.

Q.  It’s been a rough period in terms of your health, your tennis you’re ranking in the past year?
Marcos: My game depends on my physique, I had lot of pains for a last year and a half and suffered many injuries, which lead to me being out for some time. But now I’m fighting very hard to make a come back and the last 3 months have been good. I have a new coach who is working on the mental side of tennis. He’s thought me to think positive everyday. My game is coming back and I won 2 challengers in the last 3 months and played a good match against Nadal recently. “ I’ve learnt to try and control what I can and leave out things which are not in my control” this thought process is certainly helping me.

Q. We’ve all seen you during the week as a serious and committed player with a sense of purpose off court, which is in contrast to your personality on court?
Marcos:  Smiles, yes on court I’m a live person, having fun, laughing but off the court.  I’ve always been a committed and focused tennis player since I was 14 year old. I’ve left my house my country to train and this was a huge responsibility on me. I worked hard, went to bed early, got up early as I had to take a 1 hour train journey to the place of practice every morning. All this has certainly taught me to give my 100% and sometimes more in whatever I do.

 Q. What keeps Marcos Baghdatis going, and what would you like to tell young tennis players trying to make a career in tennis?
Marcos:  Be positive, it’s a matter of character wanting more than the other person .Getting up in the morning and wanting, wanting, and wanting more and more from whatever one does.  Sometimes you give a lot to sport, a lot, but the sport doesn’t give the same back to you like in my case I’ve been in the sport since the age of 10, but am still not getting the results, rankings I want. But one should learn not to get disappointed and give up. One should keep giving the best and want the best and that is my secret and my message.

Q. What is your immediate objective?
Marcus: I want to finish in the top 70 by the year end so can play at the bigger events. One can set objectives easily if in the top 10 or top 15 as one can expect easy couple of rounds. For others it is luck of draw because one might just end up playing Federer or Nadal in the very first round as one cannot control the draws. My priority is to play and win every match I play

Q.  You are out of the top bracket, but continue to have fans who like you like here in Tashkent?
Marcos: I want to thank my fans for the love they have shown me and the love for my game. I’m honored to be here in Tashkent and happy to know I have fans here too. I like the people and the culture and the tournament here. I’ve played here before

Q. Traveling so much, do you have time to pursue any hobbies?
Marcos: It’s difficult to have hobbies, as I travel a lot. I like soccer and play it when I’m home. I like to hang out with my friends whenever I go back home. But I like to be spend time with my parents, drinking coffee with them and sharing an occasional cigar.

 Q. Any thoughts on the finals tomorrow?
Marcos: Denis is a good player and has played grand slams this year, I’m playing him at home and he knows the conditions well and the courts. If he has to win he has to play better than me tomorrow, as I’m going to give everything I have.