Wednesday, 31 Dec 2008
RAFAEL Nadal's irrepressible will is likely to make it too tough for Roger Federer to grab back the world No1 ranking, according to Australian Open hero of three years ago Marcos Baghdatis.
The 23-year-old Cypriot has voiced what many are quietly thinking, based on Nadal's extraordinary results this past year.
The Spaniard played 93 matches this year and lost only 11. He claimed eight ATP singles titles, including two Grand Slams - his fourth French Open, plus Wimbledon.
In contrast, Federer lost 15 matches in 2008 and won four titles, including the US Open, but it was the first time in four years the master strokemaker had not won two or more Grand Slams. Baghdatis feels the change in the wind as well.
"The only thing I can say is Rafa had an unbelievable year and it was amazing for me to see him win Wimbledon, that was a big surprise," Baghdatis said, after a training session in Brisbane yesterday with former top-10 French player Richard Gasquet. "You have to give credit to the guy (Nadal). The last few years he has worked a lot on his game - he's more aggressive, he's coming more to the net - and if he continues that way it will be tough for Roger to come back to the No1 spot."
With Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clawing at Federer's heels in the rankings, the 2009 tennis season looks like being one to savour, Baghdatis said.
"I'm not saying Roger cannot do it because he's one of the best talents in this game and maybe the smartest one," Baghdatis said.
"But it's going to be a great battle. For me it's a nice feeling knowing I am going to play against these guys again, fighting against them and one day I might make it like them."
It has been a hellish year for Baghdatis. A bulging disc in his back limited him to just 12 tournaments, as a result his ranking fell to No98. A drop which forced him to seek a wild-card into next week's Brisbane International.
But he has picked up Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren and is determined to get back to his best of world No8 in August 2006. More importantly his back has been pain free for more than a month.
"I just tried to stay positive. I told myself it was a bad year and to forget about it and just try to come back and get to the top 20," Baghdatis said. "Basically my objective is to get to the top five just once in my lifetime."
He said he was the fittest he had been since emerging on the ATP scene in 2003 and he and Lundgren had worked on his ability to stay focused during each point. But that can be hard when the stands are chanting your name, which was the case when a wave of patriotism helped carry Baghdatis to the 2006 Australian Open final - where he stumbled against Federer.
"It's more in Australia," Baghdatis said of the following he seems to attract every time he ventures south. "I don't know why, maybe because the Greeks and Cypriots here are more into their old country. When they moved here they didn't forget about their home countries."
No one can forget Baghdatis's last trip to Melbourne. He and Lleyton Hewitt battled in the third round of the Australian Open for four fours and 45 minutes before the Australian won out in five sets at 5am.
"No nightmares," Baghdatis said, when asked about the match. "But I didn't forget it, that's for sure. It's not the toughest for me - that was against Andre (Agassi) in the US Open in 2006."
Baghdatis ultimately fell to Agassi 7-5 in the fifth set.
It seems wherever Baghdatis goes, emotions follow.
"I love playing here (in Australia). I don't know why but the people are great - they are friendly and not stressful, it's a pleasure being here," he said.
The Brisbane International starts on Sunday with Djokovic the men's No1 seed and fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic, No1 in the women's.
The 23-year-old Cypriot has voiced what many are quietly thinking, based on Nadal's extraordinary results this past year.
The Spaniard played 93 matches this year and lost only 11. He claimed eight ATP singles titles, including two Grand Slams - his fourth French Open, plus Wimbledon.
In contrast, Federer lost 15 matches in 2008 and won four titles, including the US Open, but it was the first time in four years the master strokemaker had not won two or more Grand Slams. Baghdatis feels the change in the wind as well.
"The only thing I can say is Rafa had an unbelievable year and it was amazing for me to see him win Wimbledon, that was a big surprise," Baghdatis said, after a training session in Brisbane yesterday with former top-10 French player Richard Gasquet. "You have to give credit to the guy (Nadal). The last few years he has worked a lot on his game - he's more aggressive, he's coming more to the net - and if he continues that way it will be tough for Roger to come back to the No1 spot."
With Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clawing at Federer's heels in the rankings, the 2009 tennis season looks like being one to savour, Baghdatis said.
"I'm not saying Roger cannot do it because he's one of the best talents in this game and maybe the smartest one," Baghdatis said.
"But it's going to be a great battle. For me it's a nice feeling knowing I am going to play against these guys again, fighting against them and one day I might make it like them."
It has been a hellish year for Baghdatis. A bulging disc in his back limited him to just 12 tournaments, as a result his ranking fell to No98. A drop which forced him to seek a wild-card into next week's Brisbane International.
But he has picked up Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren and is determined to get back to his best of world No8 in August 2006. More importantly his back has been pain free for more than a month.
"I just tried to stay positive. I told myself it was a bad year and to forget about it and just try to come back and get to the top 20," Baghdatis said. "Basically my objective is to get to the top five just once in my lifetime."
He said he was the fittest he had been since emerging on the ATP scene in 2003 and he and Lundgren had worked on his ability to stay focused during each point. But that can be hard when the stands are chanting your name, which was the case when a wave of patriotism helped carry Baghdatis to the 2006 Australian Open final - where he stumbled against Federer.
"It's more in Australia," Baghdatis said of the following he seems to attract every time he ventures south. "I don't know why, maybe because the Greeks and Cypriots here are more into their old country. When they moved here they didn't forget about their home countries."
No one can forget Baghdatis's last trip to Melbourne. He and Lleyton Hewitt battled in the third round of the Australian Open for four fours and 45 minutes before the Australian won out in five sets at 5am.
"No nightmares," Baghdatis said, when asked about the match. "But I didn't forget it, that's for sure. It's not the toughest for me - that was against Andre (Agassi) in the US Open in 2006."
Baghdatis ultimately fell to Agassi 7-5 in the fifth set.
It seems wherever Baghdatis goes, emotions follow.
"I love playing here (in Australia). I don't know why but the people are great - they are friendly and not stressful, it's a pleasure being here," he said.
The Brisbane International starts on Sunday with Djokovic the men's No1 seed and fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic, No1 in the women's.
No comments:
Post a Comment