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  • Open 13 Quarterfinal Preview: Baghdatis vs. Youzhny

    2/15/08 11:44 AM | Ricky Dimon
    - There’s a reason why tournament organizers of the Open 13 are scheduling the quarterfinal showdown between Marcos Baghdatis and Mikhail Youzhny for the final match of Friday’s night session. These two stars are fan favorites and spectacular shot-makers and if nothing else, they will put on an incredibly fun show for tennis fans.

    Sixth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis and third-seeded Mikhail Youzhny will do battle in a Friday night quarterfinal tilt that is likely the most highly-anticipated matchup of the entire week in Marseille.

    Baghdatis and Youzhny have squared off twice during their impressive careers. The first meeting came in 2005 at Wimbledon, where Youzhny prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Their second encounter was contested exactly one year ago in this same exact situation—the quarterfinals of the Open 13. Baghdatis exacted revenge for his loss at the All-England Club by defeating the Russian 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 in two hours and 30 minutes.

    Baghdatis is not exactly riding a wave of momentum into Marseille. He lost in the first round of the season-opening event in Doha and then fell to Lleyton Hewitt in the third round of the Australian Open in an epic five-setter that ended after 4:30 in the morning. The Cypriot, however, has clearly turned things around here at the Open 13. He handled Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-4 in the first round before cruising past 6’10’’ Croat Ivo Karlovic with surprising ease 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.

    Youzhny, on the other hand, has been one of the most consistent performers on tour recently and he is up to a career-high ranking of eighth in the world. In his first event of 2008, Youzhny captured the title in Chennai by destroying Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the final. The Russian followed that up with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open. Youzhny is simply picking up right where he left of his 2007. In his final two tournaments of last season he made the semifinals in St. Petersburg and the quarterfinals of the Masters Series Paris.

    It would not be wise to expect anything less than a three-setter, but if one player has a slight edge it is probably Youzhny. One of the most athletic players on tour, Youzhny moves a little bit better than Baghdatis and is also in better shape, so he could wear down the Cypriot if the match progresses deep into a third set. Furthermore, while Baghdatis is solid off both sides from the baseline, he does not boast a weapon that can rival Youzhny’s flawless one-handed backhand.

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