The Daily Forehand Talks to Marcos Baghdatis

WASHINGTON--Playing doubles for the first time since February, Marcos Baghdatis paired with Stanislas Wawrinka for an impressive win over recent Wimbledon finalists Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau, in front of a huge crowd at the Stadium Court of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C.

After the match, I caught up with Marcos and discussed scheduling, playing doubles, what it's like to be the lone Cypriot on tour, and the always-touchy questions about his fitness level that have dogged him throughout his roller-coaster career.

TDF: This is your first time playing Washington--what made you decide to play here this year?

Marcos Baghdatis: I heard it was a great tournament from the other players, so I decided to try it out, and it seems very nice.  The fans like the sport, so it's nice when you come to a tournament like that.  The courts are great--great facilities to practice, great facilities to play.  So yeah, for the moment I'm having fun.

TDF: You had sort of a rough patch during the grass season, going 0-3 there despite some good results in the past.  What do you think happened with that this year?

Marcos Baghdatis: Yeah, you know, I was a bit tired.  I played too much in the beginning of the year.  I played 18 tournaments out of 22 in the beginning of the year, which is too much.  So I was a bit tired, yeah, but I'm not worried about that.  It's in the past, I'm looking at the present, and the future.

TDF: You're playing doubles here with Stan Wawrinka, playing doubles for the first time in a while.  Are you just doing that to get practice for singles?

Marcos Baghdatis: Exactly.  I haven't played on hard courts in a while, so just putting some matches under my feet, doing some serving, some returning.  It's great.

TDF: You guys played against a pair who are more doubles specialists.  What's it like going out there against guys who maybe care more about the result, more about their doubles ranking, when you are going out mostly for practice? Is that difficult at all?

Marcos Baghdatis: No, I mean, that's the game, you know.  We're here to win also.  We want to win the tournament, we want to win the match.  And if we can win the tournament, we'll take it.

TDF: You're from a pretty small country, Cyprus.  What is it like being the only player on tour from your country? A lot of these guys seem to hang out with others from their country, where as you're sort of on your own...

Marcos Baghdatis: It's not easy on the tour, you know?  There's not a lot of people talking in your language.  But I have a great team around me.  My coach, we're very close.  My physio, we're very close.  My physical trainer, who sometimes travels with me, we're very close.  So I have a good team around me.

TDF: Liezel Huber, a South African doubles player who was #1 in the WTA, she switched over to play for the United States, ostensibly so she could have better teammates in Fed Cup and the Olympics, to help your chances there.  Have you ever considered anything like that? Because being from Cyprus, you're sort of in a tough situation for team events.

Marcos Baghdatis: Yeah, I'm in a tough situation, but I don't think I'll do that. It never came to my mind, so I don't think so.

TDF: You started wearing the flag of Cyprus on your clothing, instead of Adidas stuff.  Do you think you'll keep doing that for the rest of your career?

Marcos Baghdatis: No, no, it's because I don't have a sponsor, so I just wanted to put my country in front--it's an honor for me to be a Cypriot.  When a company comes to me, and wants me to wear their clothes, I'll take it.  So I'm open to offers.

TDF: You made the finals of the Australian Open in 2006--it seems to be a very special tournament for you...

Marcos Baghdatis: Yeah, it is. All the fans, all the people, Australia.  It's nice there, the weather is perfect.  The people are laid back, I love it there.

TDF: You're back into the top 30 now, at #25.  Is it easier being near the top, where you're getting seeded and byes?

Marcos Baghdatis: It's not easy, no. It's not easy once you get there, it's not easy to stay.  I'll try.  I have to continue the same way I'm working.

TDF: How much is conditioning and staying injury-free part of it?

Marcos Baghdatis: Yeah, that's very important also.  But, you know, eh.

TDF: I've heard several television commentators say that in order to contend at slams again, you need to improve your fitness some, to help your endurance and to stay injury-free.  Do you agree that that's an issue for you?

Marcos Baghdatis: Yeah, yeah, it is an issue.

TDF: Is that something you're working on actively? Mardy Fish, for example, just lost a lot of weight and has won two tournaments in a row now.  Do you think it could have that kind of effect for you?

Marcos Baghdatis: Hmm, no.  No, I don't know.