Marcos Baghdatis has undergone an intense off-season training regime as the Cypriot aims to start 2011 leaner, stronger and faster than ever.

Baghdatis missed the final two tournaments of 2010 with injury but the Cypriot was soon looking ahead to the new season with his physical trainer Andreas Nicolaou drawing up a series of fitness tests as well as a detailed training and nutrition programme.

Tennis players often spend their off seasons using training methods from other sports and Baghdatis has been regularly mountain biking in the mountains to help build up his endurance. 

The past few weeks have seen more focus on improving his power, speed, agility and footwork as well as working on different aspects of his game.

Baghdatis says he feels like a different player going into the new season. “I feel stronger on the court, I feel faster and slowly, slowly I will get better and better.  I think I have improved in all departments,” he declared.

He will be hoping it pays dividends in Australia at the start of the year where the often brutal heat pushes players to their physical limit. Baghdatis shone five years ago, making the final and he will be hoping the new year will herald a return to the top of the game.

He begins the season in Brisbane which starts on January 2nd.