Marcos Baghdatis opens his Metz campaign against Germany’s Matthias Bachinger.
It’s been a pretty lacklustre summer by Baghdatis’ lofty standards. Back in 2010 he defeated Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati but a series of first rounds exits this time round have seen him slip out of the world’s top 50 hence he’s unseeded this week.
Baghdatis can blame his misfortune at getting several poor draws (he drew John Isner in Montreal and New York) for his lack of success but in truth the Cypriot’s season has never really got going. He began 2011 full of hope after an intense off season training regime but the results have yet to materialize and he’ll be hoping to salvage his year by regaining a place in the top 50 this autumn.
Even considering his recent struggles, Baghdatis should be far too classy for Bachinger especially indoors. He won their only previous match 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 on the clay of Munich four years ago and although the German has had some success on the challenger circuit this year, he’s done little on the main tour and comes to Metz on a four match losing streak.
Prediction: Baghdatis in two.
