Emotional Federer Slams Baghdatis in Oz Open Final



Posted on January 29, 2006


Federer Rebounds for 7th Slam Title at Australian Open

It was a shaky start for Roger Federer Sunday in the final of the Australian Open, but tennis' master baker even served up a bagel in eventually overwhelming slam rookie Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 for his seventh Grand Slam title.

The Swiss broke down in tears after receiving the trophy from Rod Laver.

"I guess it's all coming out now," Federer said. "I've had some hard speeches, but this one is a little rough right now."

In the first set the Swiss dropped his serve in the fifth game, struggling with unforced errors. He handed another break and the first set to the Cypriot, and in the second set a double fault and forehand error gave Baghdatis an immediate break before the Swiss began to climb back into the match.

Baghdatis' downfall began after he failed to hold serve in the second set, serving at 5-6, 40-0, losing five straight points. After getting bageled in the third set, Baghdatis began to cramp in the fourth as the Swiss ran out the match.

"It was a great match," Baghdatis said. "I really played very well first two sets. I had my chances. I had a break in the second. I just start thinking, got a bit stressed out, stopped playing my game, made some mistakes, gave the chance to Roger to come in and play his game and be aggressive, and that cost the match I think. So I'm a bit unhappy. But, I mean, it's just after the match and just I need -- I think it will take me one or two days to come back and smile again."

Federer is now a perfect 7-0 in career Slam finals, losing only three sets in seven finals, and has won a record 52 consecutive matches on hardcourts.

"Last but not least, I would like to thank Rod Laver for (his) trophy," said the emotional Federer after receiving the trophy, again bursting into tears before hugging Laver.

In the mixed doubles final the unseeded team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Martina Hingis defeated No. 6 seeds Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-3.

"If anyone asks me why I came back, this is why, the dream of being back on court, of winning major titles," said Hingis who was appreciative of Bhupathi's effort. "He's the man right now in mixed doubles and also in doubles. Just next to him, it gives you so much satisfaction and security that you have to put the serve and returns in and he does the rest. You have someone to carry you all the way."

The win is Hingis' ninth Slam doubles title.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Marcos Baghdatis
on forgetting to acknowledge Roger Federer in his on-court speech after the Australian Open final: "Yeah, yeah. I forgot a lot of people, you know. I was not so -- I don't know. I didn't know what to say. I was a bit lost. I just want to say, Roger, I mean, I want to congratulate him because he played a great tournament. He's a great athlete, great sportsman. He just gives a lot to the game. He's so charismatic. He's just playing unbelievable. It's good to have him around. It's a pleasure to play against him and it's a pleasure to be in the changing room with him." And on his coach's advice after the loss: "He told me doesn't matter. I mean, he told me it's tough. He knows it's tough. But, I mean, it doesn't really matter because I'm 20 years old and he told me that I have a lot in front of me to do and it's not finish. After I start crying and he just told me, "Keep on crying." And that's all."...Jiri Novak has yet to step on a court in 2006 after a foot injury...You think Marcos Baghdatis will somehow get out of his country's compulsory military service? Yeah, you'd think the government would somehow find a way around that...Tennisworld's Peter Bodo with something you don't see a lot of, some Brad Gilbert props: "A hat-tip to Gilbert for doing fantastic work here in Melbourne. Brad isn't the most beloved figure in tennis (some Europeans recoil in horror at the very mention of his name). A lot of people find him grating and vulgar; there's no question that with his perpetual stubble, square-jaw, fondness for cliche and American sports jargon, and absolute mastery of baseball and Wall Street minutia, he qualifies as some kind of archetypal, appallingly extroverted and unselfconscious Homo Jocko Americanus. Don't be fooled. Gilbert's knowledge of the game is breathtaking; he's the game's mad professor, TennisWorld's idiot savant. It's easy to forget that because he's so well-known, and gets more than a fair share of exposure."...Andre Agassi, playing his first match of the year Monday night in Delray Beach: "If we're talking about winning a Grand Slam, I'd need a few things to fall my way. But I consider so many other things big. For me, playing in front of a small group of people, in a tough match, working hard at 36 -- I don't take those times for granted. I find myself getting to enjoy the icing on the cake quite often now. I'm at an age I can appreciate what these opportunities mean, and what I can do, and how many people benefit. There's a lot of wins out there for me, personally, regardless of the score."...From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Andy Roddick's aborted attempt to play the Delray Beach qualifying: "However, Roddick, who flew in from his other home in Austin, Texas, Friday afternoon, grew testier as the day wore on. During a 90-minute practice session with fellow Boca Raton resident Vincent Spadea in front of about 40 fortunate spectators on the Delray Beach Tennis Center's Stadium Court, Roddick screamed about the blustery conditions. "I love the wind. Awesome," Roddick shouted before smashing one racket and whacking a ball out of the stadium. Roddick, who politely turned down any formal interviews with the media, did lob a few digs at the ATP's wildcard rule and tournament organizers as he walked to the locker room. "Why would I get a wildcard into an American tournament, [being the] top-ranked American?" Roddick asked, taking a sarcastic backhand swat at whomever he deemed at fault. "Why would that happen? That makes too much sense." Despite a disappointing withdrawal by the charismatic James Blake, who cited schedule overload as he too gets ready for Davis Cup, Paul Goldstein and Jiri Novak, Roddick wasn't permitted direct entry into the draw because those who committed to the tournament six weeks ago were given priority. That meant instead of Roddick, the third-ranked player in the world, the fans will get to see unknowns such as Michael Berrer, Oliver Marach and Igor Kunitsyn. "In order to get into the tournament you have to enter 42 days in advance and Andy didn't do that," ATP supervisor Tom Barnes said. "The only other way to get in is to get a wildcard or to play qualifiers and win, or be a lucky loser if there's a spot. Or if one of the wildcards withdrew before we made the draw." Roddick wasn't interested in hearing about rules. "Maybe, I should play more Davis Cup, that's the story. Oh, wait, I do," Roddick cracked."...Lleyton Hewitt's coach says his charge will no longer be Australia's Davis Cup stalwart. Without Hewitt the Aussies will undoubtedly lose to Switzerland in the first round, with Hewitt's camp saying he may even skip the following World Group qualifying round match.


Rankings
ATP - Feb 06 WTA - Feb 06
1 Novak Djokovic1 Victoria Azarenka
2 Rafael Nadal2 Petra Kvitova
3 Roger Federer3 Maria Sharapova
4 Andy Murray4 Caroline Wozniacki
5 David Ferrer5 Samantha Stosur
6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga6 Agnieszka Radwanska
7 Tomas Berdych7 Marion Bartoli
8 Mardy Fish8 Vera Zvonareva
9 Janko Tipsarevic9 Na Li
10 Juan Martin Del Potro10 Andrea Petkovic
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