Baghdatis Earns Dubai SF Spot

Marcos Baghdatis is through to his first ATP World Tour semi-final of the season after defeating the in-form Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 6-0 on Thursday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Cypriot was frequently under pressure on serve in the opener, struggling with his ball toss – resulting in a first serve conversion rate of 37 per cent. But after saving three break points to level at 4-4, he broke Bautista Agut to love in the ninth game to lead 5-4. The Spaniard immediately struck back to get back on level terms, but Baghdatis engineered another break in the 11^th game and this time closed out the set on his fourth set point. The Cypriot then raced through the second set, sealing victory in one hour and 36 minutes.

“I think he’s playing great tennis,” said Baghdatis of Bautista Agut, who has already won two ATP World Tour titles in 2016. “I knew it would be very tough today physically, mentally. I think that’s why I held strong in that eighth game, because I knew beforehand that it would be tough.

“I’m very happy also with the way I ended it. I think I started playing better and better throughout the second set.”

Next up for Baghdatis will be either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or Feliciano Lopez.