Photo: Thomas Guenther
Marcos recorded his second Top 10 win in three weeks on Thursday in Cincinnati as he defeated World No. 7 Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.
It is the first time since Paris in 2007 that Marcos has reached the quarter-finals or better at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, the ATP’s elite level of events. On that occasion he went on to reach the semi-finals.
Marcos also defeated a Top 10 player two weeks ago in Washington, where he ousted the No. 10-ranked Fernando Verdasco en route to the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
In very warm conditions in Cincinnati on Thursday, Marcos played a fine match to dispatch Wimbledon finalist Berdych. He started the match striking the ball well and playing aggressive tennis and nearly reaped the rewards straight away, being denied on five break points in the third game.
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Despite not earning the breakthrough, Marcos maintained his high level to keep the pressure on Berdych and, when he created more chances to break in the 11th game, he was quick to convert, sealing a 6-5 lead as his Czech opponent sprayed a forehand wide. Marcos faced his toughest test on serve as he tried to close out the first set, needing to save three break points before converting his fifth set point as Berdych miscued another forehand.
Berdych received treatment on his right leg at the end of the set, but it did little to help the Czech find an answer to Marcos’ fine play in the early stages of the second set. On his third break point opportunity in the third game, Marcos broke through courtesy of a deep return on to the baseline that forced a forehand error from Berdych.
Marcos was denied on two match points in the ninth game as Berdych forced him to serve out the match by alleviating the danger with a forehand winner followed by an ace. Undeterred, strong serving from Marcos helped him to close out victory in just over two hours.
Next up for Marcos will be a meeting with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who saved a match point as he toughed out a 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-2 win over France’s Julien Benneteau.
Stay tuned to www.baghdatis.com for more details on the quarter-final match.
Go, Marcos!
