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Journalism of Courage
It might have been Australia Day, but it ended up feeling much more like Cyprus Day at Melbourne Park, and as the nights and upsets go by, it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine who will have what it takes to stop Marcos Baghdatis8217; relatives from celebrating at this Australian Open.
They have come by the dozens, draped in their Greek and Cypriot flags, to watch Baghdatis take on the world8217;s best tennis players, and each time they have ended up dancing and singing on the esplanade that surrounds Rod Laver Arena.
8216;8216;It8217;s been the ride of his life8217;8217;, said his uncle Sam Baghdatis, who was wearing a homemade T-shirt with a picture of the 10-year-old Baghdatis and the inscription, 8216;Champion Then. Champion Now8217;.
8216;8216;This picture was taken when he won the Cyprus under-12 title in 19968217;8217;, Sam said. 8216;8216;When I saw him play that match, I said to him, 8216;I8217;ll see you on the big screen one day.8217; You could see he had the fire in his belly, even then.8217;8217;
Baghdatis, who arrived here ranked 54th, is closer to one of the game8217;s great prizes than any reasonable tennis aficionado could have predicted when this tournament began.
8216;8216;Everything comes along and comes how it8217;s meant to come8217;8217;, Baghdatis said. 8216;8216;You cannot push things. It just comes. I8217;ve been very lucky these two weeks, but I8217;m not ready for it to stop.8217;8217;
He was not an unknown quantity, particularly not in Melbourne, where he won the junior title in 2003 and then reached the fourth round in the main tournament last year with his uncles, aunts and cousins 8212; some of whom have emigrated from Cyprus, Lebanon and Greece 8212; cheering him on. Last October, in the tour event in Federer8217;s hometown, Basel, Switzerland, Baghdatis qualified and reached the final, beating Nalbandian along the way.
Baghdatis has transformed that solid platform into a springboard to the sort of heights that typically induce vertigo in young players with little experience at altitude.
He has upset four seeded players here, including three members of the top 8. It has been a phenomenal run, and what is more remarkable is the manner in which Baghdatis has pulled it off: winning three of his matches in five sets and handling the increasing pressure and distractions in style.
8216;8216;I8217;ve got Federer next, and I8217;m going to stay in my tournament8217;8217;, he said. 8216;8216;And I8217;m not going to start thinking about my great run here until it8217;s over.8217;8217;
There was almost a twist in the tale. Serving for the match at 15-15, he missed a first serve, and as he prepared to hit the second, rain began pouring through the gap in the open roof over Laver Arena.
Baghdatis could hardly believe what was happening, and as he walked to his chair in the drizzle, he jerked his bearded face toward the sky and gave it a lecture. He and Nalbandian were soon heading off court for what turned into a 22-minute rain break.
8220;I took it as a sign from God that, 8216;You have to think a bit before you finish this match8217;8217;8217;, Baghdatis said.
Back in the locker room but still not in the final, he asked his French coach, Guillaume Peyre, for his advice. 8220;His answer was: 8217;I8217;m not afraid for you. I8217;m afraid for him,8221;8217; Baghdatis said. 8220;That really helped me.8221;
After the win, his uncle Sam had the last word: 8220;He8217;s already won Cypriot of the year, and it8217;s only January.8221;
The New York Times
