Federer Bounced By Bagdhatis

In one of the finest wins of his resurgent career, Cypriot Marcos Bagdhatis fought off three match points to send shock waves through the field at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open. Bagdhatis has been in terrific form of late, taking Novak Djokovic to three sets in the Dubai. This time, he held his game together to register a most impressive 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (4) win over the World’s Number One and tournament favorite Roger Federer.

The jubilant 24-year old said it was, “the best win of my career. I lost a lot of matches against those top guys and it’s a relief to finally win one of those.” And, win he did. At 5-4 in the second set, Federer was up 0-30. The Cypriot rallied to run off four straight points, then chalked up a break and a hold to square the match.

Federer raced to a 4-1 lead in the third set as the handwriting looked to be on the wall, but once again Bagdhatis clawed his way back. Yet, at 6-5 and add-in Federer failed to convert, opening the door to another break and a tiebreaker that Bagdhatis dominated.

Bagdhatis had lost their previous six matches. Federer cited poor choices at inappropriate times as contributing to the loss.

Popular American Andy Roddick, who posted a comfortable win over Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4 moved on. Roddick held serve throughout the match, registering two breaks of his own. The American is chasing his 28th tour title and will have plenty of fan support.

Fourth seeded Andy Murray put down a game Michael Russell, 6-3, 7-5. Russell started slowly and could not quite catch up with the deft Scotsman. Murray still seems in sub-par form and especially sub-standard conditioning. Murray will next face James Blake’s conqueror Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who pitched 19 aces against the shell-shocked American.

Bagdhatis will next face charging Spaniard Tommy Robredo, the 18th seed, who is very much on his game. Robredo downed Israel’s Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-0.

Robin Soderling and Joe Wilfried Tsonga both advanced and will face each other in the fourth round. The beefy Tsonga fired 17 aces at Spaniard Albert Montanes in the 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 emotional comeback.