With the routine of an ex-professional, he mastered his first task in the regional tennis league: Marcos Baghdatis on Saturday in Pfarrkirchen. – Photo: – Photo: Daniel Scharinger
With the routine of an ex-professional, he mastered his first task in the regional tennis league: Marcos Baghdatis on Saturday in Pfarrkirchen. – Photo: – Photo: Daniel Scharinger
In the end, he made short work of the scorching heat. Marcos Baghdatis, former number eight in the tennis world, celebrated a successful debut as a top player in the men’s 30 regional league team of the TC Pfarrkirchen on Saturday afternoon.
For the 8: 1 of the Rottaler against CTC Küchwald / Freiberg from Chemnitz, the Cypriot contributed a single and double victory. In the firsts duel against the Czech Jan Marek, the former Australian Open finalist initially had problems with his opponent’s powerful game, which, however, produced too many unnecessary errors. Baghdatis got better and better into the game and ultimately won with 6: 3, 6: 2. After five individual victories, the game was decided in favor of the ambitious Pfarrkirchener even before the doubles, but together with partner Andreas Schwarz the tennis star also won his doubles.
“It was our first league game in two years, so we are of course very happy with the way it went,” said team captain Felix Riedel. Baghdatis’ appearance in front of around 125 spectators was “a highlight for the club”. After his career ended in 2019, Riedel wrote to him on Facebook and asked if he could imagine playing for parish churches. Baghdatis immediately accepted. Last year’s season was canceled because of Corona, but the Cypriot came to the Rottal for a few days in the summer and gave club members coaching lessons.
Even on his belated debut on Saturday, Baghdatis was extremely personable, acted as a ball boy and was in the mood for jokes. As early as next Sunday (11 a.m.), the ex-professional will again serve in Pfarrkirchen, then against the much stronger TC Schwaben Augsburg.
