Marcos Baghdatis has opened on his rollercoaster Australian Open career which produced some of the most memorable matches in grand slam history.
Baghdatis enthralled crowds in Melbourne for years and it was only Roger Federer who stopped him lifting the trophy in the 2006 final.
The Cyprian star became a cult hero with his emotional performances that were always followed by boisterous Greek contingents in the crowd.
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Baghdatis made the final in 2006, contested the latest match in history against Lleyton Hewitt in 2008, and infamously destroyed four racquets during a blow-up in 2012.
Foxsports.com.au asked Baghdatis which of his magic moments in Melbourne people ask him most about now that he’s retired.
“The final… but the racquet (smashing) comes up a lot,” Baghdatis laughed.
The 37-year-old said there was “no way” he could reject an invitation from tournament officials this year and emphasised it was an “honour” to be back.
“This is where I had the best success of my career, the best emotions on a tennis court. It means a lot being back,” Baghdatis said.
“This was my first grand slam, I won it as a junior then the first time I came back I went from qualies to fourth round and lost to Roger and a year after I played in the final here.
“So from the first moment I came here I had a click with the city and the people and I just loved it here.
“The weather is a bit like Cyprus, it’s hot and I love playing in this weather. It just clicked from the first moment.”
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Baghdatis was left frustrated in 2008 when his third-round clash with Lleyton Hewitt finished at 4:34am.
History almost repeated this year when Andy Murray defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis after 4am in the third round.
But Baghdatis now remembers his match fondly and said there’s no reason to tinker with the scheduling rules.
“Now that I look at it retired, it was such a privilege to be part of that game,” he said.
“Does there need to be rescheduling? I don’t know because in the last 20 years, how many times did it happen? Maybe three times.
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“I understand players are frustrated, especially the ones that went through it because I went through it and it is frustrating but when you talk to the tournaments and you explain why, they’re doing their best. It’s very hard to point fingers. The last 20 years how many times has it happened… you have to be realistic.
“Yeah I feel honoured to play a long match like that against Lleyton Hewitt, it finished the latest ever, then after that match going to the hotel and people are coming down for breakfast, it’s an experience and something you don’t live every day and I lived it.
It’s tough when you’re on tour… but shit happens.”
