Marcos Baghdatis boosted his Australian Open hopes with victory over Richard Gasquet in a rain-interrupted Sydney International final.
Former Australian Open finalist prevails in Sydney decider
Marcos Baghdatis boosted his Australian Open hopes with a 6-4 7-6 (7-2) triumph over Richard Gasquet in a rain-interrupted Sydney International final.
Cypriot Baghdatis, who was runner-up to Roger Federer at the 2006 Australian Open, broke Gasquet's opening service game and claimed the first set before the players were forced to wait in the dressing room for 75 minutes due to a rainstorm at Sydney Olympic Park.
World number 42 Baghdatis fell behind 5-2 in the second set when play resumed, but broke back twice to level at 5-5.
Gasquet took a brief 2-0 lead in the tie-breaker but Baghdatis replied with seven points to wrap up his fourth ATP title.
"I felt pretty good on court," said Baghdatis.
"(I've) just won a tournament, confidence is up, feeling pretty fit. I think everything is positive.
"I have some things to work on still, my serve, first serve percentage. I think that's all. It's the only thing that worries me a bit."
Baghdatis, who has won 16 of his last 17 matches, is unseeded at the Australian Open as he continues his comeback from wrist and back injuries last season.
The 24-year-old will face Italian Paolo Lorenzi in his opening match at Melbourne Park ahead of a potential third-round clash with Lleyton Hewitt and a possible quarter-final showdown against Federer.
Baghdatis added: "Next week, if I stay focussed and find the way to win the
first two, three matches, then I could be very dangerous and confident."
Gasquet, who will face Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the first round in Melbourne, admitted his frustration at falling to defeat in the decider.
"I'm disappointed, because it's always difficult to lose a final," said Gasquet.
"I served a bad game (in the second set), and I had a big trouble in the tiebreak. I lost a lot of free points, so that made the difference."
