AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2006

Marcos Baghdatis

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I just knew that -- I broke him. I start breaking him, I start feeling the game at 5-2 in the second. I was feeling like start believing in myself, started to play more aggressive, started to play more my game. And the first two sets, I was really, you know, stressed out. I didn't know what to do. He was playing really good. He was playing really aggressive. Then what I said, is just I have no choice and I just have to go in the court and play my game and play aggressive. And that's what happened.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Sorry?

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No, not yet.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I played only three in my career, so... (smiling). I think no. It's the first time.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, it was crazy. I mean, he broke me. He was two breaks up. No, he broke me once. I broke him. He broke me. I broke him, then I broke him again. It was amazing. The atmosphere was just crazy. Was big emotion for me. It was just amazing.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Just also they're great. I mean, they helped me a lot throughout these two weeks, especially the Greek Army like you call them. I mean, it was great. They're fantastic. They are just amazing. They are putting the atmosphere like amazing. I don't know what to say. I just don't know what to say.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, it's a bit of an advantage. It helped me a lot, like I said, to pass through tough moments in the match. Like when you have like people shouting your name all the time, it feels good.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: A lot (smiling). I don't know. I just start thinking what will happen after the match and stuff. I went in the changing room and I just saw my coach. I told him, "What do I do?" I just didn't know what to do. He just told me, "I'm not scared for you, I'm scared for him." It gave me -- it pumped me up. I think it was good coaching, so was great.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No, I think it was like a sign because -- I think it was like a sign because he wants me maybe to be tougher, he wants me to go through these moments, like tough moment, you know, start thinking. And what my coach told me, it was a sign also. It was like amazing. I just went in the court and I just said, "I'm happy even if I lose." I mean, I did everything I can, I came through, through two sets down, and I just said, "Just go play your game and whatever happen, happen." I got out of the match and it was a great experience for me. I learned a lot from this match also, to stay calm, to just go in the court and believe in myself. And knowing that my coach believes in me just helps me.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: It just came alone. Beat Robredo here, Ljubicic here last year, played not bad against Federer. I was unlucky after I got injured. Took me a little bit of time to come back. I mean, then I played great in Basel. And I think then I started really working hard, believing in myself. And, I mean, it just came along.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. I've played him second round, third round, quarters. Now it's in the final. So every day is different. I just go in the match and play my game, play, just try not to make a lot of mistakes, just try to make him play. I'll try to find a solution in the match.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: A lot of lessons. No, I mean, he's -- I don't know what to say. But he has everything. He can do whatever he wants with the ball. So like I said, I didn't learn anything. I just learned that I was close in Doha, like first set, it was 3-All, two breakpoints up, two breakpoints for me. Just he's playing so good in important points. I think that that will be the key, just play maybe better than him in the important points.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: No, no, no. Don't like watching tennis.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Tomorrow I think I'll have a day off, and then I will just come back with the routine and just hit some balls on Saturday and that's all.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Now a bit tired, I think. I mean, I work hard and I think that I will be ready for Sunday. I'm not worried about that.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't really know. I heard that they closed -- no, they didn't close the schools, but nobody went to school today, so... It's just amazing. I don't know. I don't know what they will do. I don't know. It will be fun, I think.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Tell you the truth, yes and no. No now because I want to win it. But when the tournament will be finished, I think I'll be satisfied because I gave everything these two weeks and I have to give everything in the final. If I give everything, I'll be very satisfied for myself.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Too much? No. When you play a five-setter, is never too much.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Think? No, no, no, no, no. I mean, I just go out from tennis for one day and then come back. It won't make me think. I have my coach around me, my girlfriend and all my people, the people that believe in me. So I think they will keep me in the tournament.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I just don't answer the phone. Like I said two days ago, I think. I just try not to speak to a lot of journalists, try to keep it simple. I know it's not finished. It's maybe a dream come true for me. So I'll do my best and stay focused.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't really know. I cannot answer that. I mean, I'll see with my coach, I'll see with ATP what they can do. We'll see.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I was.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Felt like the matches before. Every time somebody serves for the match, it's semifinal of Grand Slam and everybody's nervous. I just said again to myself, I'll do my best and go in the match. I was really nervous before, when the rain started. When I was in the court before the rain started, I wasn't nervous, I was just playing and I was pumped up. But when the rain started, when I went back and I start getting a bit nervous. I told you I start thinking a bit. But then I said, Just go in the court, just play your game.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I don't know. I mean, I'll take it like another match. I'll take it like a first round, semifinal, like quarters. It's a final, that's true, but I'll try to take it like a normal match and just try to stay calm and play my game.

MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Lessons? Nothing special. I mean, it was a match I lost and that's life and that's all.