SPORTS

Baghdatis pulls out of Thailand Open

By Martin Petty
September 26, 2006 15:49 IST
Second seed Marcos Baghdatis was forced to withdraw from the Thailand Open through injury on Tuesday.

The Cypriot, who won his first career ATP title in Beijing nine days ago, picked up a shoulder injury in practice on Sunday and could be sidelined for up to three weeks.

"I can't serve and I can't really return, so I won't be able to play," he told a news conference.

"It's getting better but I'm not 100 percent, not even 70 percent."

Baghdatis, 21, said he had played his best tennis in Asia and was disappointed not to be competing in Bangkok.

"It's how life goes," he said. "I'm disappointed because I'm lucky in Asia and it's where I play best.

"I came here and won my first title

and I've played really well before."

Baghdatis was the second seeded player to withdraw from the competition in the last few days after Australia's Lleyton Hewitt pulled out after aggravating a knee injury.

In Tuesday's early first round matches, seventh seed Robby Ginepri of the United States went through to the next stage after defeating Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen 6-3, 6-4.

"I played the best I have in a long while," Ginepri told reporters. "I took some time off after the U.S. Open and I've worked particularly hard coming into this."

Britain's Alex Bogdanovic beat Yeu-Tzuoo Wang of Taiwan 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, while Russia's Mikhail Ledovskikh advanced to the second round after defeating Sweden's Michael Ryderstedt 6-1, 7-6.

Martin Petty
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email