Baghdatis targeting top 20 return

Published by Matt Trollope

Marcos Baghdatis is a long way removed from the peak of his career.

Eleven year ago, in 2006, the Cypriot enjoyed a stunning season during which he reached his first – and to this day, only – Grand Slam final in Australia and cracked the top 10.

Only once since then, in 2010, has Baghdatis completed a season ranked inside the top 20. That was also the last year he won an ATP title – it came at the Sydney International in January 2010.

Now in his 14th year as a pro, he’s ranked 91st, having slipped outside the top 100 in September but recovering ground thanks to reaching the ATP final in Chengdu, China.

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At age 32 and having been hampered by injuries in the years following that breakout 2006 season, Baghdatis believes he can return to the elite bracket of the game.

“I have a goal – I want to finish my career in the top 20,” Baghdatis told ATP World Tour Uncovered.

“(A) career is very long … unfortunately I had many injuries that stopped me from working 100 per cent some years.

“I’m improving the last three years a lot mentally and physically and tennis wise. I’m working on some things that I want to improve.

“I think that’s a great goal for me to achieve and I will achieve it, so that’s good.”

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