Marcos Baghdatis stuttered and stopped, kicked and agonized, but could not get himself going against an inspired performance from little-known Dutchman Robin Haase, ranked 114, in the first round at the Chennai Open on Tuesday.
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Haase, who had stretched Baghdatis to three sets in Canada last year, went all the way this time taking out one of the tournament favourites 6-3, 6-4 to advance into the second round.
"Maybe he doesn't like the game I play," said the 20-year-old Haase, who used his forehand and serve to telling effect in the first set. "I guess I was also lucky that Marcos was not playing his best tennis in the game."
With second-seeded Baghdatis struggling for rhythm at the beginning of the season, the Dutchman made the most of his opportunities and mixed his game well.
The Cypriot lost his serve in the second game and wasn't given any space on Haase's service. In the beginning, Haase placed the ball at will, finding the corners and lines with perfect ease. His smacking forehand had Baghdatis out of breath.
"Forehand is one of my good shots," he said. "I generally follow it up with the volley but I was hitting it so well in the first set that I didn't have to come up to the net."
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There was nothing 'slob-bish' (as his nickname Schlobber suggests) about the lanky player from the Hague. Even when he looked like running out of steam and ideas in the second set, Haase kept his nose ahead in the contest.
Baghdatis again dropped his serve in the first game of the second set, but had seven break points in which to come back.
In the sixth game, he was 15-40 up on Haase's serve. His backhand crosscourt sailed just wide and then another backhand error saw Haase level. Despite earning another break point thereafter, the Cypriot was unable to turn the tables.
Haase showed admirable composure to push the issue to 5-3. And, as expected, that's when the nerves struck.
He was taken to 10 deuces, both players gaining game and break points of a match's worth.
"I was very nervous at that time; but a little surprised that he did not attack a little more. I was confused about where to hit the ball and made a lot of errors but he wasn't doing anything so I had to take all the risks."
On three of the break points down, Haase came up with smart drop shots that caught Baghdatis unaware, skidding him down to the ground on one occasion. Baghdatis was struggling, but the roar in the crowd kept him going for some more. The closest he got was when he had to put away a volley but the Cypriot managed to fluff it.
Haase finally converted his sixth match point with a forehand cross-court winner to celebrate victory after an hour and 23 minutes.
Baghdatis, drained from the effort and the excitement, but still smiling, said that nothing was wrong "with the court, or the weather or his fitness."
"It's only that I was playing the first match of the season and didn't find my rhythm. I was against a guy who had nothing to lose and used his chances well."
Baghdatis though is still alive in the doubles as he and partner Marc Gicquel of France beat Spanish duo of Rafael Nadal and Bartolome Salva-Vidal in the first round on Monday.
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