Marcos Baghdatis Makes Light Work Of Nishikori

Marcos Baghdatis dropped just two games as he got his campaign at the Malaysian Open underway, as he saw off Kei Nishikori 6-1 6-1.

Baghdatis had enjoyed a successful American hard court season but suffered an unexpected early exit from the USA Open.

But he looked to be back in good shape as he needed just fifty four minutes to make it into the second round in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a good all round performance from the Cypriot as he hit 68% of his first serves and loss just twelve points on his serve.

He converted five of six break point chances during the match as well as seeing off the three break point chances that Nishikori had.

Speaking to the ATP after the match Baghdatis said: "It was a great match. I played really good tennis. I’m happy with the way I played and I’m happy I won.

"Nishikori is a very talented player; he had a good run at the US Open, he’s beaten some good players this year. But I played really well and didn’t give him any chances and I’m very happy about that."

The sixth seed will now face Santiago Giraldo as he saw off Michal Przysiezny in straight sets. It was a close opening set that Giraldo won 10-8 on a tie break.

But he raced through the second dropping just a single game as he wrapped up a 7-6 (10-8) 6-1 victory.

Alexandr Dolgopolov was also in first round action as he also enjoyed a straight forward victory for the loss of just four games.

With some good summer results Dolgopolov has seen  his ranking shoot up from 131 to the world number 55 and he made light work of qualifier Laurent Recouderc 6-3, 6-1 in just fifty minutes.

However he will face a much tougher test in his second round match as faces the number four seed Mikhail Youzhny, the Russian receiving a first round bye.

Robin Soderling, Nikolay Davydenko and Tomas Berdych, the top three seeds, are yet to get their campaigns underway.

Soderling will face either Frantisek Cermak or Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Davydenko is set to play Igor Andreev, who saw off Go Soeda 6-1 6-4.

Tomas Berdych will be looking to get his season back on track after an early exit from the USA Open and he will face either Marsel Ilhan or Denis Istomin in the second round.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw