Marcos Baghdatis Through In New Haven

Marcos Baghdatis is showing that he is still in good form just five days from the beginning of the U.S. Open as he dropped just six games on his way to a straight sets victory over Igor Andreev in New Haven.

The Cypriot, like so many of the players, is taking advantage of the final tournament before the U.S.Open to play themselves into form and he appears to be getting back to full fitness after struggling with injury last season.

Baghdatis set out his stall early as he broke Andreev in the opening game of the first set to immediately put himself on the front foot as both players battled with the blustery conditions.

That was just one of four breaks that Baghdatis secured during the match, whilst only being broken once himself, as he wrapped up a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory.

Speaking to TennisEarth.com after the match Baghdatis said: "It’s been a good summer for me, but I came to play here and I came to win the tournament. I’m not looking to win a Grand Slam or play well in a Grand Slam. I’m looking to improve my tennis."

He will now face Juan Ignacio Chela as the Argentine came through in three sets against American wild card Donald Young. But he had to come from a set down before battling back to take the match 5-7 6-4 6-0.

It was back news for Thomaz Bellucci and Fernando Gonzalez, the second and third seeds at the tournament, as they crashed out. Bellucci had a three set tussle with Lukas Lacko as he battled from a set down to level the score before being handed a bagel set to lose 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-0.

But Gonzalez had a more straight forward defeat as he lost in straight sets 6-2 6-4 to Radek Stepanek.

There were also wins for Tommy Robredo who had to battle against Taylor Dent eventually coming through in three sets 5-7 6-4 6-4 but there were more straight forward wins for Dennis Istomin as he saw off Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-1 while Viktor Hanescu beat Daniel brands 6-3 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw