BAGHDATIS BEATS KAMKE IN OPENER

Written by: Staff on 1st May 2012

BAGHDATIS BEATS KAMKE IN OPENER |

Munich, Germany

by ATP Staff

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/18/Munich-Tuesday-Baghdatis-Youzhny-In-Action.aspx)

Eighth seed Marcos Baghdatis notched his first clay-court win of the season on Tuesday in Munich as he defeated Germany’s Tobias Kamke 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the BMW Open. The Cypriot broke serve four times and saved six of the eight break points he faced to clinch victory in one hour and 56 minutes in his first meeting with Kamke.

The 26-year-old Baghdatis improved to an 8-3 record at this ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament, where he has twice before reached the semi-finals, in 2007 (l. to Kohlschreiber) and 2010 (l. to Cilic). The right-hander has a 16-9 match record in 2012, highlighted by semi-final efforts in Sydney (l. to Benneteau) and Zagreb (l. to Lacko).

Baghdatis goes onto face qualifier Dustin Brown, who defeated qualifier Daniel Brands 6-4, 6-3 in an all-German clash.

Sergiy Stakhovsky upset home hope Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, 7-6(3), 6-3, to earn a second-round clash with second seed Feliciano Lopez. Meanwhile, Ernests Gulbis will challenge fourth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round after beating Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-2.

Germany’s Matthias Bachinger maintained his strong form, dismissing Alejandro Falla 7-6(3), 6-2 in 83 minutes. Bachinger, who last week reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final in Bucharest (l. to Simon), goes onto face third seed Marin Cilic.

Topics: BMW Open, Marcos Baghdatis, Tobias Kamke