Baghdatis Wins Fourth Title, Beats Gasquet In Sydney

© AFP/Getty ImagesMarcos Baghdatis captured his fourth ATP World Tour title in Sydney.

Cypriot World No. 42 Marcos Baghdatis won his fourth ATP World Tour title Saturday after defeating Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 7-6(2) in the Medibank International Sydney final, which lasted one hour and 44 minutes.  It was the second unseeded Sydney final in the past three years.

The 24-year-old Baghdatis earned $67,250 in prize money and 250 South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings points, while Gasquet picked up $35,400 and 150 points.

Baghdatis donated $5,000 of his prize money to the World Vision Australia Haiti Earthquake Appeal. "The situation in Haiti is really, really sad," said Baghdatis.  "I have seen the pictures on the news and it is just horrific.  I want to send my condolences to everyone affected by the earthquake."

Baghdatis clinched the first set 6-4, courtesy of a service break in the first game. Both players won 67 per cent of service points and 33 per cent of points on return of serve, but one service break make the difference in the 45-minute opener.

The 23-year-old Gasquet was serving at 0/30 in the first game of the second set, when rain interrupted play.  After a considerable delay, Gasquet opened up a 4-1 lead with a service break in the fourth game.

Gasquet, who had not dropped a set en route to his 12th ATP World Tour final (5-7), served for the second set at 5-3 but fell to 0/40.  "I served a bad game, and I was in big trouble in the tie-break," he said.

Baghdatis grew in confidence and despite trailing 0/2 in the tie-break, the Cypriot won seven points in a row to capture his first ATP World Tour title since 25 October 2009 at the If Stockholm Open (d. O. Rochus).  He is now 4-4 lifetime in singles finals.

"It's confidence building," admitted Baghdatis, who reached the 2006 Australian Open final.  "I felt pretty good on court.  I have some things to work on still.  I have tomorrow and Monday to work on my serve, [my] first serve percentage.  [That's] the only thing that worries me a bit.

"I felt great.  It's my brother's birthday, and I wanted to win for him also.  It's been two years tough for him.  So I'm very happy that I won today and can dedicate this win to him."

Gasquet, currently No. 53 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings, was attempting to become the first Frenchman to win the Sydney title since Guy Forget (d. Stich) in 1991.  Gasquet's last ATP World Tour title came at Mumbai on 30 September 2007.

"I feel confident for Australian Open, even if I have tough draw," said Gasquet.  "I'm disappointed, because it's always difficult to lose a final.

"He just played better than me.  Even if I was really close in the second, I couldn't win it.  I don't know what happened [in the tie-break]."