MARCOS Baghdatis saved three match points before finally beating Roger Federer 5-7 7-5 7-6 at the Indian Wells ATP tournament this morning.
The Cypriot’s reward is a fourth round meeting with Spain’s Tommy Robredo in the early hours of tomorrow.
The Swiss world number one, who had beaten the Cypriot in all six of their previous meetings, lost the tiebreak 7-4 and the third-round match when he failed to return his opponent’s powerful first serve.
Federer, a three-time champion here in California, held two match points late in the second set and another in the 12th game of the third but wasted all of them through unforced errors... 6 comments

MARCOS Baghdatis will face world number one Roger Federer in the third round of the prestigious Indian Wells Masters event after the Cypriot beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement 7-6, 6-1 on Sunday night in California.
Looking to reverse a three-match losing streak against the Cypriot, Clement made a fast start and raced to a 4-1 lead.
Baghdatis fought back however, and saved six set points on his way to taking the crucial opening set on a tie-break which he took 9-7
The loss of the set affected Clement and, buoyed by the vociferous support he received on Stadium 3, Baghdatis raced through the second set 6-1 to clinch the match after one hour and 58 minutes... Read on

OMONIA defeated AEL Limassol courtesy of four second-half goals to open up a four-point gap at the top of the Cyprus standings over the weekend, after arch-rivals and defending champions APOEL went down 2-0 to Apollon
“We played well in the second half. AEL have quality players but also many injuries and those absences sometimes create problems, commented Omonia coach Takis Lemonis after the match.
“We have no time to enjoy our victory as we face APOEL next and we will certainly not be taking a cautious approach and will go out to win the game,” he added... Read on

MARIO Dundovic poured in 24 points to lead Intercollege/ETHA over Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou 77-74 in the first game of the best-of-three playoff quarter-final series at the Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Athletic Centre over the weekend.
The hosts led 18-14 after the opening quarter and increased their advantage to nine points at the half time break. Alexander Wesby scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half, while also leading his team with seven rebounds.
In the third period Antonis Konstantinides’ men continued in the same rhythm and with the final ten minutes remaining, had a 13-point cushion... Read on

FOUR policemen were injured Sunday in the latest outbreak of football violence. Police are examining CCTV footage from the GSP stadium in Nicosia, but so far there have been no arrests.
Trouble erupted after the final whistle at a league fixture between APOEL and AEL, teams whose die-hard fans have a long-running vendetta.
Stadium authorities and police had devised security arrangements to keep the two sets of fans apart by allowing the home team supporters to leave the grounds first. With the final whistle, loudspeakers instructed the visiting AEL supporters to remain in their seats while the APOEL fans exited the stadium. The majority complied... 2 comments

CYPRUS rugby captain Tony Thoma has expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the Moufflons on Saturday, after they crushed Azerbaijan 59-0 at the Paphiakos Stadium.
“This is exactly the result we needed before our crucial game against Bosnia at the end of the month. The guys were brilliant,” he said.
Cyprus Rugby Federation president-elect Johnny Stavrinou who also officiated as touch judge, added to the plaudits, saying the team, “performed magnificently and it was very satisfying to see so many Cypriots turning out to support the national side.”
The match was watched by Irish Ambassador Thomas Brady, who has been a stalwart supporter of the national side, and who was guest of honour at the celebration dinner... Read on

MARCOS Baghdatis beat Mohamed Safwat Amin 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in front of an emotional crowd inside the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Centre in Limassol on Sunday to give Cyprus an unassailable 3-1 lead and progression to the second round of the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Group II .
“I am really proud playing in front of such a crowd,” Baghdatis said afterwards. “They were great and I express my thanks to all the people who came out here to support me.
“I think I played very well and I found the solutions required to secure the victory for our team. “It is one of the best moments playing Davis Cup for my country and I also express my gratitude to all the other members of the team,” he added at the post-match press conference... Read on

OMONIA remain on top of the Cyprus standings after a 2-0 away win over struggling Nea Salamina over the weekend.
The Nicosia powerhouse took the lead after only three minutes when Georgios Efrem’s free kick deceived Rafael Ponzo in the Salamina goal.
Omonia then sat back and waited for their chances on the counter attack, but the closest they came was in the 32nd minute when Maciej Zurawski’s shot from outside the area went wide.
Twelve minutes into the second half the Greens had their best chance to make it 2-0 but Demetris Christofi’s strike hit the post.
To their credit, Nea Salamina constantly tried to get back onto level terms, but they were missing the final pass and never fashioned a good goal-scoring opportunity... Read on

MARCOS Baghdatis last night helped Cyprus pull level with Egypt at one rubber apiece in their Group II Davis Cup encounter at the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Centre in Limassol.
Baghdatis controlled his match with Sherif Sabry from the beginning, coming out on top 6-2 6-1 6-1.
“I played very solid today and I am very happy with myself. I feel very fit and confident,” the Cypriot said afterwards.
In the opening match of the tie yesterday afternoon, Raresh Cuzdriorean in the first match of his Davis Cup career, faced a tough challenge when he took to the court with the top class player of Egypt, Karim Maamoun
Cuzdriorean, despite losing in three sets, showed tremendous courage and determination in going down 6-3, 6-4, 7-5... Read on

OMONIA went to the top of the Cyprus League over the weekend with a 2-1 win over Aris Limassol at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, after nearest rivals Anorthosis and APOEL played out a goalless draw in Larnaca earlier on Sunday.
“We won and took advantage of our opportunity to go top of the league as well as we possibly could after the result in Larnaca,” said Omonia coach Takis Lemonis after the game.
“Now we must stay focused and try to win the championship.
“We had several opportunities in the first half and managed to convert two of them, which was enough to claim the three points.
“However, we need to concentrate a lot more towards the ends of our matches and not concede goals in the dying minutes,” he added... 1 comment