Not much to write about.

Marcos seems to be taking a well deserved break. At the moment there is hardly any news on him knocking about. However, he has just appeared on the Rogers Cup entry list and I think this will be his next appearance. It must be a move to North America in preparation for the US Open, which starts end of August.

Cyprus faced relegation

Relegation avoided. The doubles game was won today by 3-0 making the match score 3-0. As it's best of 5, we've won it, and remain in division II of the Europe/Africa group. The coach might give Marcos a break tomorrow now that victory is sealed. Also Photos Kallias is apparently on form too.

Cyprus face relegation

So the fight to remain in division II of the Europe/Africa Davis Cup zone has started. On Friday we saw both Marcos and Photos Kallias score easy 3-0 wins over the Bulgarians. One more win and we stay up. So don't believe the headlines, it looks like we are safe.

Marcos likes grass

No, he doesn't smoke it, he likes playing on it. Well perhaps he does smoke it too but in a recent interview Marcos chose grass as his favourite playing surface. So much so that if he were to build his own private court, it would be a grass one! Will we be seeing the first grass court in Cyprus? Maybe we could move our home Davis Cup games there.

Davis Cup 2007

Let’s face it. Cyprus’ Davis cup performance relies on Marcos. Who favours hard surfaces; his record to date speaks for itself. Why then does Cyprus play its home Davis cup games on clay? Bulgaria are visiting soon and a defeat would have Cyprus demoted to Group III of the Europe/Africa zone.

Latest Ranking

Marcos has dropped 2 places (to 18) in the ATP rankings as of today. I suppose that was expected considering his Wimbledon semifinal points from last year were replaced by quarterfinal points from this year.
He has also pulled out of the Gstaad open, probably due to tiredness.

George Michael etc

George Michael, another Cypriot, was apparently in the crowd watching the ¼ final match with Djokovic. First time I hear he was a tennis fan. And it’s not that the guy advertises his roots. Plus, the TV director did not home in on him. I wander why.

In his post match interview, Marcos came across as very disappointed. He knows he could have won this game and I am sure he feels that he let himself down. Read the transcript of the whole interview here.

Bad luck Marcos, maybe next year.

This post will be a bit longer, just like Marcos’ last match in Wimbledon 2007. Five hours, three tie breaks. Let’s face it, if you were to bow out of Wimbledon you’d want to bow out this way.

Call me biased, but Marcos was unlucky. To start with, Novak hit the net at least 5 times in a row and the ball just trickled onto Marcos’ turf. So much so that it became a joke, Novak kept apologising! Then, how did Marcos waste 6 (yes, SIX) set points in the second tie break, whilst Novak went on to win his first set point? Damn it, it hurts. And Marcos seemed a bit emotional whilst walking off the court.

Never mind, there’s always next year. The bookies were right after all. Their favourite won. Well done Novak, in fact I hope you go on and beat Nadal.

Strawberries and Cream

The bookies got it right. Marcos squashed Nikolay Davydenko like a strawberry. Straight sets in 2h10m. Novak Djokovic next, tomorrow hopefully. This will be Marcos’ first match where the bookies have him as the underdog. Let’s hope they’ve got it wrong.

Wimbledon seeding vs the bookies

Marcos plays on court 13 tomorrow, starts noon GMT. If the BBC weather girls have it right, the game might even start AND finish tomorrow.

One thing I can’t get my head round however is the odds the bookies are offering for this game. Davydenko is seeded 6^th, so in theory he is the favourite as Marcos is seeded 10^th. However if you take a look at any bookie website, you stand to earn twice as much if you back Davydenko. Don’t get me wrong, it makes me happy as the bookies do tend to get these right, but why is Marcos the bookies’ favourite?

Oh, and Nadal is through, by the skin of his teeth...

Yes, Davydenko next

Nikolay Davydenko is through and Marcos will face him next. Heaven knows when, with the weather forecast as is, Wimbledon might be heading into a 3rd week. On another note, Rafael Nadal might well be running into a brick wall. He is struggling against Robin Söderling (remember him from two weeks ago in Halle?... if not read blog archive!). Which is positive news for Marcos as Nadal is in the same half of the draw.

Marcos on Fire

David Nalbandian was supposed to be the first real challenge to face Marcos at Wimbledon. However, he made it look like a walk in Wimbledon common. Wrapped the game up in just under 2 hours. Probably Davydenko next. The truth now is that there are no easy players left en-route to the final…

Rain delay

Marcos plays Nalbandian next on court number 11, tomorrow. Should have been yesterday, but canceled due to the heavy rain.

One thing I don't get is why have they transferred a centre court match to court number 11 when both players are seeded. No disrespect but why has Juan Carlos Ferrero vs Janko Tipsarevic been upgraded to court number one instead?