Review of the 2008 season. Oh, Marcos Baghdatis, where art thou?

You know where I am going with this.

The year started quite well. Ranked 16^th, 2008 began with a memorable match vs Lleyton Hewitt in round 3 of the Aussie Open. And even though Marcos lost the match (in the early hours of the morning - perhaps the latest ever finish of a grand slam match), he seemed poised for major achievements.

But Baghdatis would be hampered by a back injury and other health concerns and only managed to compete in four events after Wimbledon, retiring in 3 of them. He posted just 14 match victories for the entire season and swapped 3 coaches. Baghdatis begins 2009 ranked 98^th and has been branded as one of this season’s Least Improved Male Player.

I have come across articles already referring to Marcos as a one-slam wonder. Oh, Marcos Baghdatis, where art thou?

Bagdatis' new coach

Coach no 3 for 2008 turns out to be Olivier Soules who works for Team Lagardere, a professional sports training agency that specialises in tennis coaching (but also does athletics if you have the cash). They are based in Paris and Sophia Antipolis (close to Nice) plus they have/had a few other (mainly French) celebrities on their books - such as Richard Gasquet, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Julien Benneteau, Nicolas Devilder, Nicolas Mahut...

I think Olivier Soules himself was a tennis player, in the late 80's but I will dig out his story (and perhaps some dirt too) later on. New girlfriend and a new coach! Way to go... I seem to have been out of the loop for too long - has Marcos turned the page?

Baghdatis' new girlfriend

Well, there's not much on-court action to talk about - there hasn't been much for yonks. So I googled about to search for any gossip on his personal life. A couple of discussion forums seem to suggest he is now dating another tennis player, from Luxembourg. Her name is Mandy Minella and this is her pic. Let us see if she can turn things around.

Didn't somebody once say "Change always comes bearing gifts"?