Baghdatis roars into final
At 11.50pm local time (12.50pm Irish time) the stadium court erupted, particularly in the section populated by hundreds of Baghdatis’ fans, decked out in blue and white and waving Greek flags.
The 20-year-old had achieved what before the match looked unlikely, and at two sets to love down seemed nigh-on impossible.
By beating fourth seed David Nalbandian 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in an epic contest, Baghdatis assured himself of a match-up with either Roger Federer or Nicolas Kiefer in Sunday’s final.
“I have to wake up. It’s just unbelievable,” said Baghdatis, who reached the fourth round 12 months ago but has known no such success in grand slams elsewhere. “It’s a dream to play and win this tournament.”
Considering Baghdatis has knocked out Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and now Nalbandian - the second, seventh and fourth seeds - even top seed Federer must be dreading taking on the fearless youngster.
His swelling ranks of supporters have been almost as integral to the tournament as Baghdatis himself.
Many are family, from the vast Greek-Cypriot population in Australia, and they roared him back from the brink against a player who had looked a credible threat to title favourite Federer.
Even taking into account his head-turning victories in earlier rounds, it seemed folly to suggest Baghdatis would come back.
But the signs were there. In the second set he battled back from 5-1 to 5-5 before Nalbandian broke and, at a third attempt, held serve to establish a two-set lead.
The pounding ground strokes were beginning to find their range, and Nalbandian wobbled.
The third set went his way and so too the fourth, with his followers fuelling Baghdatis with belief. They have caused a stir in Melbourne this fortnight, with some claiming their chanting had caused an atmosphere more suggestive of a football-match crowd.
But the boys’ champion from three years ago has been inspired by their support, and even when Nalbandian broke early in the fifth set, he was unbowed.
In his previous match, Baghdatis had taken the first two sets from Ljubicic, before being pinned back to 2-2 but then took the decider with ease.
It looked as though Nalbandian might do the same as midnight approached, but a series of unforced errors on his own service games allowed Baghdatis to cancel out the break.
At 4-4, Nalbandian had his serve broken again, and suddenly the final was large in Baghdatis’ sights.
He served. The first two points of the game were shared.
And then ... then came rain.
The players had to rush for cover, forcing a 20-minute delay.
When play resumed Nalbandian had little time to put any revised plans into motion.
Baghdatis, in just his sixth senior grand slam, made sure the most important game of his career went his way, signing off with an ace.
Once the world’s number one junior, Baghdatis came to Australia ranked 54th in the world, but should make a massive leap next week, whether or not he wins the final.
Federer beat Baghdatis in straight sets at Doha in the first week of the year, and a year ago at this tournament. But as Nalbandian learned, momentum may go a long way to deciding this year’s champion.
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