Baghdatis beats Federer at Indian Wells
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 10:43Marcos Baghdatis caused a major shock at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells as he sent top seed Roger Federer crashing out in the third round.
Baghdatis condemned Federer to only his second defeat in 13 matches this year after fending off three match points in an absorbing encounter at the hardcourt event.
Swiss star Federer appeared to be on course for a routine victory over the 27th-seeded Cypriot as he claimed the opening set with a lone break of serve, but Baghdatis rallied in the next, converting his only break point chance to pull level.
The third set went all the way to a tie-break after the two players had traded breaks of service, with Baghdatis moving through the gears when it mattered most to post a famous 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7/4) triumph.
The win was Baghdatis' first against the world number one having lost their previous six encounters, the most recent of which came in the quarter-finals of the grass court tournament in Halle in 2008.
