Marcos Baghdatis advances to Australia Open 2nd round

Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis, advanced to the second round of the Australian Open after defeating Thomas Johansson of Sweden with 7-6(0) 6-2 3-6 6-3.

According to the Australian Open website, Baghdatis, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 Australian Open, is seeded 15 this year, has played down the extent of a hamstring injury, declaring he will be fully fit heading into a probable meeting with Marat Safin on Thursday.

The Cypriot athlete was forced to call for treatment on his left leg at the start of the third set against Johansson, eventually recovering to take the match in four.

After his largely impressive 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over the former Australian Open champion, Baghdatis indicated the injury was not as bad as it first appeared.