CYPRUS: Marcos Baghdatis returns home after playing last game at Wimbledon

Retired tennis star Marcos Baghdatis, who ended his long professional career at Wimbledon, said he is proud of being able to inspire young kids to believe in themselves.

The 34-year-old Cypriot, returned to Cyprus where fans, family and friends were at the airport to welcome him.

He said that his career in tennis was fantastic for him, his family and his friends adding that “we all had big dreams but never expected all these to happen”.

Marcos said that he left Cyprus – where few people played tennis — at the age of 14 and now, 20 years later, he is back home and he wants to thank everyone who made him become a better athlete and a better human being.

Baghdatis expressed his hope that Greek tennis players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkaris will continue the tradition Greece and Cyprus managed to build in the sport and to continue giving young children the confidence that they can succeed in whatever they dream of doing.

Marcos won international fame in 2006 as he lost in the Australian Open final and reached the semi-final at Wimbledon.

He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 8 in August 2006. Marcos owns a 21-13 record at the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam with a total of 14 appearances at Wimbledon.