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MELBOURNE - Marcos Baghdatis failed to repeat his heroics of last year when he was beaten 7-6 6-2 2-6 6-0 by Frenchman Gael Monfils in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The 11th-seeded Cypriot, whose fairytale run to the final in 2006 ended in defeat at the hands of Roger Federer, found the power of the gangling 20-year-old too much to handle and went down in two hours and 37 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Monfils had surged into a two-set lead, but looked to be struggling with an injured foot as Baghdatis raised hopes of a revival by winning the third.
But the Frenchman's injury appeared to vanish as quickly as it had arrived and he marched through the last set to reach the third round for the first time in three attempts.
Monfils now faces another 20-year-old Frenchman, 18th seed Richard Gasquet, for a place in the last 16.
- REUTERS
