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Miracle man Marcos Baghdatis looms as the most dangerous floater at Melbourne Park after continuing his sizzling run to snare the Sydney International title on Saturday night.
After recovering from the brink against Lleyton Hewitt and Mardy Fish just to reach the final, Baghdatis completed a perfect Australian Open build-up with a spirited 6-4 7-6 (7-2) win over sweet-hitting Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Baghdatis overcame a 75-minute rain delay and a 5-2 second-set deficit to capture his fourth career title, a confidence-boosting triumph likely to lift his ranking from 42nd to 35th on Monday.
The Cypriot showman’s popular victory was the 16th from his past 17 matches after ending a mostly rebuilding 2009 season in style with back-to-back tournament successes in Tashkent and Stockholm.
Although he’ll be unseeded as he continues his comeback from wrist and back injuries, Baghdatis is a player to be avoided at the opening grand slam of the year.
He was also unseeded in 2006 when he won the hearts of of fans across the world with his giant-killing run to the final, taking out Andy Roddick and David Nalbandian, before succumbing to Roger Federer after taking the first set.
Boasting an enviable record at Melbourne Park, the 24-year-old’s only other Open defeats have come against Hewitt, Gael Monfils and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round last year.
A former world junior champion, Baghdatis also won the Australian Open boys’ crown in 2003 and is at home feeding off the support of relatives and his legion of fans in Melbourne.
His confidence sky high again, Baghdatis will launch his Open campaign on Tuesday against Italian Paolo Lorenzi, before a likely third-round clash with Hewitt and possible last-16 showdown with Federer.
Gasquet also lurks as an unseeded dangerman in Melbourne after putting his nightmare 2009 behind him to open the new year with strong showings in Brisbane and Sydney.
He takes on Czech Jan Hajek on Tuesday, with his first serious test expected to come from Spanish 16th seed Tommy Robredo in the third round.
Baghdatis, who donated $US5,000 of his $67,250 prizemoney to the Haiti earthquake victims, said he was excited about returning to Melbourne Park.
“Playing first round Lorenzi, I don’t know too much the guy. Never played him before,” he said.
“But if I stay focused, keep my feet on the ground, then I’ll find a way to win.
“And if I stay focused and find the way to win the first two, three matches, then I could be very dangerous and confident.”
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