By Chris Soderstrom
Marcos Baghdatis had much to smile about today, despite being bundled out to underdog Marcel Granollers in his opening clash at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors in Basel.
Baghdatis, the current World No. 43, lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to the Spaniard in his first match since retiring against Ivo Karlovic with a back injury three weeks ago in Metz.
He took much heart from finishing the match.
“I’m not happy to lose, but it’s great to finally finish one,” said the Cypriot, who was stretchered off in Metz.
“It shows I’m back on the Tour.”
The smiling Cypriot received treatment on his left thigh and conceded it was a related problem.
“It’s part of the back problem, the doctors tell me I will feel pain for the next month. I'll know how it went for me when I wake up tomorrow.”
“So far, I’ve got up with a new pain every day. Physically, I’m not 100 percent yet, but I’m working on that.”