Nation goes tennis-mad

ByEurosport

Published 25/01/2006 at 15:53 GMT

The island only boasts a dozen tennis clubs, but Cyprus has suddenly gone tennis-crazy after the heroics of Marcos Baghdatis in Melbourne. In fact, it seems the only thing that can stop the 20-year old is not David Nalbandian, but the looming threat of mi

Cyprus had the rare privilege of welcoming a high-profile political visitor this week, when British Foreign Minister Jack Straw jetted in to re-launch UN efforts to reunify the island after 32 years of division and avert a potentially disastrous EU split over Turkey.

As Straw's military plane landed on the island, there were sudden reports of Cypriots dancing wildly in fountains across the island.

But that had nothing to do with a sudden surge in hopes of reunification: enter Marcos Baghdatis.

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TENNIS 2006 AUSTRALIAN OPEN 1/4F. Baghdatis

Image credit: Reuters

The young Cypriot's breathtaking run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open has taken the island by storm.

And what's just as incredible about the country's reaction to Baghdatis is that tennis has virtually no history on the island.

At the last count, the country had a measly 54 courts -- many in a condition that would make even English club players shudder.

Until now, most Cypriots regarded tennis as little more than a pastime of British imperialists. In fact, the Baghdatis family pretty much is Cypriot tennis: Marcos' two older brothers have both played the Davis Cup for the country.

TENNIS 2006 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Marcos Baghdatis 240106

Image credit: Eurosport

On this small Mediterranean island, discussing politics, not sport, is the national pastime.

But suddenly tavernas are full of tennis talk -- across the island and beyond.

''Marcos has made our nation proud,'' proclaimed the news on London Greek Radio, which serves the U.K. capital's 200 000 strong Cypriot community. ''We've never had a champion like this.''

TOUR OF DUTY?

The country's weighty political affairs, for a few days at least, will have to take a back seat.

Indeed, popular opinion suggests that President Tassos Papadopoulos would be on to a vote-winner if he can find 20-year-old Baghdatis an exemption from mandatory military service.

"We are pleading with the military to give him exemption from the army... they should at least inform him that he will not have to do the army until he is 35. But they are not willing to do that," Baghdatis's Lebanese father Christos told the Cyprus Mail.

"He is constantly being given postponements from the Ministry of Defence regarding his draft. It is in itself a worry for our son."

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