Before each first serve Federer deftly flipped his racket behind his back and with utmost confidence bounced the ball precisely through his legs. Baghdatis went away to perfect the routine himself.
In the four years that have ensued, Federer has opted to act slightly more responsibly, as world No 1s and multi-millionaires tend to do, and now has a far more conservative service routine, but Baghdatis still enjoys being a little outlandish. “So many people try to do things like him and I am no different,” said the engaging young Greek-Cypriot, beaming the smile that has become the trademark of this year’s tournament.
“He’s a great champion, a legend of tennis. Maybe even a legend of all sports. I would like to be like him one day. Maybe even better?” Such speculation can be viewed as hugely optimistic, but it is justified, given the unpredictable events of the past fortnight. Who would have given the 20-year-old a hope of reaching today’s contest after losing tamely in the first round of the build-up tournament in Auckland? Then there was the threatening triumvirate of Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian for the world’s 54th-ranked player to overcome.
But one person who is not surprised is Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman who spotted a 13-year-old playing in Le Petits As, an international junior tournament in Tarbes, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. At the time Baghdatis was still based in Cyprus, struggling to find good enough practice partners, facilities and competition to improve his game.
The youngster had followed his elder brothers, Marinos and Petros, on to the clay courts of his native Limassol and was still coached by his father, Christos.
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However, Mouratoglou, who runs a private tennis academy a half-hour to the west of Paris, sensed his enthusiasm, and so began the story that leads to this morning’s final. “There are very few kids in the world who have something that is magic,” said the Frenchman of that first sighting. “But I could see it. He was a good player but not a top player. I would say the most different thing he had was his attitude. He was just showing something. He had a lot of charisma.
“It was not easy for Marcos. In Cyprus he was living 100 metres from the sea and the weather was always great. All his friends and family were there. But when he came to France everything was more professional, the winter was tough, he didn’t speak the language and he didn’t know anyone. It required dedication for him to stay, but he saw things through.”
After a one-week trial at the Mouratoglou academy in Thiverval-Grignon, Baghdatis left home permanently, and despite suffering a desperate case of homesickness, he began to evolve into the fearless and fleet-footed competitor who confronts Federer today. He also flourished as a showman, and in 2003 he showed the first signs of his affinity for Australian conditions by winning the junior tournament at Melbourne Park.
Steve Walker, the tournament director of the Australian Open junior event, recalled: “I heard somebody cracking a ball incredibly hard in practice and couldn’t believe it was one of the kids. His name was Baghdatis, and how he could play. But he was also the darling of the tournament office. He had this big smile and was so friendly to everyone, from the staff to the referees. We probably get used to dealing with the Czech and Russian kids, who can be a bit dour, but you couldn’t help but like this kid.”
Before long Baghdatis was the world’s top-ranked junior — not too surprising, given that he made his Davis Cup debut at the age of 14. In 2003 he danced with delight, draped in the Cypriot flag, after winning the youth title at Melbourne Park, and his progress began to excite those who try to forecast the stars of the next generation.
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There is also the French Open champion Rafael Nadal, the French pair of Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils, Serbia & Montenegro’s Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray. Tennis seems destined for another impressive period towards the end of the decade. But last year, after reaching a fourth-round meeting with Federer in the Australian Open proper, beating Ljubicic along the way, Baghdatis was halted by a congenital muscle problem in his right arm.
By this time tutelage of his progress had been entrusted to one of Mouratoglou’s coaches, Guillaume Payre, but disagreements and mutual disenchantment caused them to split temporarily. As Baghdatis now realises, it was an error.
“We stopped because we were not in the same direction when I got injured,” he recalled. “Coming back was really tough. I was young, I made mistakes and I was stressed out.”
For somebody still in the initial stages of his competitive career, he has been forced to endure several tough periods: the homesickness, the injury, that familiar malaise known as the pressure of expectation. And even if he does not beat Federer, he will now be accepted as an opponent to be feared. Eschewing modesty, he declared: “I’m really quick on my feet. I move very well in the court. I have a great eye. I see the ball very fast. I can adapt to any player, any style. I have all the shots, but Federer will not be too worried. It’s his seventh Grand Slam final and he’s won six of them.”
But, like any great champion, Federer underestimates no one, and the stature of his young opponent’s victims here merits respect. If the fairytale continues, Baghdatis will become only the second player, after Stefan Edberg, to win both the junior and senior Australian titles.
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High in the Rod Laver Arena grandstands, the Baghdatis cheer squad made up of proud Melburnian Cypriots will ceaselessly chant their young hero’s name and unwittingly do their level best to unsettle Federer. In the players’ box the support will be more respectful of the opposition, but no less patriotic.