Sydney, Jan 24 : Australian Open 2006 runner up Marcos Baghdatis has said it’s a “pain in the arse” that the event organisers keep making him play midnight matches.

Incredibly, a year after featuring in the infamous dawn showdown with Lleyton Hewitt, Baghdatis was again ordered onto court after 11.30 p. m. for another third-round encounter on against American Mardy Fish.

Baghdatis lost to Hewitt in an epic five-setter that finished at 4.34 a. m. in the morning.

Melbourne - The Australian Open diet of choice for Marcos Baghdatis certainly breaks a few training rules with the Cypriot currently unable to resist lashings of Greek food.

Team Baghdatis has visited a Greek deli on Melbourne's elite shopping-and-eating Chapel Street at least three times, according to the gossip press.

Local media reported the 2006 finalist and his coach have treated themselves to dishes including spit-roasted lamb and the melted cheese delight of saganaki - hardly the food of champions.

Brisbane, Australia (dpa) - The confidence of former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis took a minor hit on Monday as the Cypriot crashed out 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Nieminen preyed upon the injury-hit Baghdatis, who changed coaches in the off-season as he desperately tries to rescue his game.

Baghdatis, the 2006 Melbourne finalist against Roger Federer, admitted that he's not fully recovered from back and other injuries which compromised his 2008 season.

Paris  - The back-pain drama which has limited Marcos Baghdatis to just 24 ATP starts this season came back to haunt the Cypriot as he was forced to retire for the third time in four matches on Monday at the Paris Masters.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist has struggled in the 2008 season with ankle and back problems. But after completing a match last week in Basle - even a loss - his spirits were again rising.

That all ended at the Bercy arena as American Sam Querrey earned a victory 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 3-2 when Baghdatis was again frustratingly forced to retire.