9:17 PM

Agassi breaks Baghdatis early in the first set. Meanwhile over on Comcast Sports Network, The Ravens go up 14-0 on a Kyle Boller touchdown pass with under 2:00 left in the first half. Greek-American Matt Stover on the extra point.

9:21 PM

Baghdatis misses his first break point opportunity.

9:23 PM

Baghdatis hammers in the deuce court mid-rally, gets up and finishes the point with a forehand winner to earn his second break point chance, which he proceeds to muff with a backhand wide.

9:26 PM

Agassi up 5-3. Meanwhile first half of the Redskins game ends 14-0. Smirnoff Ice commercial in picture-in picture far more entertaining and inspires trip to freezer for shot of ouzo while Baghdatis holds serve at 5-4

9:31 PM

Agassi holds serve to win the first set 6-4.

9:35 PM

A crowd shot reveals no Greeks in the crowd. Why isn’t Astoria representing? Isn’t the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens?

9:37 PM

John MacEnroe ponders the same question. “I guess there’s more a lot more Greeks in Melbourne than in New York, at least showing up for the tennis.”

9:39 PM

Mapquest confirms that Flushing Meadows is indeed in Queens, about 6 miles and 11 minutes from Astoria. What the heck?

9:41 PM

USA Commentator relays the story that Baghdatis father wouldn’t have sent his teenage son to the tennis academy in Paris because it was too hard on the family. Baghdatis would supposedly call home and cry to his mommy. With over $1,000,000 in earnings this year alone, who’s crying now?

9:43 PM

Redskins score a field goal. Fantastic.

9:46 PM

Check email. Three more people register for YAL DC Weekend.

9:49 PM

As MacEnroe calls the match for Agassi at 2-2 in the 2nd set (only an hour in), Baghdatis clips the line with a winner. Agassi challenges, and the call is upheld on instant replay.

9:52 PM

Baghdatis saves 2 break points and wins the game to go up 3-2.

9:58 PM

Baghdatis gets broken at love to go down 4-3 after attempting a drop shot that goes harmlessly into the bottom of the net.

10:04 PM

Baghdatis gets his first break point opportunity of the 2nd set. Quickly erased by an Agassi service winner to force a 3rd deuce.

10:06 PM

Agassi holds serve to go up 5-3 in the 2nd set.

10:07 PM

The wave erupts in the upper deck. Baghdatis shakes his head approvingly. First time he smiles all match. Agassi proceeds to lose the next 3 out of the 4 next points and Baghdatis holds for 5-4.

10:14 PM

Agassi wins the 2nd set 6-4.

10:17 PM

Agassi intentionally whiffs on a backhand to let it go long, to taunt Baghdatis after Baghdatis hits a shot through his legs.

10:25 PM

Commentator remarks that “It almost feels like, looks like, more people have come in as the night’s gone on…” Oh, finally the Greeks show up, an hour and a half late as usual.

10:37 PM

Baghdatis erases two break points and wins 4 straight points to hold at 3-4 in the third.

10:45 PM

Baghdatis breaks Agassi, pumps his fist and beats his chest.

10:50 PM

Baghdatis wins the 3rd set 6-3 to trail, 2 sets to 1. It seems that Baghdatis’ game also arrived on Greek time.

11:01 PM

It’s done! Kaput! Agassi up 3-0 in the 4th set. Actually praying for a 6-Bagel ending to this set so we can go to bed. Greece-USA tipping off in 4 1/2 hours.

11:07 PM

4-0. Somebody call a priest because Baghdatis is dead.

11:10 PM

Baghdatis actually breaks Agassi. Tell the priest to take the scenic route.

11:14 PM

Baghdatis holds serve. Ugh. Meanwhile, the ticker flashes the results of the Danilidou match. She’s out. Two games away from no Hellenes in the U.S. Open.

11:17 PM

Baghdatis mishits an overhead smash. He smiles, crosses himself, pulls out his cross from under his shirt, kisses it, then attempts to smoke his racket. Tell the priest to hurry.

11:18 PM

Hold on. Baghdatis wins the next point and breaks Agassi again. Back on serve at 3-4.

11:25 PM

Agassi holds serve at 5-4. If Baghdatis wins the next game I may be emailing my secretary to clear my morning calendar. Contemplating setting the DVR to record the USA-Greece game instead.

11:28 PM

Baghdatis holds serve at love. This set is either going 7 games or to a tiebreak.

11:31 PM

You got to be kidding me? The kid just broke Agassi to go up 6-5, with a chance to serve for the 4th set!

11:35 PM

Oh g@m0t0! Baghdatis wins the 4th set. Tip off less than four hours away and we’re going to a fifth set.

11:37 PM

Another mishit winner for Baghdatis. Kissing the cross must have helped.

11:41 PM

Ad Baghdatis. That’s fun to say. Ad Baghdatis. And he actually breaks! 1-0.

11:42 PM

In between points, Baghdatis’ trainer comes out for the third time. After two doses of painkillers, it appears that Baghdatis thigh is cramping. This would be a shame for him to come back to lose it now on an injury.

11:49 PM

Agassi breaks back as Baghdatis self-destructs on his serve.

11:50 PM

Agassi up 2-1. Tell the priest to get his frappe to go.

11:54 PM

2-2. Marco is holding up his end of the bargain.

11:58 PM

3-2 Agassi. And I think the first running of the Sharapova “I feel pretty” Nike Ad during the commercial break.

12:01 AM

It’s Midnight in New York. It’s morning in Cyprus and it’s now three and a half hours ‘til US Greece.

12:02 AM

We’re at 3 all.

12:05 AM

It’s 4-3 Agassi. Will this match ever end?

12:12 AM

This is incredible. Baghdatis has just tied it up at 4-4 and is hulking out alone amongst a sea of 20,000 angry New Yorkers. He doesn’t have a single fan in the joint. Unbelievable.

12:15 AM

Baghdatis wins an incredible point and comes up limping and cramping. It’s like watching the worst zembekiko ever, seeing him shake this thing off. He wins the next point on a return winner.

12:18 AM

It’s like watching a 50 year old Greek man, hammered, trying to balance a wine glass on his head, and watching it spill everywhere.

12:21 AM

Classless New Yorkers are booing the fact that Baghdatis is cramping. Fourth break point of the game. Deuce #7. This 9th game of this set is taking forever.

12:23 AM

Someone get Baghdatis the Π. Agassi just double-faulted game point to get to the 8th deuce.

12:24 AM

Agassi finally wins to make it 5-4. Baghdatis finally can seek medical attention during the change-over. Drink something! Hydrate yourself. Ante bravo.

12:28 AM

Service winner staves off Agassi’s first match point.

12:29 AM

5-5. Baghdatis’ valiant effort is still getting booed.

12:30 AM

You know, he’s moving around way too well for someone with thigh cramps. Maybe he should be called Sand-Baghdatis. MacEnroe just made the same point.

12:31 AM

6-5. Good Lord.

12:36 AM

Ad Bagdahtis after 5 straight faulted serves. He muffs a simple shot at the net to get it back to deuce.

12:37 AM

I think he just grunted “ΟΠΑ” on one of his serves.

12:38 AM

Match Point #2. It’s really over. Wow.

12:39 AM

Finally an ovation for Baghdatis! McEnroe calls it one of the greatest matches he’s ever seen. What a classy consolation speech, thanking Agassi and wishing him well.

12:42 AM

Going to bed. Less than 3 hours ‘til USA vs. Greece.