Racquet rampage hits Baghdatis in pocket

Former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis was fined US$800 on Thursday for a jaw-dropping tantrum when he smashed up four racquets during his defeat to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

The Cypriot, trailing by two sets late on Wednesday, destroyed his first racquet by hammering it into the ground -- before taking three more out of his bag and giving them the same treatment.

As the stunned crowd looked on Baghdatis, beaten in the 2006 Australian Open final by Roger Federer, left the shattered racquets in a small pile near his chair, with two of them still in their plastic wrappers.

However, the outburst appeared to give Baghdatis a brief boost as he won the third set -- before he went on to lose the second-round match in four sets.

The fine handed down by the tournament referee to the 26-year-old was for "abuse of racquets and equipment".

Baghdatis, ranked 44th, was taken to heart by Australians, especially the country's Greek Cypriot community, during his run six years ago but has since failed to go beyond the fourth round.