All Good Things Come To An End - US OPEN 09

Marat Safin interview to the Russian newspaper "Sport Express" prior to the US Open. Translated from Russian

Marat Safin: “I don’t get assigned further than on Court 3 in New York”

US Open will be the last Grand Slam for a Russian tennis player Marat Safin, who will end his career at the end of this season. “Sport Express” journalist managed to interview the player, who has already arrived in New York, where he won a title in 2000.

-How would you evaluate your current form?

Everything is fine in general. I am getting ready for the USO right here in New York. So for now I continue my everyday tennis routine.

-Is there any slight sadness for you as a player considering that this is your last time at this tournament? If you are finishing your career that is.

I am finishing my career, I can confirm that one more time. As for sadness, no, I don’t feel anything of the sort. Even though I thought it would be different. I thought the emotions during my last year in the tour would be different. But in reality there is no nostalgia at all.

-Nonetheless, it’s pretty obvious that US Open will always be the tournament of good memories considering you won the title here back in 2000.

I like the tournament atmosphere and everything happening here. In addition to that, New York is a very vigorous city, where a lot of my friends live. I have always come here with a positive attitude and my memories of this tournament will always be good ones. New York has been and still is one of my favourite cities.

-If we talked about USO this year in particular. What are your plans: climb as high as you can in the draw or simply enjoy your last Grand Slam?

I would like to enjoy it and not stress out and drive myself crazy with tension and fear when I play. In other words I would love all the emotions I have been feeling for the past 12 years to go away. I would truly like to realize, even if it’s with a slight hint of nostalgia, that this will be the last time for me on these courts and I would like to enjoy these thoughts.

-How about combining the pleasant with the useful? You know, if you reached a final here in New York you wouldn’t have to finish your career being 58th in the rankings…

We’ll see how it goes. If I manage to enjoy myself on courts in New York everything will be alright. I obviously want to stay here as long as possible.

-Are there any opponents in particular you would like to face during USO and are there any matches you would like to avoid?

I don’t wish to play anyone in particular. I have the desire to fight any opponent.

-Some time ago after you had won USO you went to St. Petersburg a couple of months later and won a title there. It has already been announced that you will be going to the tournament this year. What are your thoughts about the last tournament in your home country?

As far as my victory in St. Petersburg is concerned it was a long time ago. As for the tournament itself – it has grown throughout the years and now pretty well represents our country in the ATP calendar. As far as I know a lot of players like it and the city on river Neva is loved by thousands of people on this planet, I included. I have been coming here for years and have fond memories of travelling here for junior tournaments. I remember playing in Victory Park there when I was little. Since then a train ride to St. Petersburg has always brought tons of positive emotions. So I have great memories of this city and will always think about it with nostalgia.

-For a long time you were the only player who had managed to win two St. Petersburg titles. Afterwards Thomas Johansson and Andy Murray caught up. Do you think you can go for the third title one last time?

If no top players show up, I have a good chance (smiles).

-When Kafelnikov finished his career, his last official match was during St. Petersburg Open. Is this what you are going to do or are you travelling somewhere else after?

I plan to participate in the last tournament of the year in Paris. I won three titles there and this is where I would like to put an end to my career.

-Let’s get back to the upcoming US Open. Who do you think is the favourite to win the title?

As always lately, Federer. He had a great tournament in Cincinnati where he easily defeated Djokovic in the final. So all in all Roger should beat everyone here and secure his number one spot.

-What are the prospects for Russian players here?

Well all our hopes are with Kolya Davydenko because he is the one who has been showing great results in the past 4 years.

-A few years back Michail Youzhny reached the semi-finals here, what are his chances now?

I think a lot will depend on the draw for him. We, Russians, have a lot of uncomfortable players as opponents on the tour.

-What round would you consider a good result for yourself?

Only the title.

-Does it make a difference whether you play on Centre Court or further from it in New York?

Of course it’s always great to play on Centre Court. Whether you get assigned there or not – that’s not for us to decide.

-How does the New York crowd treat you?

I don’t know why but the public here has always treated me well, even before I had won the title. If you think about it, I have never even been further than Court 3 here. That’s where I have been playing the past years, thanks to organizers for that.

-Have you thought of what you would be doing after finishing your career?

There are a lot of interesting things in life. The most important thing is to have the time and the will. I already have the second and there will be plenty of the first after I finish my career. One thing left to do is sit down and realize what it is that I want to do.

-Are you going to choose between sports and other fields or are we talking about something sports related?

I would obviously like to stay in the sports industry. I have dedicated my whole life to it and it’s the only thing I have gained a good understanding of throughout the years. If would be pretty stupid to start from scratch somewhere else.

-Are we talking about tennis?

I would say sports in general.

Don't worry Big Yin, that little pang will hit the day after Bercy. Then it's real.

Gawd, I wish I could retire now. ;D I could spend my days gardening, painting, reading, cooking, visiting new places, looking after chickens ... the life of Riley!

Make the most of it when it comes my Big Pixie. In the meantime, the USO is upon us. Give us all something to cheer about tomorrow ... no faffin'. It's your last ever GS. ;D

Awww ...

FG

Practice pics:

is that Hernan on the fourth pic??? pretty sure it's him... is he back with Marat for the USO or whatever or is he coaching Feli too? REALLY WONDERING HERE!!!!!!!

thanx Annie for the translation u're a rockstar Admin!!! and Patxi as usual...u are most loved and appreciated for ur post...!!!!!!! (btw: it's been ages! they say that it's at the end that everyone gathers again don't they?!)

really freaking out becoz I kinda don't know when he's gonna play ( day or night I mean ) and I hope I'll get to clear hours (very unlikely that my chief resident will feel for me on this one...but whatever!) so I'll get to watch him play for some couple more times(I hope)

Hernan to coach Sveta? God help them both LOL. Patxy girl where have you been??? Good to see you and thanks for the photos So we have to wait for one more day ey? Ah well...hopefully it will all be worth a wait... For those interested here are the results of yesterday

Roger Federer def Devin Britton 6/1 6/3 7/5
Andy Roddick def Bjorn Phau 6/1 6/4 6/2
James Blake def Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6/1 6/4 7/5
John Isner def Victor Hanescu 6/1 7/6 7/6
Lleyton Hewitt def Thiago Alves 6/0 6/3 6/4
Michail Youzhny def Paul Henri Mathieu ;D ;D ;D 2/6 7/5 6/0 6/2
Nikolay Davydenko def Dieter Kindlmann 6/3 6/4 7/5 ;D ;D ;D
Radek Stepanek def Simone Bolelli 6/4 6/4 6/4
Robert Kendrick def Martin Vassallo Arguello 6/3 6/2 6/2
Leonardo Mayer def Andrey Golubev 6/4 4/6 7/5 6/3
Marsel Ilhan def Christophe Rochus 3/6 6/3 3/6 7/5 7/5
Tommy Robredo def Donald Young 6/4 3/6 6/2 6/3
Marc Gicquel def Dmitry Tursunov 6/2 5/7 6/3 6/3
Olivier Rochus def Igor Kunitsyn 6/3 6/0 6/2
Marco Chiudinelli def Potito Starace 7/6 7/6 6/0
Marcel Granollers def Mischa Zverev 2/6 7/5 3/6 6/4 6/0
Robin Soderling def Albert Montanes 6/1 3/6 6/1 6/4
Tommy Haas def Alejandro Falla 7/5 4/6 7/6 6/2.
Jan Hernych def Rainer Schuettler 1/6 7/6 6/4 2/6 6/3
Phillip Kohlschreiber def Andreas Seppi 6/0 6/4 6/4
Juan Ignacio Chela def Oscar Hernandez 6/4 6/4 6/2
Guillermo Garcia Lopez def Peter Polansky 6/4 6/4 5/7 3/6 6/1
Somdev Devvarman def Frederico Gil 6/3 6/4 6/3
Simon Greul def Giovanni Lapentti 6/3 4/6 6/3 0/6 7/6

woo hoo, half way thru the first week and marat is still in the USO