Bastad 2008

[davis]

www.swedishopen.org/News/Safin%20i%20Wimby%20SF.aspx:
"The former number one and two time Grand Slam winner, Marat Safin, has made it to the semi final of Wimbledon. He promises to play Bastad anyway."

I guess that means we need a new thread . Let's go back to clay:

CATELLA SWEDISH OPEN
BÅSTAD, SWEDEN
5–13 JULY 2008
Prize Money: €353,450 (€332,200)
28 DRAW
WEB SITE: www.swedishopen.org/?sc_lang=en

Qualifying draw: Friday, July 4, 9:00 p.m.
Main draw: Saturday, July 5, 2:00 p.m.
Doubles draw: Saturday, July 4, 6:00 p.m.

ATP Ranking Points/ATP Race Points
W: 175/35
F: 120/24
SF: 75/15
QF: 40/8
R16: 15/3 (Seeds 1-4: 0/0)
R32: 0/0
Q: +5/+1

MAIN DRAW

(1) FERRER, David ESP/BYE
QUALIFIER v PASHANSKI, Boris SRB
GICQUEL, Marc FRA v ROCHUS, Olivier BEL
FOGNINI, Fabio ITA v (8) SODERLING, Robin SWE

(3) ROBREDO, Tommy ESP/BYE
GRANOLLERS, Marcel ESP v BJORKMAN, Jonas SWE
GULBIS, Ernests LAT v DARCIS, Steve BEL
ROITMAN, Sergio ARG v (7) NIEMINEN, Jarkko FIN

(5) MOYA, Carlos ESP v STARACE, Potito ITA
QUALIFIER v SAFIN, Marat RUS
JOHANSSON, Thomas SWE v (WC) PRPIC, Filip SWE
BYE/(4) BERDYCH, Tomas CZE

(6) MONFILS, Gael FRA v (WC) RYDERSTEDT, Michael SWE
QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
(WC) ELESKOVIC, Ervin SWE v VOLANDRI, Filippo ITA
BYE/(2) VERDASCO, Fernando ESP

[arvind13]

the draw is out. Marat faces a qualifier in the first round. A possible second round meeting with Carlos Moya. and a quarterfinal meeting with Tomas Berdych. But after Marat's top 5 performance at wimbledon, we fans should be confident that he can get past Moya, and Berdych, whom he has beaten twice this year and never lost to.

[Dina]

honestly, don't really get why he goes on clay now!
oh well, davai hbibi!!!!!

[sabz]

i'm with Dina - dont get why he is here, but if he promised, well then its good to see him keep it
dont really have any expectations - dont get me wrong, i want him to do well, but its a big adjustment coming off the grass to clay - so watever happens will be good!

davai marat!!!

[invincible1]

have just checked and we can see the matches live on www.bet365.com. I was pretty sure they'd show it

[newmaratfan]

OMG! Marat is playing a double with Tomas BERDYCH tomorrow against Daniel KOELLERER (AUT) / Frank MOSER (GER) on Court 1 (2nd match).

[invincible1]

i believe he shouldn't have had entered the doubles competition as well..

But i would not be thinking the same if it hadn't been for the Wimbledon semifinal so yeah...if you feel fit,why not go for it?

[annie]

well, he did say he needs to play more matches... So, I guess he'll get them wherever or however he can...

[tinuviel]

Not sure if I have my calculations right - but I don't think he played at all this week last year - so however he does any points should be a bonus.
I don't think it matters if it's clay - Marat proved last week he can play on different surfaces.

Good for him, keeping his promise to play (which he prob made before he did so well at Wimbledon) and good luck.

Anyway why wouldn't you want to spend a week on the west coast of Sweden - I know I would? ;D

[maryb]

Glad to see he's playing doubles. He's fit, so it won't hurt him physically ... And he gets to show off again at the net more! LMAO.

[lena]

just a happy smiling Marat at the Opening Ceremony of Swedish Open Bastad
credits to Göran Stenberg / HG

[annie]

Awww...what a cute smile....love his smile lines....

[luxsword]

Yeah LOL And nice to see he doesn't iron his tshirts.

[annie]

LOL...Oh, you know i think he just pulls something out from his bag like in the lottery...and wears it...

[tinuviel]

Love the idea of the lottery Tshirt idea. ;D

He doesn't seem to get too hung up about what he wears but somehow he always looks hot - just isn't fair that he can look that good without even trying