Cincinnati 2008

[Annie]

Oh man... I mean alright, calling a footfault (even if there was one it was not obvious) on a second serve at 30 all and 4 all is a very very very bad decision Mr. Linesman but Marat seriously...grow up man! Get over yourself! Respect your opponent and people around you. What was all that about? Thanks Mitya for your gentleman behaviour and for at least something positive in return for my waking up at 3 am

[coolgirl]

Jul 29, 2008 4:12:51 GMT 3 yarina said:

gone are the days when Marat could cope with Sampras or Fed (in top form) serves. he's way way far from that level of play...

I agree

[safin4eva]

I really don't think the foot faults cost him the match - actually, I think he was not happy with his game anyway (and he would have lost the match most probably even without that hysteria at the end) so he found a scape goat.

I don't see this match out of line at all actually. We got all so happy about his Wimbledon run, but in the end that's one tournament as he so often says it - and he indeed backs up his statements with just going back to his poor form of the past 3 years.His groundstrokes do not seem to get significantly better; his concentration seems poor, his motivation the same, the return - well Tursunov served very well, but still, gone are the days when Marat could cope with Sampras or Fed (in top form) serves. All that he did resonably well today was serving...About his antics, well those were always the same at least
But I guess all of you who witnessed this year's Wimbledon final for example can agree with me that he's way way far from that level of play...

Apologies for the negative outlook - one needs to express it once in a while.

Yes yarina I can agree that he had very poor motivation and/or desire to perform in this match and his concentration the same.. he has always had trouble with his mental stability and lacks the ability to eb able to focus in tight situations.. like always his serving was one of the only great parts of his game...

i can certainly see the contrast between his style of play and form compared to someone of Rafa or Fed, he is no where near up to scratch for matches like that..

[Annie]

[yarina]

thanks, Annie

[Dina]

when I say focus I mean that when u miss a BP or are down the score u don't start blaming the sky nor the judge line for every shot u lose! he at the end of the match kept it together and that very often makes the difference at the end! but still Marat wasn't up today to win it he just found the easiest way to get himself one more week of rest!
I agree with u though, neither Dima is being a perfect gentleman recently, but still give him some credit.....
and by the way I don't think any of them really played well, it was crap everywhere, they got very generous on UE! whatever! what's the next?

[coolgirl]

thanks Annie! hahaha, why is it that I've forgiven his pathetic behavior after seeing those pics

[safin4eva]

Thanks for pics Annie

Some more scores:

T Robredo d M Fish - 62 62
P Kohlshreiber d M Yani - 63 64
D Tursunov d M Safin 76(5) 64
S Querrey d P Mathieu - 64 46 63
E Gulbis d J Nieminen - 76(7) 62
T Berdych d F Gonzalez - 63 36 63
A Seppi d F Lopez - 75 75
T Haas d M Youzhny - 76(2) 26 64

[safin4eva]

Jul 29, 2008 4:29:10 GMT 3 coolgirl said:

thanks Annie! hahaha, why is it that I've forgiven his pathetic behavior after seeing those pics

LOL same here

[maratsmaiden]

i wish someone had some close up pictures, like the gorgeous ones above, of his foot while serving. I agree, he went a little too nuts with the yelling and fighting... and walking off was so unsportsmanlike... but I also understand. that when they called the final foot fault, it was a huge point. also, it was very 'iffy' on film. if it's iffy, you don't call it. especially on a point of that magnitude. they knew this would shake his cages. they knew it would drive him nuts. and it obviously did. at the end of the match, i think he just knew his head was completely gone. there was no coming back... he was just too angry and couldn't get his mind off of wanting to see that replay. no excuse, but, being a bit hotheaded myself, i can understand it.

I actually thought some of his play looked great. he had some amazing backhand shots, and some inside out/in shots that were just perfect. but i do agree, he is no where near being able to play to the level of nadal or fed. but he sure looks good out there in blue...

[wendy]

I just finished watching the match and it was a spoilt child not geting his own way in the end.

[jenhatter06]

i just hope for better matches tomorrow ... what (very) little I got to see today has left much to be desired ... after Marat's -- Monfils-Young is the quietest match I've ever seen - nothing for the crowd to get into - Young is all errors it seems, and even though Monfils looks like he's about to keel over, Young still can't do much to take advantage

*sigh*

[Annie]

and Monfils wins mega easily. I had no clue Roger Rasheed is coaching Gael now Shows how busy I have been

[evaki]

I've been watching you for 10 years now. I've stopped wondering about a lot of things a long time ago. Through Wimbledon, I could see you were still far away from your best tennis but hoped it could mean a start for.....I don't know what for exactly.... Since then, everything started going wrong again. I hated the fact that I could tell even before the matches started.

Still....through the years, I've learned to accept everything, all the brilliant stuff (that's the easy part!) and then from playing poorly to smashing raquets and yell....I hate it, but can accept it. Giving up in such an obvious way (even though, I agree, nothing could really change the final outcome of this match at that point) and acting in such a childish, spoiled, disrespectful, rude way....especially when you're 28 years old....No. I'm sorry Marat, that's where you loose me. Listening to people boo you tonight and, most importantly, feeling like doing so myself.....I'm so angry at you for that. Pffffffffffffffff............

Remember one thing. Your real fans were there when you were winning AND when you were loosing. And will always be there as long as you keep TRYING and FIGHTING till the end. No excuses. No bullshit. One thing we need....be able to RESPECT you the way we've always been. Give us at least that, I need to believe you still can.

PS. Sorry everyone, for my english and for my disappointment...please don't get mad at me, I just had to let it out

[coolgirl]

Did you notice Dima's face when he walked over to the chair umpire after the match..he seems to look helpless and apologetic for Marat, even gave away towels and water bottles to the crowd..