Cincinnati 2008

[jenhatter06]

these first two days of the tourney have been about the weirdest I've seen in a while ....

Andy comes out, tries to warm-up against Kolhschreiber, but has to withdraw (same issue with shoulder/back/neck, trouble looking side-to-side) -- he spoke to the crowd about it, couldn't even carry his bag as he left ... because it's Andy's first match of the tourney, and they hadn't played a first point, a Lucky Loser from Korea is coming out to play Phillip ... I understand the rule, but can we say BIZARRE

... and Kiefer pulled out and was replaced by Rajeev Ram - Simon won 76 64

... please please please get better soon Andy


... and in addition to the everyone-wearing-blue observation, is this also the time of year for everyone to get a haircut? (Kiefer, Tommy ...) ;D

[jenhatter06]

Dima Post-Match Interview:

Q. Despite all the distracting angry stuff at the end, there was some pretty good tennis in this match, wasn't there?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: I think there was pretty good serving, so it was pretty hard to have any rallies. But, yeah, we managed to squeeze how out a few good rallies.
I can really sympathize with some of the angry stuff towards the end, because it's really not the best time to call a foot fault. If he is making that many he should have been told that throughout the match, Hey, you're coming way too close to the line.
There was one match in challengers where the guy got called a foot fault on a second serve and he was serving at 5-6 in the tiebreak. This is probably just as bad, I think.
Because once he's loses his serve he really has no -- he has very small chances of getting back judging by the way I was serving the entire match.
So I can understand frustration. I'm just very happy that I was on my side and not on his side at that point, meaning that it didn't happen to me.

Q. Has it happened to you in the past?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: Well, some bad calls have happened. It's very hard for me to judge whether that was a good call or a bad call. I'm just arguing is that the timing of it is very bad.
I doubt that those three points are the only points where he foot faulted. You know what I mean? So you can call it. It's okay if he did it time and time again and he was warned about it.
But it didn't seem like was sufficiently warned about it. I've never really seen him being called on foot faults as much as he was called ion that match, so something had to happen.

Q. What kind of relationship do you have with him? Are you buddies?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: It's hard for me to say. I don't think you can be really close friends on tour because still, at the end of the day, you have a competitive edge and you're trying to be better than the other person.
It's very hard it mix the two. But I think we're, you know, good friends, I guess. For lack of a better, word acquaintances, if you want to call it that. We're teammates a lot of times, so we have good a relationship, I think.

Q. How surprised were you with the way that final game went?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: As far as I know, I think that serve was good. So if we did challenge him it was still an ace. He wasn't going to be able to touch that serve.
So, I mean, again, I've been booed before where I've done everything right and the crowd doesn't really understand what is going on so they're quick to boo.
But in that case scenario, as far as I know, the people have looked at the replay of that point and the serve was in. As far as I know, he didn't do anything unsportsmanlike. It did seem like he walked off the court, but it wasn't like that.
It was a good serve. He knew that if he challenged it or if I challenged it they would have called it in and he still would have lost the match. Just saved the challenge.

Q. Would you have challenged that ball if he hadn't walked up to the net?
DMITRY TURSUNOV: I mean, at 40-Love it's hard to say, but it did seem pretty good. I didn't have a chance to really think about it. It's not like we challenge right of off the bat. A lot of times it takes us a couple seconds to see what's going on.
So I can't say that it was very obvious, but it seemed like a good serve. I wouldn't have been opposed to it, let's put it that way.

Q. Where do you feel your tennis is at? If I understand, you've had confidence issues yourself.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: Who doesn't? We all have confidence issues, especially men.

Q. Things seem to be going pretty well on the court.
DMITRY TURSUNOV: Well, a lot times yes, and a lot times no. But I think confidence comes with a lot of matches. I doubt that Nadal can really say that he's not confident with as many matches as he's been winning.
On the opposite hand, I think Roger is feeling a little bit vulnerable, more vulnerable than before because he has lost a couple of matches.
Granted, most of them were to Nadal, but still, losing is never a confidence-builder.
I think slowly I'm winning a little bit more matches if I can get a better understanding of where my game a compared to my opponents.
I lost close match to James and he's in top 10, so I don't really feel that I'm very far from top 10. Again, feeling that and actually moving up in the ranking is two different stories.
Hopefully I'll be able to tie a string of good matches and slowly climb up.

[jenhatter06]

TUESDAY RESULTS

Singles - First Round
[10] F Verdasco (ESP) d [Q] V Estrella (DOM) 63 75
[11] R Gasquet (FRA) d M Llodra (FRA) 36 61 1-0 Ret. (left arm)
I Andreev (RUS) d [15] R Stepanek (CZE) 76(4) 67(4) 76(3) Nice Match Point - Go Igor!
[WC] J Isner (USA) d [Q] A Stoppini (ITA) 76(2) 63
F Serra (FRA) d [Q] B Becker (GER) 46 76(4) 64 - Saved 1 M.P.
C Moya (ESP) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) 76(5) 75
[LL] A Clement (FRA) d T Johansson (SWE) 76(4) 67(5) 63
[Q] C Guccione (AUS) d [WC] J Levine (USA) 63 64
N Lapentti (ECU) d M Cilic (CRO) 76(5) 62
G Simon (FRA) d [LL} R Ram (USA) 76(5) 64
S Bolelli (ITA) d [Q] K Anderson (RSA) 63 76(1)

Note: Nicolas Kiefer withdrew due to a right ankle injury and was replaced by [LL] Rajeev Ram

Singles - Second Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d R Ginepri (USA) 67(2) 76(5) 60
R Soderling (SWE) d [12] T Robredo (ESP) 76(6) 64
[16] I Karlovic (CRO) d J Acasuso (ARG) 63 76(3)
P Kohlschreiber (GER) d [LL] W-S Jun (KOR) 62 62

Note: No. 6 seed Andy Roddick withdrew due to a neck injury and was replaced by [LL} Woong-Sun Jun

[justsafin]

Thank you guys. I guess some folks misunderstood what I said about me being nervous type. I was just saying that being easily getting nervous that I am somehow more empathic rather than ranting. I am glad the bashing kinda ended and grateful that you guys are so nice to me! Annette and Mary, I truly appreciate your posts.

ok, back into business. ;D ;D
First all, some pics of yesterday(July 28). He practiced at noon and signed for fans non-stop. also did 20 minutes of warm-ups in Center Court.
1.Marat got angry and smashed the ball to the air.

2.Murray came over to say hello. Last year Marat was cheering him as Murray just came back from injury.

3.still busy signing, close to locker room

4. prematch warm-up in Center Court


Match against Dima
1.tossing the coin

2.during play

3.getting balls, about to serve


Today (July 29), Marat practiced at 1pm and I got there late (given wrong info from the tourny..sigh). His body looked like roasted meat. It's so HOT today, seriously. Still he was not happy with his serves and ground strokes. Got frustrated, yelled to the skies, shrugged shoulders. Haas was joining him and his(Haas) team seemed to understand how awful he felt. So they kinda talked alot with him. I overheard some "tanking" words (not sure, though).
1. took me a million years to catch a smile

2. he is much skinnier today. shorts kept falling down. he had to pull them up alot. LMAO! didn't eat? dunno..


Later at 5pm, while I was watching the painful 3rd set of Fed vs Genapri, a lady in front of me said she saw Marat went to practice court. and a bunch of people soon left Center Court. I was like running. He didn't sign up for 5pm session even though he normally does that everyday. So I rushed to court #7. He was still struggling alot. After being booed by the whole crowd, fined for not attending press conference, being put on nasty headline on local paper (which was enough to make anyone feeling hurt I figure), Marat still signed and took pics like he always does from the practice court all the way to the locker room, that is a long way. Honestly, I haven't seen any player doing that. So, that's why I was sad reading some posts calling him a jerk. I mean, he gets angry when he can't play well. Even just a bad serve at practice could drive him total nuts. It's 33C and very humid. He worked so hard, yet he somehow couldn't do what he wanted. Who would've gone thru this if he wasn't motivated to play tennis? I just can't understand. Anyways, he is really sweet off-court.
1. practicing with gumy

2.taking pictures with fans after practice

3. endless signing, half way to the locker room

4. still signing by the stair into the locker room


Thank goodness, finally done. My shoulders are so sore.. Hope you guys like the piccies and Marat doesn't consider me a stalker ... And when I have time, I will try my best to load as many as possible (including other players). ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Gumy told me Marat will practice tomorrow. So, another busy day for me!

ps: a picture of Richie! Enjoy, Annette!

[maryb]

Well done Justsafin, great pics - and more to come. The fairy dust worked for you. Don't consider yourself a stalker - consider yourself a good fairy in-training! Maybe we should all get official 'fairy squad' t-shirts. Then the Big Yin knows it's his team and not some dodgy nutters! LMAO.

[tinuviel]

Incredible pics. And thanks for the captions too. I think he gets so frustrated on court but it's great to know that he's still great with the fans and signing for everyone.

He's only human after all.

[luxsword]

Thanks a lot for the pics, justsafin !

[yarina]

Jul 30, 2008 8:42:19 GMT 3 justsafin said:

Thank you guys. I guess some folks misunderstood what I said about me being nervous type. I was just saying that being easily getting nervous that I am somehow more empathic rather than ranting. I am glad the bashing kinda ended and grateful that you guys are so nice to me! Annette and Mary, I truly appreciate your posts.

After being booed by the whole crowd, fined for not attending press conference, being put on nasty headline on local paper (which was enough to make anyone feeling hurt I figure), Marat still signed and took pics like he always does from the practice court all the way to the locker room, that is a long way. Honestly, I haven't seen any player doing that. So, that's why I was sad reading some posts calling him a jerk. I mean, he gets angry when he can't play well. Even just a bad serve at practice could drive him total nuts. It's 33C and very humid. He worked so hard, yet he somehow couldn't do what he wanted. Who would've gone thru this if he wasn't motivated to play tennis? I just can't understand. Anyways, he is really sweet off-court.

Thanks so much

After all, I guess we all think he's a nice guy, that's why we are following and supporting him (and bashing him from time to time ) And you are at least as sweet as he is

[Natasha]

Thank you for the pics

poor marat, i hate how his aggression is mistaken as him being a jerk too. hes so nice to everyone i wish i could give him a hug but im sure someone else did/has .

good to see him practise and tomorrow, cant wait for more pics?
did you happen to take a pic with him?

poor andy? wtf is happening to all my faves

[helloticky]

Justsafin thank you so much for both all pics & your report from there oh girl what you've done so perfect ....& I don't think Marat consider you as a stalker no girl you're big fan & you also kinda to share all pics here ..you had to run &carry hold camera on your shoulders under the hot sun like that ...thanks again ^_^.......
I don't like when someone called him jerk ...Marat may aggressive when he was playing but it's just emotion that you have to let's it out of your head when you feel bad but when match finished he is very nice with fans several time when I was watching livestream on tv I saw he took a long time sign & took photo with fan both on& off court ....so this guy is a jerk ? noooooo he is not & never

[invincible1]

thanks Justsafin, amazing pics. What camera do you have btw?

[Alya10]

Thanks justsafin, once again, for the picies and the reports

And yeah, he is perfectionist and when things don't go the way he wants them he get's frustrated, perhaps sometimes too much for his own good, but still I've never seen him lash out at anyone rather than himself. It can be frustrating for us when we see that if only he had kept his cool he might have done it, but that's the way he is and the way he's always been, he sometimes explodes when he would have been wiser to keep calm. If he was sulky and didn't really want to talk/sign/see anyone it would be understandable and still he does it patiently.

When you said on the day he first practiced with Haas that he was pissed and was ranting and throwing rackets I had a bad feeling about this tourney, just the same as I had a good feeling about Wimby when Mary said he was focused and blowing everybody off court during practice at Wimby ;D

He is kind of transparent in that sense, just shows what he feels and doesn't put up a fake front. If he had just pretended that last Dima 1st serve was really out and had sent the 2nd serve in the net or out of the court no one would have said he was being a bratt and a jerk or assumed he had tanked the match...

Once again thanks for keeping us updated

[sabz]

Justsafin they are gorgeous pics!! And it is brilliant to see him working so hard (Even though he gets frustrated ) Thanks for all the pics so far and we look forward to many more
He is a much loved player hence people are still out there watching his practice, I think everyone just got caught up in the emotion of the match and got a bit carried away (including myself a bit ) But it is all good now!

Also here is a post match interview video with Dima - he was very nice at the end
www.atptennis.com/en/multimedia/default_video.asp?videoid=667

[Natasha]

anyone know how much marat will get fined for not doing the press interview?

[evaki]

Since I'm one of the people who got the most carried away with this whole thing, and although I never did or would call him a jerk, please give me the chance to say one last thing.

We all know how Marat is and have accepted that although it's a real shame to see him waste chances so often because of his temper...I agree, it surely is even harder for him, much more frustrating. And I really don't expect him to radically change now if he hasn't been able to do it so far....So watching him go nuts the other day, well....It was hard, and frustrating and all but it felt like ''ok. he's pulling a Big Marat'' today...And I was there just wishing and pushing for him to calm down and fight it, praying for Dima not to serve as well.... ;D

And then there was that last point...And I was like ''Hey, he called it fault, what the f**k are you doing???"
I hear you. Ok, maybe it was in, maybe he did check the mark, maybe Dima would have challenged it and won anyway, maybe it wouldn't have made a difference cause he would have won anyway one of the next 3 points.....
But maybe that wasn't in....Or maybe he wouldn't have challenged it (he never moved to do so and said himself in the interview he doesn't know if he would). And maybe Marat would have won that point on a second serve. And who knows what could have happened next....
I know that was a veeeery long shot, but I needed to believe in it (long shot or not....it has happened before!) and most of all, I needed Marat to believe in it. He really didn't. He didn't feel like he had ANY chance of winning this match anymore, whether this ball was in or out. And that's what hurt me the most. Because, no matter what (and specially with the whole challenge thing possibilities), I'll never believe he would have given this point away (no one ASKED him to check) and left the court in such a hurry in any other circumstances.

Anyway.....much calmer now, I just hope that he'll be feeling better in LA. I'll be there this time, so he'd better !!!!!

PS. Justsafin.....thank you. And I'm really sorry if I was one of the people that made you feel like deleting your post. Your posts made me wanna delete mine too (but I wanted you all to remember how I lose my temper too, so I didn't! lol)