Athens Olympics

[Magda]

Damita said:

I've just read something that i don't like at all: this morning i had the newsletter from tennis-X.com in my mailbox but did not read it. And now that i'm reading it i wish i hadn't First they summed up all matches of yesterday and when saying that Marat and Mikhail lost to the Bryans they called our man Marat "Next!" Safin.... like now that he had lost the doubles it was just a matter of time before he left the singles draw and move to New York....
And then, even worse, when announcing the program for today, they wrote: Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. (9)Safin (watch for the tank by the Russian)

this is very unprofessional of them to write such stuff

[Damita]

Magda said:

this is very unprofessional of them to write such stuff

yep that's what i think too! imagine someone who doesn't really know anything about tennis, read this, and then learned that Safin lost.... if you haven't seen the match you could easily think they were right, that he really tanked.... very unprofesionnal

[Annie]

OMT.... did not want to start a new post.....ROGER is OUT yes OUT too and no less than to Berdych who the hell is he.......so.........Ruth yep I am going with your instincts, looks like some other ppl are of the same mind as habibi

Yep, was to be expected Seriously guys, Roddick seems to be the only big name fighting for the medals, because he's got the whole American-pride thing going (which is great! ) but as Wilander has said, no tennis player is going to take the Olympics seriously until it is given the same points, the same prize money and the same prestige as a Grand Slam. Until then, it will be a 4-yearly hiccup in the ATP (& possibly WTA) calendar, especially with the US Open right behind it. There's simply no contest. I was also watching an interview with Henman after his 1st round loss, and he really wasn't bothered at all, he was talking about how he couldn't wait to get out to NY. Sound familiar? ;D I wouldn't be surprised if a complete no-name wins gold....... or Roddick! And if Roddick does win then I'll run naked through my old high school if he wins US Open as well! ;D

Wokeej.. so maybe he doesnt want to be tired for USopen.. but it's like this for quite a while.. not winning major thingys.. cmon.. it's not like you're gonna be tired for weeks when you're trying to win ONE more match!! That will take like an hour or something.. dont tell me you are tired for so long then.. There are players out there who win many matches.. at least quite a few more then Marat... and they do it every time.. it's not like they win some and then they're out for a month cuz they're tired..

No-one really wants to win a major the week before a Grand Slam, that's for certain. I think the most important tournaments for Marat's US Open preparation were Toronto & Cincy. Ok, so Toronto was depressing, we know that. But he learnt from that and didn't let him upset him too much, because he did pretty well at Cincy - I think it was just a case of confidence in himself to beat Hewitt. That self-belief has to be re-installed in Marat, and I think this is where Peter needs to step in and build his mental confidence. (Don't ask me how, though ) The actual tennis (when Marat is playing his game) is very good by all accounts. I'd just like to see less excuses and whinging from Marat, because it's becoming a joke. And maybe a fine from Peter for every 'tie-break-is-a-lottery-and-I-can't-win-it' type quote ;D Racket breaking I can live with, bad language I can forgive, but the childish excuses are just awful!!

A few decent match wins before US Open would have done him good, and he only really accomplished that at Cincy. When he came across a tough opponent (Hewitt) he kinda crumbled, and that's something that worries me a bit. He can beat Hewitt when he puts his mind to it, and I'm hoping the motivation of winning US Open will be enough to convince him to let go of the self-doubts and focus soley on winning each game (not set, not tie break, not match - just a damn game!) Winning pretty is not gonna come until he's fought dirty and proved that he deserves to win pretty.

I still whole-heartedly believe Marat can win US Open this year and here's why:

1) Apart from RG, it's the only tourney he desperately longs to win. That dream is priceless, because it can motivate him better than money, coaching, ranking points or sex in a vodka-filled bath! ;D

2) His performance at RG this year. He came from nowhere and steam-rollered the opposition until those freaky blisters appeared and stopped the Safin express. He wanted to win and he went for it with passion. I don't see why US Open would be different.

3) Australian Open 2004 And he just wanted to play a few good matches there.......!! That was this year baby! Our man beating Roddick! Our man thrashing Agassi! That's what Marat can do ;D

4) He's paced himself this year. Federer is looking a bit jaded, and Roddick could burn himself out at the Olympics. Marat has been focussing on US Open since Wimbledon; now it's time for the practice and focus to pay off!

5) He's not expected to win US Open this year because of his so-so performance this year. Which means less pressure & less media attention - Marat's favourite kind of conditions. He seems to love sneaking up through the draw and surprising the tennis world with his fantastic tennis ;D

[Damita]

Ruth said:

Yep, was to be expected Seriously guys, Roddick seems to be the only big name fighting for the medals, because he's got the whole American-pride thing going (which is great! )

Maybe... but i thought Roger would fight too since he lost against Di Pasquale in Sydney and had to say good bye to the bronze medal...

I wouldn't be surprised if a complete no-name wins gold....... or Roddick! And if Roddick does win then I'll run naked through my old high school if he wins US Open as well! ;D

LOL, i doubt he could win both, but if he does..... poor Ruth ;D

I still whole-heartedly believe Marat can win US Open this year and here's why:

1) Apart from RG, it's the only tourney he desperately longs to win. That dream is priceless, because it can motivate him better than money, coaching, ranking points or sex in a vodka-filled bath! ;D

2) His performance at RG this year. He came from nowhere and steam-rollered the opposition until those freaky blisters appeared and stopped the Safin express. He wanted to win and he went for it with passion. I don't see why US Open would be different.

3) Australian Open 2004 And he just wanted to play a few good matches there.......!! That was this year baby! Our man beating Roddick! Our man thrashing Agassi! That's what Marat can do ;D

4) He's paced himself this year. Federer is looking a bit jaded, and Roddick could burn himself out at the Olympics. Marat has been focussing on US Open since Wimbledon; now it's time for the practice and focus to pay off!

5) He's not expected to win US Open this year because of his so-so performance this year. Which means less pressure & less media attention - Marat's favourite kind of conditions. He seems to love sneaking up through the draw and surprising the tennis world with his fantastic tennis ;D

Agreed
... and sex in a vodka-filled bath?! ROTRL ;D

[Steph]

Well first off I know I'm late but welcome to the board Vlad!
Ruth, I really hope your right about the US Open, and I am still holding out hope. But if the same thing does happen at the US Open I will be very worried indeed!
But I have to say that due to his comments about the Olympics I really didn't think that he was gonna fight to win it and I agree with Ruth about Roddick being the only big name player to be fighting really hard.
But I still wanted him to win today, I needed a bit of stress relief and to take my mind off things cos my exam results are out tomorrow , like the biggest exams of my life!!!

[Vlad]

Thanx for welcoming me on this board!

I am trying to be more optimistic about him for the Open but I just don't see how he can do it..
How many matches he has won after AO on hard this year?
He won 5 matches and lost 6 matches... His performance at the AO was amazing and I don't know if he can play at that level once again. I can compare that performance only to his brilliant days in 2000 , winning 7 tournaments.. Since he ran out of fuel in the final at 2004 AO, he showed us nothing, I mean nothing by his standard.. When was the last time he won a tournament ? Long long time ago, back in 2002..
He finds these stupid excuses in every match he loses, and nobody else on the tour is doing similar things when they lose often.. We heard all different kinds of excuses and his latest complaint about balls does not sound optimistic before US Open, simply because they use exactly same balls at the Open as they do in Athens...
I think his level is dropped and dropped to his lowest since 1999... Player of his talent and experience simply can not forget how to play tennis.. just look at Roddick, who I doubt is more talented than Marat but is improving by each minute, because he works the hardest of all and has professional people around him to help, whom he trusts and listens.

[Teresa]

Magda said:

this is very unprofessional of them to write such stuff

I agree Magda and Damita the press they are full of
s**t as far as I am concerned.

[me]

Hi Vlad, welcome!!!! (sorry, forgot to say that before )

Vlad said:

. His performance at the AO was amazing and I don't know if he can play at that level once again. I can compare that performance only to his brilliant days in 2000 , winning 7 tournaments..

I don't really think that you can compare the two, Marat's performance at the AO wasn't perfect, it was VERY good, but not perfect!

Since he ran out of fuel in the final at 2004 AO, he showed us nothing, I mean nothing by his standard..

He did show us something, he showed us that he CAN play great tennis, and that he CAN beat the BIG names!!!
and about running out of fuel, come on the guy was on the court for A LOT of hours, it's understandable

He finds these stupid excuses in every match he loses, and nobody else on the tour is doing similar things when they lose often..

true, he always finds some sort of excuse for his loss, most of which are bullshit IMO
at the beginning i was like, okay sure, that could be it. but no, not anymore. He needs to stop finding excuses for his loss. He needs to stop blaming outside factors for his loss.

I think his level is dropped and dropped to his lowest since 1999... Player of his talent and experience simply can not forget how to play tennis.. just look at Roddick, who I doubt is more talented than Marat but is improving by each minute, because he works the hardest of all and has professional people around him to help, whom he trusts and listens.

I don't think his level has dropped, nor that he has forgotten how to play tennis, true I also believe that Marat is more talented than Andy, but they just approach tennis from a different way.
it seems to me andy lives to work and Marat works to live.

[Teresa]

Ruth said:

Yep, was to be expected Seriously guys, Roddick seems to be the only big name fighting for the medals, because he's got the whole American-pride thing going

I so agree with this, I think he has tremedous pressure on him to win the gold for the US and I guess too for himself too, but I think thats because he is not making all the decisions for himself just now.

but as Wilander has said, no tennis player is going to take the Olympics seriously until it is given the same points, the same prize money and the same prestige as a Grand Slam. Until then, it will be a 4-yearly hiccup in the ATP (& possibly WTA) calendar, especially with the US Open right behind it. There's simply no contest.

Makes sense to me, as much as most of the players would like to have both, I agree that at the end of the day they will opt for the slam

I wouldn't be surprised if a complete no-name wins gold....... or Roddick! And if Roddick does win then I'll run naked through my old high school if he wins US Open as well! ;D

Jeesssssssus Ruth LMAO.......Roddick has no competion left, only his pride and this will surely get to him he will be feeling so sure the gold is his to have........LOL you might just have to make this 'run' ;D

. But he learnt from that and didn't let him upset him too much, because he did pretty well at Cincy - I think it was just a case of confidence in himself to beat Hewitt.

A few decent match wins before US Open would have done him good, and he only really accomplished that at Cincy. When he came across a tough opponent (Hewitt) he kinda crumbled, and that's something that worries me a bit. He can beat Hewitt when he puts his mind to it, and I'm hoping the motivation of winning US Open will be enough to convince him to let go of the self-doubts and focus soley on winning each game

Agreed

That self-belief has to be re-installed in Marat, and I think this is where Peter needs to step in and build his mental confidence. (Don't ask me how, though )

Now thats the 60 million dollar question

I still whole-heartedly believe Marat can win US Open this year and here's why:

1) Apart from RG, it's the only tourney he desperately longs to win. That dream is priceless, because it can motivate him better than money, coaching, ranking points or sex in a vodka-filled bath! ;D

LOL.....what a wonderful though......'sex in a vodka-filled bath! yuuummmmy!!!

Just one thing

'apart from RG, it's the only tourney he desperately longs to win'

He won it already, ;Dbut yes he really would love to win it again I agree



and I agree with you on your points why he could win
2 thru 5
Especially 5

5) He's not expected to win US Open this year because of his so-so performance this year. Which means less pressure & less media attention - Marat's favourite kind of conditions. He seems to love sneaking up through the draw and surprising the tennis world with his fantastic tennis ;D

[Teresa]

Vlad said:

Thanx for welcoming me on this board!

I am trying to be more optimistic about him for the Open but I just don't see how he can do it..

His performance at the AO was amazing and I don't know if he can play at that level once again

Vlad, just have faith, dont give up on him yet, I think Ruth made a lot of valid points,

finds these stupid excuses in every match he loses, and nobody else on the tour is doing similar,

We don't know for sure, just because the others are not as open as Marat we dont know how much whinging, and how many stupid excuses they find when they are behind closed doors.

Roddick who I doubt is more talented than Marat but is improving by each minute, because he works the hardest of all and has professional people around him to help, whom he trusts and listens.

Marat simply is not Roddick and Roddick simply is not Marat, whats good for Roddick is not necessarily good for Marat, i know we all know that...... I doubt too that Roddick is more talented, and agree that Marat could work harder, but
I dont think that Marat can go out there 'programmed' like Roddick.... and I say programmed because thats how Roddick appears to me, I mean do you think anyone could tell Marat that he cannot wear his cap back ways round when he is playing a match??? Thats what Roddicks coach has told him, notice as soon as the match is over he turns the hat back ways round? I find Roddick is like a time bomb waiting to explode, like he is walking a tightrope.

You know, if something was to happen to his coach say next week, I doubt he could get thur the USO without going off the rails.
And I think too its only a matter of time, before he burns out.

People talk about Hewitt, he simply could not maintain the pressure of been number 1 and what was expected of him, I think too that he was beginning to feel 'programmed' and thats why he stepped back, even if it meant that he fell behind, but he has found himself again, and is on the way back, and I think that Marat will also.

But listen Vlad its great to have your opinion, very valid points, and there is no getting from the truth of the matter, Marat has got to work harder, and be more focused, and really he has to win a tournament soon.

[Teresa]

Steph said:

But I still wanted him to win today, I needed a bit of stress relief and to take my mind off things cos my exam results are out tomorrow , like the biggest exams of my life!!!

Steph keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get great results tomorrow.

[sirius]

Damita said:

Ruth i couldn't agree more with you, i couldn't say it better.... so i just shut up ;D

And woohoooooo Federer lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *mega happy dance here!!* there is some fairness after all... ;D
Damita thanking all the gods and godesses of Greek Antiquity>>

oh, and Ferrero also lost.... what a dark day!

WHATTTT!!!!!!!!!! JUANQUI LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD HE!!!!!!!!! WHEN I QUIT CHECKING SCORES HE WAS LEADING! ALTHOUGH HE LOST SERVE WHEN SERVING FOR THE MATCH!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

sorry for all the shouting...what is the world coming to!

at least misha and igor won.
and i know i'm taking this olympics thing too seriously...but when ur country is as starved for olympic glory as mine is... u tend to live the "olympic glory" through the other ppl u support....and so far it ain't going too well too.

AND VLAD! WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!

[MariaV]

OK Ruth and others, and Vlad (Welcome from me too! )

I'm not angry or anything, I'm just VERY WORRIED!
As Caroline said, it's not like winning one match would take such a big effort, it seems he has mentally decided not to fight and that's actually bad because you can't start fighting all of a sudden, but that's OK, maybe he can, like the AO, the MAIN worry for me is that he is not ranked very high and he'll probably have pretty tough draw at the USO, I must say he really hasn't had the best of luck this year (good that Vass isn't ard ) with draws, and If he's not used to fight he may lose like in the 1st rd, now that would be REALLY BAD!!!!!!! Especially for his mental side! I really don't want to paint the devils on the wall or anything, on the contrary, I hope he'll do well and I pray he won't crack mentally completely after yet another defeat, I just have absolutely no expectations whatsoever any more, I just enjoy watching him play whenever I can as long as it will last. These were my 2 cents on the subject!
Best of health to all of you!

[MariaV]

Ruth said:

2) His performance at RG this year. He came from nowhere and steam-rollered the opposition until those freaky blisters appeared and stopped the Safin express. He wanted to win and he went for it with passion. I don't see why US Open would be different.

Don't want to hurt you but I think the FO was an absolute disgrace!!!!! My personal opinion of course! Didn't see any steamrolling there! Oh oh, I shouldn't get angry over it again!! Losing 2 sets to Mantilla and this Potito Nobody!!! Steamrolling, went for it with passion?? He just disgraced himself, if he were as good as you describe he shouldn't have lost a set to those people!!! And if Calleri would have been healthy he wouldn't have made it past the 1st rd even, he lost the 1st set to Calleri too!!!!!! If you have forgotten! All in all 4 pathetic games at the RG to my mind!!! Sorry, I really don't want to hurt you or start a discussion. Mentioning RG made me just so angry again. Sorry!

[sirius]

MariaV said:

Don't want to hurt you but I think the FO was an absolute disgrace!!!!! My personal opinion of course! Didn't see any steamrolling there! Oh oh, I shouldn't get angry over it again!! Losing 2 sets to Mantilla and this Potito Nobody!!! Steamrolling, went for it with passion?? He just disgraced himself, if he were as good as you describe he shouldn't have lost a set to those people!!! And if Calleri would have been healthy he wouldn't have made it past the 1st rd even, he lost the 1st set to Calleri too!!!!!! If you have forgotten! All in all 4 pathetic games at the RG to my mind!!! Sorry, I really don't want to hurt you or start a discussion. Mentioning RG made me just so angry again. Sorry!

hi maria...i disagree.

i thought he put up a good fight at RG. true, he didn't steamroll anyone...esp ppl he OUGHT to have steamrolled. but he showed amazing mental strength which for marat is REALLY rare.

if u look at the AO. he didn't steamroll anyone either. but still pulled through till he got to rogi. so.... i think RG was ok.

CALM DOWN DEAR.... watch your blood pressure!!!