|
|
Post by tall_one on Mar 16, 2005 11:05:58 GMT 3
"The worst match I ever played, probably in my entire career"
By Matthew Cronin
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) - Australian Open champion Marat Safin was surprisingly beaten in the third round of the Pacific Life Open Tuesday, while top seeds Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the fourth round.
American Taylor Dent served and volleyed Safin off the court to win 7-5, 6-4, while world number one Federer crushed Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2 and Hewitt beat France's Michael Llodra 6-2, 7-6.
Unable to impose his all court game, Safin grew increasingly frustrated and was warned for racket abuse in the first set.
"It was the worst match I ever played probably in my entire career," said Safin. "I haven't felt so bad on the court ever in my life.
"Just no matter what I would do, it just would not go my way. The frustration that you get when you're trying and trying and it just doesn't go your way is a terrible feeling."
Dent will face 14th-seeded Argentine Guillermo Canas, a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 winner over compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela, in the fourth round.
Federer was completely in control in his match over Muller and set up a clash with 13th seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, who beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-1.
The two have met three times already this year, all in finals, with Federer winning all three though the last match in Dubai was a close three-set affair.
Hewitt, who won the title in 2002 and 2003, effectively counterpunched and made fewer mistakes than Llodra.
"He's the one trying to pull the trigger all the time," said Hewitt, who will play Paul-Henri Mathieu after the Frenchman overcame Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 4-6, 7-6.
"He's a very flashy player. He comes up with some great winners and then he's going to make a lot of unforced errors as well. You just got to try to weather the storm."
|
|
|
|
Post by tall_one on Mar 16, 2005 11:07:54 GMT 3
March 15th Safin v Dent 5/7 4/6
Q. You seemed to have a tough time getting on track tonight. Is that something Dent was doing or were you having a hard time finding your game tonight?
MARAT SAFIN: I just couldn't find it. From beginning I felt like it's -- like it was impossible to play my game. It was a bad start, of course, because for some reason I just didn't feel comfortable on the court, and then it was difficult to come back.
I had my chance at 5-All, you know, Love-40. Just I didn't play all -- all the match I didn't play well. And after this opportunity, you know, it just was downhill.
Q. Was it more or less the same problem in the first round?
MARAT SAFIN: No. Just I couldn't -- just the worst match I ever played probably in my entire career. I didn't felt so bad on the court ever, ever in my life. Just no matter what I would do, it just would not go my way. Just -- I don't know. I don't know. Just happens, I guess. The frustration that you get when you're trying and you're trying and you're trying and just doesn't -- anything goes your way. It's a terrible feeling.
Q. Did you try to change something during the match, a new strategy?
MARAT SAFIN: What you can change? You can't do much. I mean, I couldn't do the most simple things. I couldn't really serve well. Just keep life in the match, have opportunities. On his serve I didn't return at all, you know, the way I should return, when you're playing a big server from the baseline. I made so many unforced errors. Just basically he was winning the rallies, which it already says a lot. Normally he has no chance in the rallies because it's not his game. I'm just from the baseline much better than him. He has to find something extra to do to beat me.
But the way I felt today, just I couldn't put two balls inside the court. It's really frustrating that it happens, you know, especially here in Indian Wells in a Masters Series event.
Q. In these kind of moments, does Lundgren tell you something immediately or is he going to wait?
MARAT SAFIN: I mean, he said what he had to say. But there's also a little bit -- of course, he understands the way I'm feeling, the way, you know, everybody pass through these moments in their careers. And it's difficult to say something to the guy. It's not like something was going wrong. It's not like you can -- you have to change something immediately, there is something you have to improve immediately.
It's just the fact that it happens, you know, like you -- it happens. It's a nonsense, you know. You can't play -- it will not happen another match like this in a long time. Even if you try, you can't play so bad - even if you try. I mean, you can't really -- what are you going to say? Like I said, shit happens. It can happens to anybody. Unfortunately, it happened to me today. I really touched the bottom of my game.
Q. You said earlier tonight you felt bad on the court. When you come here, it seems you feel bad for one reason or another. One year you had the bad back, then the stomach flu.
MARAT SAFIN: I don't know what to say. Every year I'm trying, every year I'm coming with new expectations. I'm trying to do right things and trying to work as much as I can before the tournament. I want to do well because I never did well here. And for some reason it doesn't -- just it doesn't -- it's not my tournament, I guess.
|
|
|
|
Post by tall_one on Mar 16, 2005 11:10:51 GMT 3
....-- it's not my tournament, I guess. well there goes any hope of him ever doing well here, not that i thought there was much hope anyway  |
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 11:17:00 GMT 3
well there goes any hope of him ever doing well here, not that i thought there was much hope anyway Yeah well...never say never I guess but honestly there are plenty of other tournaments to come and I'm sure he'll find himself after all..and then once he does...God help them all!!!! LOL Thanks for the interview  |
|
|
|
Post by Teresa on Mar 16, 2005 15:03:54 GMT 3
True I think it was the worse match I ever saw, he just could not get a rhythm it was terrible to watch.
Despite the racquet breaking he really controlled himself, must have been very tough.
He did really did have his chance here, I could not believe that he lost this opportunity .
It really is not his tournament, there is something about IW I dont like it either, I dont really like Miami either. I am disappointed, but not that much, its IW just something about that tournament, at least Marat keeps trying, and who knows one day.......
That just about sums it up
Thanks for the interview
|
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 16:00:38 GMT 3
Here is the translation of the article I found on the website of a Russian newsagency RBK. "Safin played the worst match of his life" by Vladimir Andreev Marat Safin couldn't get through to 1/8 of the tournament in Indian Wells. In the third round he lost to an American 23 year old player Taylor Dent 5-7, 4-6. As Marat later acknowledged it was the worst match of his career. To our great pleasure our women players went though to the quarterfinals: Sharapova, Dementieva and Kuznetsova. The match between Dent and Safin was the centre of attention on the men's programme yesterday since Dent had to face the winner of the Australian Open. However Russian supporters had their worries about the game since Marat just almost scraped through the second round again a Finnish player Nieminen. After that game Marat had promised that he'll show good tennis later and at that point it was the result that counted. During the game with Dent the leader of Russian tennis showed neither. Dent was very careful with his serve and played extremely confident while serving. However even on Marat's serve Dent struggled till the last ball, and Marat looked disoriented, tired and without any spark in the eyes. Safin confirmed his loss by a double fault at a very important point during the last game of the second set. "I can almost certainly say that this was the worst match of my life, - the 25 year old Russian said after the game-I've never felt so bad on the court..ever. I will do my best to never play that bad in the future. It is awful". With Safin's loss Indian Wells will continue without Russian male players. Fortunately, not without the female ones. sport.rbc.ru/tennis/index.shtml?/news/tennis/2005/03/16/16105047_bod.shtmlThis is the link with the whole article in Russian and a photo of a very sad and disappointed Marat. |
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 16:05:53 GMT 3
|
|
Perri
Junior Member
Posts: 76
|
Post by Perri on Mar 16, 2005 16:28:57 GMT 3
well there goes any hope of him ever doing well here, not that i thought there was much hope anyway Marat's list of 'not my tournment' is lengthening... Anyway, this is the way Marat is and I will have to accept it though I am quite disappointed now  . Thanks all of you for the articles and photos  . |
|
|
|
Post by lau on Mar 16, 2005 16:29:52 GMT 3
in this link you can find the audio of the IW interview after the match (a very dissapointed Marat  ) www.atptennis.atponline.net/en/common/TrackItA.asp?file=http://wm.atptennis-global.speedera.net/wm.atptennis-global/safin_iw9.wma here is a link of an article from Spain (nothing interesting in it really, I wouldn´t translate it..), there´s the link to enlarge the previous photo... www.terra.es/deportes/articulo/html/dpo83132.htmAbsolutely right! I agree with you. Someone posted previously that he should skip Dubai, IW and Miami ;D I guess that would be great if these were the only tournaments where he´s got problems.... Sorry, I can´t help it I´m still furious  It´s bee a long time since I got furious watching a Marat´s match, but this one was TERRIBLE!!! (and he agrees with me ;D ;D  ) I just need to remember this is one of the reasons why I like Marat oncourt: HE´S UNPREDICTABLE. I just need to keep this in mind.... The worst thing was that I was so sure that Marat could win that match that when it was match point I didn´t realized at all ;D ;D I was thinking "he can revert this break point and break Dent´s serve in the next one" ;D ;D ;D That was sooo funny. My brother said "match point" and I got furious!!!!! And then that double fault!!!  Awful Anyway, this is the life of a Marat Safin fan!! ;D (When he made all those faces, looking soo disappointed with his tennis, I wanted to hug my tv . That´s what I call an ambivalent feeling ;D ;D ;D) |
|
Karen
Full Member
Posts: 493
|
Post by Karen on Mar 16, 2005 17:46:06 GMT 3
Ever have one of those days when nothing goes right and everything goes wrong. He just had one of those days. I've played tournaments and had the same thing happen. You try, nothing works, so you end up trying too hard. And it always ends up being so frustrating you can't really focus and execute anymore. The more he missed the more he said "unbelievable" and a couple other words mixed in. It's not the worst match Marat ever played. We know which matches those would be. Hopefully he will forget about it, move on and focus on the next match. And Taylor Dent's smug attitude in the on-court interview after the match. If Marat saw that, don't think Taylor will win another match against him. Okay I'm done rambling. |
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 17:59:24 GMT 3
Ever have one of those days when nothing goes right and everything goes wrong. He just had one of those days. I've played tournaments and had the same thing happen. You try, nothing works, so you end up trying too hard. And it always ends up being so frustrating you can't really focus and execute anymore. The more he missed the more he said "unbelievable" and a couple other words mixed in. It's not the worst match Marat ever played. We know which matches those would be. Hopefully he will forget about it, move on and focus on the next match. And Taylor Dent's smug attitude in the on-court interview after the match. If Marat saw that, don't think Taylor will win another match against him. Okay I'm done rambling. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!! If Dent was next to me I'd wiped that smug off his face in a split second...so unsportive I swear. You are absolutely right, I watched him in Moscow in Davis Cup a few days ago and he was all over the place as I had said in the forum. Just one of those days....Last time he was lucky because Gonzalez wasn't that good except for his serve, so Marat won. Here I guess Dent wasn't all that eager to let it slip.... Marat will live through it and so will we. |
|
|
|
Post by shacks on Mar 16, 2005 18:10:20 GMT 3
Hey guys, just found out the complete interview given by marat right after the match (some pieces were missing on the pacific life open website): www.asapsports.com/tennis/2005paclife/031505M2.htmlI was pissed off first too, then disappointed and very sorry for him. And I decided to do exactly as he said: try to forget this match as quickly as possible... If he's working as hard as he's saying in the interview, then things will get better. The only thing is that now half the fun of the tournament is over. :-) Anyway, let's get ready for Miami now! |
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 18:17:52 GMT 3
Hey guys, just found out the complete interview given by marat right after the match (some pieces were missing on the pacific life open website): www.asapsports.com/tennis/2005paclife/031505M2.htmlI was pissed off first too, then disappointed and very sorry for him. And I decided to do exactly as he said: try to forget this match as quickly as possible... If he's working as hard as he's saying in the interview, then things will get better. The only thing is that now half the fun of the tournament is over. :-) Anyway, let's get ready for Miami now! Thanks shacks. And please God tell me when are these people gonna stop asking him about breaking rackets?  ? |
|
|
|
Post by melusine on Mar 16, 2005 18:17:56 GMT 3
I dont really like Miami either. teresa--that's because you've never been with me you should hop on a puddle-jumper and fly up, so i can prove why key biscaynne is the best little place to watch tennis (maybe not so much to play--it is very windy--but to watch, it's divine, because it is so small) Don't be blue i watched the match too and while his game was off (mostly his serve--his serve was really off--if sampras had a serving day like that he might have been bageled, so there's something to smile about right there--marat at least has a strong return game to fall back on, so he wasn't bageled, even if that was off too, if not so much as his serve) i actually was pretty impressed with how he kept trying and fighting off break points--plus dent was playing better than i've ever seen him play. gotta give dent his due... ;D (a little aside: ever notice how people jump all over roger as arrogant and awful if he says he lost for any reason other than his opponent outplaying him, but marat almost never says he lost because he was outplayed--it's always luck, or fate, or (my personal favorite) THE BALLS!--but everyone always comisserates with his grousing ;D my theory is this--poor roger, who is grace incarnate when he plays, is all left feet when he talks--plus he's kind of got a funky looking face--sort of mean looking, even though he isn't any meaner than most [he'd benefit mightily from a nose job] [plus, he makes that unfortunate sucking noise when he speaks--mirka really ought to talk to him about it]...while marat--who can play like he's stuck in mud at times--is all grace and charm when he speaks--either a dashing wink and a smile or a soulful, woeful, lost, little sad-eyed russian puppy--one just wants to snuggle--plus he's got a sweet face, which never hurts  ) (i always forget how damn cute he is). it's probably better that he not face roger so soon again anyway--me thinks. if he had lost, he might think OZ was a fluke...he needs time for the belief to establish deep roots. whereas losing to dent probably doesn't mean anything to his confidence really--just one of those matches.... and nope, this is absoulutely not even close to the worst game he has ever played--noway, nohow--that match he tanked in the australian open a few years ago was the WORST (but maybe that one doesn't count since he wasn't really playing?  ) so keep on the sunny side sister  ps: does marat have a nickname--i can't call him marat anymore--i've tried and tried but i everytime i do, i can't help but see davide's painting, "death of marat," in my head (you know the one of the french revolutionary, who marat is named after, keeled over dead in the bath tub). and then of course i can't help but think of why marat (the dead one in the tub, not the tennis one) was in the tub when he was assinated in the first place: because he contracted some sort of disgusting skin disease while he hid from the world in the paris sewers for awhile (because he was frightfuly ugly), which required him to soak in a tub all day to allievated the discomfort--before he became the beloved, blood thirsty, revolutionary, newspaper-agitator, who got everyone so hot and bothered about chopping off heads). so you see, i have to call him something else, so does he have a nickname? pps: you didn't really expect him to become the russian roger did you (i mean, marat is marat winning OZ didn't make him someone else) |
|
|
|
Post by annie on Mar 16, 2005 18:20:37 GMT 3
that's because you've never been with me you should hop on a puddle-jumper and fly up and i'll prove why key biscaynne is the best little place to watch tennis live (maybe not so much to play--it is very windy--but to watch, it's divine--it's so NOT miami) Don't be blue i watched the match too and while his game was off (mostly his serve--his serve was really off--if sampras had a serving day like that he might have been bageled, so there's something to smile about right there--marat at least has a strong return game to fall back on--even if that was off too, if not so much as his serve) i actually was pretty impressed with how he kept trying and figting off break points--plus dent was playing better than i've ever seen him play. gotta give dent his due... ;D (a little aside: ever notice how people jump all over roger as arrogant and awful if he says he lost for any reason other than his opponent outplaying him, but marat almost never says he lost because he was outplayed--it's always luck, or fate, or (my personal favorite) THE DAMN BALLS!--but everyone always comisserates with his grousing ;D my theory is this--poor roger, who is grace incarnate when he plays, is all left feet when he talks--plus he's kind of got a funky looking face--sort of naturally mean looking, even though he isn't any meaner than most [he'd benefit mightily from a nose job] [plus, he makes that unfortunate sucking noise when he speaks--mirka really ought to talk to him about it]...while marat--who can play like he's stuck in mud at times--is all grace and charm when he speaks--either a dashing wink and a smile or a soulful, woeful, lost, little sad-eyed russian puppy--one just wants to snuggle--plus he's got a sweet face, which never hurts ) (i always forget how damn cute he is). it's probably better that he not face roger so soon again anyway--me thinks. if he had lost, he might think OZ was a fluke...he needs time for the belief to grow deep roots. and nope, this is absoulutely not even close to the worst game he has ever played--noway, nohow--that match he tanked in the australian open a few years ago was the WORST (it was embarassing to watch)(but maybe that one doesn't count since he wasn't really playing? ) so keep on the sunny side sister ps: what's up with his hair, it's like clown hair ?!? pps: does marat have a nikname--i can't call him marat anymore--i've tried and tried but i everytime i do, i can't help but see davide's painting, "death of marat," in my head (you know the one of the french revolutionary, who marat is named after, keeled over dead in the bath tub). and then of course i can't help but think of why marat (the dead one in the tub, not the tennis one) was in the tub when he was assinated in the first place: because he contracted some sort of disgusting skin disease, which required him to soak in a tub all day to allievated the discomfort, while he hid from the world the paris sewers for awhile (becuase he was frightfuly ugly) before he became the beloved, crazy, blood thirsty, revolutionary newspaper agitator, who got everyone so hot and bothered about chopping off heads). so you see, i have to call him something else, so does he have a nckname? Just call him THEGUYFROMRUSSIA LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
.
.
)
It´s bee a long time since I got furious watching a Marat´s match, but this one was TERRIBLE!!! (and he agrees with me ;D ;D 
) I just need to remember this is one of the reasons why I like Marat oncourt: HE´S UNPREDICTABLE. I just need to keep this in mind....
Awful
) (i always forget how damn cute he is).
