ANNA205
Full Member
Davai_safin
Posts: 274
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Post by ANNA205 on Nov 9, 2004 8:02:04 GMT 3
i just found this article.if it was post before,sorry
Safin targets world number one Federer in 2005
Sun 7 November, 2004 19:31
By Francois Thomazeau
PARIS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Marat Safin, back to his very best with a record-equalling third Paris Masters title on Sunday, hopes to be a match for world number one Roger Federer next year.
The Russian, ranked seventh in the world, is the only player apart from Federer to have won back-to-back Masters Series tournaments this season, his Paris success following victory in Madrid last month.
Safin, who has experienced an erratic season, will sign off at next week's Masters Cup in Houston, where he will be able to gauge his form against seven of the game's leading players, including the Swiss number one.
"Nobody really looks forward to playing against Federer, under any circumstances, because the way he's playing right now, this year, is way too good," Safin told reporters.
"He was very solid, very stable, and he just was much better than other players -- much, much better. Even Roddick, although he improved a lot, he couldn't do much against Federer."
Federer won 10 tournaments in 2004, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open grand slam titles. He beat American Roddick in the Wimbledon final.
"Roddick played three, four finals this year, and Federer beat him quite easily," added Safin. "You have to be in really good condition to beat Roger.
"Next year, I will try to do my best and try to compete with him. That will be quite an effort for me.
"But it's quite a challenge to be at the same level as him. If he continues this way, he can be one of the greatest players of all time."
Safin was world number one in 2000, the year he won his only grand slam title at the U.S. Open.
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Post by Vassily on Nov 9, 2004 12:25:05 GMT 3
Marat fight, but don't do it in the same fashion as this year.
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Post by MariaV on Nov 9, 2004 19:19:57 GMT 3
Thanks for posting the article Anna, very nice of you!  |
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Post by sirius on Nov 10, 2004 2:09:38 GMT 3
draw will be out 2pm houston time on wednesday....2pm...brilliant...very smart.... 4am for me... sigh. hate time differences...
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Post by Teresa on Nov 10, 2004 5:07:40 GMT 3
I found this helpful also
Format: Round robin format with 8 players divided into two groups of 4 players each, with 8 seeds to be determined by the INDESIT ATP Race standings on the Monday after the last ATP tournament of the calendar year. All matches shall be the best of three tie-break sets, except for the final, which shall be the best of five tie-break sets.
Order of Play:
The top seeded player will be placed in the Red Group and the second seeded player will be placed in the BlueGroup. Players seeded 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, will then be drawn in pairs with the first drawn placed in the Red Group. Each player plays the three other players in his Group. The winner of each Group (best overall record) will be placed in separate semi-final brackets, with the top player in the Red Group playing the Runner-Up in the Blue Group, and vice versa. If two or more players are tied after the round robin matches, the ties will be broken as follows:1. Winner of match between the two players tied; 2. Player with the highest percentage of sets won; 3. Player with the highest percentage of games won.
Trophy: Presented by Waterford Crystal
Prize Money: US$ 3,700,000
Kids Fund: US$50,000
Total Player Purse: US$ 3,650,000
Alternate: US$ 50,000
Participation Fee: US$ 90,000*
Round Robin Win: US$ 120,000
Semifinal Win: US$ 370,000
Final Win: US$ 700,000
Undefeated Winner: US$ 1,520,000
*Pro-rated on
per match basis: US$45,000=1 match; US$70,000=2 matches; US$ 90,000=3 matches
INDESIT ATP Race Points:
RR Win: 20 points
Semifinal Win: 40 points
Final Win: 50 points
Undef. Winner: 150 points
With 150 points Marat could pass Roddick and be
# 2 ;D
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Post by Teresa on Nov 10, 2004 5:08:55 GMT 3
Anna thanks for the article, very interesting thanks
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Post by Teresa on Nov 10, 2004 13:58:42 GMT 3
Man they are already getting on his case, I hope, sooo hope that he can prove them wrong
SAFIN NOT THE OUTDOOR TYPE
Marat Safin may have been basking in the glory of a Masters Series victory in Paris this week.
But his reception at the lucrative, season-ending Masters Cup tournament in Houston next month may be a little more lukewarm.
The controversial Russian has wasted no time in berating ATP organisers for choosing to hold the competition outdoors.
Safin fell short of backing up the claims of some of his rivals that the decision was made to aid the chances of American success.
But he believes it is ludicrous to expect the world's top players to change course after two months on the European indoor circuit.
Safin said: "I don't know why they are making it outdoors - it has to be indoors.
"There is no logic in it at all because the players are used to playing indoors. It is stupid."
Safin has already hit the headlines for his blunt opinions of this year's Wimbledon.
After crashing out to compatriot Dmitry Tursunov, Safin said: "It was a nightmare - I got bored, I completely lost motivation and I gave up.
"I give up on Wimbledon. I hate it. I'm not going to waste my time on it knowing I will not play well."
But Safin's conditioning coach Walt Landers says Safin's grumpy public image could not be further from reality.
Landers believes Safin uses his reputation to hide a fierce hunger for success which surpasses that of many of his rivals.
Landers said: "I started working with Marat in Monte Carlo last year and I have always been surprised by his commitment and desire to do more.
"The thing about Marat is that when he wants to work he may be the most professional person I've worked with."
That is high praise coming from Landers, who has worked with players such as Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt.
But since teaming up with Landers and Roger Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren, Safin has finally begun to look like finally fulfilling his enormous potential.
Safin said: "This has been an incredible year for me because I started at 89 in the ranking when I played in Australia.
"I was injured for six months of the year and just to win any matches was a surprise.
"I lost confidence and it was hard to start playing well again. But on the whole it has turned out to be a great year and I am looking forward to being amongst the eight best players."
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Karen
Full Member
Posts: 493
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Post by Karen on Nov 10, 2004 20:45:50 GMT 3
I don't like the outside format either. Everyone has played indors for weeks and to change to an outdoor court, it just isn't the same. Anyone that plays tennis knows that it is a big deal from indoors to outdoors. My coach always says it's actually harder to play outside because everything is so open, you see things differently. So not happy it's outdoors. And mattress mac is not gonna be happy when he see's me in the stands with my Russia tee-shirts. And I will make sure he see's my shirts. The crowd probably won't like it either, like I care.  |
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Post by christina on Nov 10, 2004 23:59:34 GMT 3
I don't like the outside format either. Everyone has played indors for weeks and to change to an outdoor court, it just isn't the same. Anyone that plays tennis knows that it is a big deal from indoors to outdoors. My coach always says it's actually harder to play outside because everything is so open, you see things differently. So not happy it's outdoors. And mattress mac is not gonna be happy when he see's me in the stands with my Russia tee-shirts. And I will make sure he see's my shirts. The crowd probably won't like it either, like I care. go karen!!!! ;D ;D |
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bmen
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by bmen on Nov 11, 2004 0:13:39 GMT 3
hi guys
first time post here...love your work - constantly keeping me updated on all marat news...i love it
anyway draw is out for the masters -
red group - federer, hewitt, moya, gaudio
blue group - roddick, SAFIN, coria, henman
head to head our man is -
safin 2-2 roddick
safin 0-1 coria
safin 2-2 henman
what do you guys think?
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Post by MariaV on Nov 11, 2004 0:23:39 GMT 3
Hi bmen! Welcome to the MB! Where do you come from? |
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Post by MariaV on Nov 11, 2004 0:25:45 GMT 3
I don't like the outside format either. Everyone has played indors for weeks and to change to an outdoor court, it just isn't the same. Anyone that plays tennis knows that it is a big deal from indoors to outdoors. My coach always says it's actually harder to play outside because everything is so open, you see things differently. So not happy it's outdoors. And mattress mac is not gonna be happy when he see's me in the stands with my Russia tee-shirts. And I will make sure he see's my shirts. The crowd probably won't like it either, like I care. WOW Karen!!!! Good for you!!!!! Go and support Marat as hard as you can! Maybe we'll see you with your T-shirt on Eurosport! That would be cool! ;D |
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bmen
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by bmen on Nov 11, 2004 0:33:16 GMT 3
hi maria
im a local sydney-sider and must confess am only a recent convert to the safin fan club...2004 australia open was my moment of enlightment
anyway have thoroughly enjoyed 'catching up' on all things Mr. Safin
Am now eagerly anticipating masters cup and hopefully seeing marat bridge the gap between 1 and four in the rankings!
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Post by Damita on Nov 11, 2004 0:43:05 GMT 3
I don't like the outside format either. Everyone has played indors for weeks and to change to an outdoor court, it just isn't the same. Anyone that plays tennis knows that it is a big deal from indoors to outdoors. My coach always says it's actually harder to play outside because everything is so open, you see things differently. So not happy it's outdoors. And mattress mac is not gonna be happy when he see's me in the stands with my Russia tee-shirts. And I will make sure he see's my shirts. The crowd probably won't like it either, like I care. mwahahahaha! hilarious! you go girl!!!! ;D hi bmen, and welcome |
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Post by MariaV on Nov 11, 2004 1:05:14 GMT 3
hi maria im a local sydney-sider and must confess am only a recent convert to the safin fan club...2004 australia open was my moment of enlightment anyway have thoroughly enjoyed 'catching up' on all things Mr. Safin Am now eagerly anticipating masters cup and hopefully seeing marat bridge the gap between 1 and four in the rankings! Oh, I LOOOOOVE Sydney! Sydney olympics were awesome even through TV, everyone I've heard have praised the organization and the Sydney people! And Marat at the AO 2004 was great indeed! ;D How old are you and have you been a tennis fan for a long time if I may ask? Sorry for so many questions. |
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