Wimbledon 2006

[ginapants]

good luck Marat! go and kick some asses

[annie]

tuesday then!!! good luck to Marat and to us!!!

[lena]

some nice article about the start in SW19 today

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2641-2243653,00.html

Hungry Safin ready to give Rusedski food for thought

THE last champion of a men’s grand-slam tournament before either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal is ranked No 87 in the world, plays Great Britain’s No 1 in the opening round and once complained of Wimbledon that the price of the food in the players’ restaurant was so outrageous that he could not afford to buy meals for his entire entourage.

Marat Safin won the Australian Open in January last year, having saved a match point against Federer in the semi-finals before breaking the hearts of the home nation and Lleyton Hewitt on the last, climactic day. He subsequently reached the fourth round of the French Open, the final on grass in Halle, where Federer exacted revenge, the third round in SW19 and then barely played again in 2005 because of knee injury. Wimbledon is his eleventh event of this year, in which premature exits have been commonplace.

Almost every eye is trained on Federer, the Swiss epitome of elegance, who will probably stroll on to Centre Court today in the manner in which he made his way for a final practice yesterday with Tim Henman, possibly a second-round opponent. “I used to have nightmares about Tim and other players, but he’s in the positive section of my dreams now,” Federer said.

For Federer and Henman, this championship represents all that tennis stands for, the fulcrum of their hopes and dreams. Safin does not quite see it that way, although with the Russian, one can never be completely certain what he is really thinking. What is for sure is that Greg Rusedski, paired with Safin in the first round of what may be his last Wimbledon at the age of 32, was not grinning yesterday.

Safin is 26 and arguably at the peak of his physical powers. But how hungry is he, and I do not mean to debate restaurant prices? “Of course I want to do well here,” he said. “I’ve had a good career, I’m not doing this for the money. I have enough to leave the sport quietly, but I have four years and I don’t want to spend those with a ranking of 60, 70, or 80. If I did not have the feeling or the drive, I would quit.

“It was hard mentally and physically to come back from my wrist injury in 2003. You see then that players aren’t scared of you any more, you aren’t the man, so many want to beat you and have no respect for you. Now I am physically ready, but it is important to get the confidence of winning matches. I need to improve on the second round last year to make my ranking better. I could have had a lot more difficult first rounds.”

Which does not bode well for Rusedski, as ferociously as he has been practising. Time was that the British No 1 would be top of the agenda for conversation and debate, yet his name has barely been mentioned. Henman used to be chased up and down Henman Hill for a few well-chosen words, but that hasn’t happened this year. Better for them, perhaps, that the microphones are being pointed at Andy Murray.

The Scot had to do seven television interviews on Saturday before being presented with a giant greetings card signed by his country’s First Minister and some old school-mates from Dunblane. In the evening, strolling in Wimbledon Village, he appeared from nowhere and caught a drinks cup spilt by a toddler, handed it back to his mother and was greeted with “Hey, thanks Jamie”.

There will be no mistaking the familiar gait of the champion this afternoon. Federer has just matched Björn Borg’s record of 41 consecutive grass-court victories, so success today over Richard Gasquet, of France, would be special in many respects. It is no walk in the park, given that Gasquet took him to two tie-breaks and a 6-4 final set in the second round in Halle ten days ago and has just won the Red Letter Days Open in Nottingham, beating Jonas Björkman, of Sweden, 6-4, 6-3 to become the first man to retain the title.

The 20-year-old was ranked No 12 in September last year but has slid to No 50, largely because of an elbow injury that took an eternity to heal. Then his spirit took a pounding when he lost two five-set matches in three days to Safin and Dmitry Tursunov in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Pau, France, in April. Clearly, he has recovered his vim, enough for him to say “while playing Federer is not the best draw I could have dreamt of, it’s tough for him as well.

“It will be a great experience on Centre Court. I have to play my game and be relaxed. In my heart, I believe I can do it because we were so close in Halle. There’s no reason why I can’t win.” Imagine if he did.

[Annie]

excellent read!!!!!!! Thank you Lenochka ;D

[jewell]

It's been pissing down hard here in London. I doubt we'll see too much action today... but the sun is starting to come out, so you never know.

[lena]

admin said:

excellent read!!!!!!! Thank you Lenochka ;D

as always my pleasure

[safinbgfan]

great article!

[kuniochi]

Wow, Lena 10z for the article. It's great to read something like this, it gives you confidence for tomorrows match!!! ;D ;D ;D

UDACHI Maratik!!!

[MaratRocks]

Go Marat Go

That article is an interesting read... sounds like he's quite confident ;D.

Good luck Marat

[legato]

He should be >:(time to hit the gas padle and be the king once more.

[maryb]

Greetings everyone from a wet London. I was in the queue at 9am - a late start for me - and managed to get in at 11am. My ticket was around 2320 - usually (on a dry day) I'd expect to be 4300 plus in the queue. Ever the optimist, I hung around in the freezing rain, but despite being a hardy Scot and used to sub-zero temperatures in summer, I could take no more by 3.30pm and went back to the hotel.

Tomorrow is to be a mix of sunshine and showers - Marat may not be on a show court either as there's now a day's backlog. Fingers crossed he ends up on court 13 or 18 and I can get some pics for you! I'll hang around the practice courts as well - you can get some good close up shots round there.

Fingers crossed that he realises that grass loves his game ... and that the results show it too.

I'm away to dry out ... think I've shrunk 2 sizes in the rain (if only).

PS I saw my paintings in the museum. Haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face. ;D

[lena]

maryb said:

Greetings everyone from a wet London. I was in the queue at 9am - a late start for me - and managed to get in at 11am. My ticket was around 2320 - usually (on a dry day) I'd expect to be 4300 plus in the queue. Ever the optimist, I hung around in the freezing rain, but despite being a hardy Scot and used to sub-zero temperatures in summer, I could take no more by 3.30pm and went back to the hotel.

Tomorrow is to be a mix of sunshine and showers - Marat may not be on a show court either as there's now a day's backlog. Fingers crossed he ends up on court 13 or 18 and I can get some pics for you! I'll hang around the practice courts as well - you can get some good close up shots round there.

Fingers crossed that he realises that grass loves his game ... and that the results show it too.

I'm away to dry out ... think I've shrunk 2 sizes in the rain (if only).

so sorry for your, I know how it is to watch tennis when its rain and wet but therefore we have a roof here in Hamburg ;D

maryb said:

PS I saw my paintings in the museum. Haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face. ;D

ehhhhmm what kind of paintings and where

[marats]

Still raining at Wimbledon !!

[legato]

Good god why dont they build a godamn roof dito for the Us open. Maybe the aussi can lend them one they dont use it much anyway :PAnd thanks to that major inconvenience we will have to wait probably till wednesday to have a look at marat. No doubt Wimbeldon is so anticipated ::)they really dont have a choice do they

[SAFINNO1]

maryb said:

Greetings everyone from a wet London. I was in the queue at 9am - a late start for me - and managed to get in at 11am. My ticket was around 2320 - usually (on a dry day) I'd expect to be 4300 plus in the queue. Ever the optimist, I hung around in the freezing rain, but despite being a hardy Scot and used to sub-zero temperatures in summer, I could take no more by 3.30pm and went back to the hotel.

Tomorrow is to be a mix of sunshine and showers - Marat may not be on a show court either as there's now a day's backlog. Fingers crossed he ends up on court 13 or 18 and I can get some pics for you! I'll hang around the practice courts as well - you can get some good close up shots round there.

Fingers crossed that he realises that grass loves his game ... and that the results show it too.

I'm away to dry out ... think I've shrunk 2 sizes in the rain (if only).

PS I saw my paintings in the museum. Haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face. ;D

I am sure i'm supposed to say - hope you had a good day - but then that's just stupid. Glad you got to see your painting.

i am so mad this year that my exams have collided with Wimbledon 1st time i aint going to the Championships. It's so depressing watching it on TV - it's like i want to be there!!!!!!

I doubt it was good for Marat as well - no grass court practise today and who knows with the forecast tomorrow he may not even play till Wednesday depending on other matches but the TV were saying Greg's match may go onto Court 2 tomorrow - The graveyard court . Just have to wait till the OOP is out

I might sound weird but you gottta love Wimbledon for it's rain - it wouldnt be the same - even to the players- it's an experience!

UDACHI MARAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!