Hamburg Masters Series 2006

[Annie]

OK, Marcos just retired....a win for Stepanek

[safinette]

Not a huge hair difference huh...

[Annie]

I know Marat hates the net and I know the last thing Marat needs right now is to surf the net but if anyone ever comes here who knows Marat....this is what I have to say having digested this whole game now....

I am not going to look for excuses, I am not going to say it is going to be alright because I do not know whether it is going to be or not. I am not going to say it will pass and that this is just a temporary thing. I am not going to say (unlike a lot of people all over tennis forums) that Marat should quit, that I am not longer Marat's fan because I think this is a whole load of crap BUT

Nobody said being a Marat fan is easy. Nobody said that a professional sports career consists of victories and ups.. a professional sports career is about suffering, pain, lows, losses and great victories that follow them...

Marat has achieved results that many tennis players wouldn't even dream of reaching. Marat's tennis has been appraised by every single player on the ATP tour (apart from the prat Almagro probably who cannot even admit that Federer is a great player). Marat has been to the hell and back throughout his career and he always came back...sooner or later but he did.

I have been sitting here for the past hour trying to digest what I had just witnessed...I was so pissed off while watching the game...screaming and swearing and calling Marat names in front of my TV .. then I felt sad when he lost, I wanted to burst out crying I was so upset....it wasn't fair...why Marat...why are you doing this to us again?

So I have been sitting here and you know what?

To hell with this match!!!! To hell with all the matches since that semifinal with Almagro!!!! I don't wanna know them...I don't wanna remember them....he lost??? so what??? we all lose, we all win....shit happens...

Marat, my dear boy. Do u know why I am a fan of yours? Because there is no other player like you whether you win or lose. Because every time I turn on my TV or I am at a stadium and you are on court, I am hypnotised...my nerve cells are non existent because of you, my hair is turning grey because of you, I am becoming a nervous wreck because of you....AND I LOVE IT!!!!!! The adrenaline, the rush, the tears, the joy, the anger. the swearing...this is a part of me...and noone can take that away but you Marat...the day you end your career will be the day this part of me will die...and HELL I will miss it

Take yout time....a day, a week, a month, a year...I don't give a damn!!!! Take your time and find yourself...find harmony within yourself and believe in yourself....we all know how well you can do...and YOU know it even better than us....try everything...even if it takes another 200 losses to find your faith...then lose them!!!!!

But please remember....there are a few people here who are always behind you....in better or worse, rich or poor....we stand by you and those my friend are who we call Marat Safin Fans with capital letters....

May you and Peter find that sucker confidence and self-belief and chuck them back inside ya Gimme a shout if you need help fetching them ;D

[yse]

I found these pics on Marat le Tsar

[arwen21]

thanks a lot yse!!! great pictures1!!

[Annie]

Happiness sweetie thanks a lot but I had to delete your post. These pics have already been posted a couple of pages back

Thanks anyway ;D

[safinbgfan]

Thanks for the photos!
I think that Marat have to forget this wastage and to concentrate better for the next tournament!

[Happiness]

Hi Annie

Hope you're ok

I checked it out now and I don't see any of them on the last two pages

Am I getting nuts??? Maybe it's my eyes!!! Or maybe I'm getting too old LOL







Take Care




Happiness

[CaliforniaSuds]

Marat, just use this hellacious Clay crap to practice your patience. It's just too slow for your deliciously long legs and torso. I don't even care if you're out the first round of RG, except that it'll make the whole two weeks a drag for me, but I will be looking forward to the grass season because, no matter what YOU say, YOU are pretty good on grass, and then look out, for the hard court season!!! Lots of tennis left and when he's good, he is really really good, so hang in there studmuffin, and work on the temperment a little. Kiss Kiss.

[lavia]

Thanx Happiness for the pics! i haven't seen those pics before...

[davis]

Wow, what a rollercoaster ride of a day!

Let's start in the beginning. Hamburg weather decided to be nice, so the sun was shining (all the way until Marat's second set - bad omen?), the temperature was pleasant - perfect conditions for audience and players alike.

My first match on Center Court was Moya vs. Blake. I was busier admiring my seat (about 3 m away from the service line) than following the match but it turned out to be a quite entertaining fight.
I didn't stay until the end of the match because I was far too curious about the happenings on the tournament grounds. I strolled past the training courts and had the opportunity to watch Nikolay Davidenko working on his fitness (he didn't practice at all he only did short sprints and leg exercises) and to literally bump into Mikhail Youzhny as he left his court. I'm glad he wasn't offended Ivan Ljubicic showed some acrobatic skills by climbing out of the window of the Player's Lounge instead of using the exit door to avoid the press - he appeared to be rather embarrassed when noticing that he had been watched.

And of course he was there - Marat, training with Fernando Verdasco and Peter. I just had to follow the legion of excited girls to find him. The first sight was a bit of a disappointment: Still a bun? Not that I really care, but since the news seemed worthy to be published on his own website the bar had been set rather high.

Anyway, Marat seemed very relaxed. He hit some balls, worked on his service (not to his content), smiled a lot and chatted a lot with Peter. I'm sorry I couldn't take pictures but I was squeezed in among loads of fans so I couldn't even lift my arms. To everybody's disappointment Marat took a back exit off the court. The mob chased after him and I decided to take it slow. That paid off because Marat was so inundated with crazy fans that he couldn't proceed fast either and I ended up standing right next to him while he patiently signed tennis balls, magazines and tickets.
He is sooo tall! It's one thing to see him on pictures, it's another thing to have to look way up to see his face! Quite impressive! He also looks very young and definitely A LOT BETTER in person than on any video or photo. I've never seen the usefulness of an autograph, I don't like the "can I please have a picture taken with you"-thing and I honestly don't think I have anything of utmost importance to say that he hasn't already heard a million times so the only thing I did was look at him, feeling a little bit light-headed, until he disappeared to the Player's Lounge. Simply unbelievable! ;D ;D ;D

Also unbelievable was the match I had the bad fortune to witness about an hour later. Don't get me wrong: I am a fan of Marat, no matter whether he wins or loses but today I definitely lost a little bit of my faith in his ability to come back. HE SUCKED!!! MAJOR TIME!!! He was slow, he played without wit, power, or accuracy, and during long periods of the game he seemd to be in some kind of trance he just couldn't shake off. It hurt to be there!!! I didn't know whether I should feel bad for him or be in complete rage. I hope he knows where the problems lie (I'm not going to start interpreting facts I have no knowledge about) because he seemingly needs to change pretty much every aspect of his game. I very much wish he'll be able to do that. Marat was by far the most popular player of the day (even more popular than Germany's own Tommy Haas) and it would be a shame not to have him around.

It's good to see that everyone on this site seems to be loyal to Marat. Nevertheless, criticism must be allowed, I agree with Annie. But he got enough of that from me now. Marat, I'm giving you a big hug in my thoughts and I'm looking forward to seeing you in Paris.

[lavia]

woooow Annie! that's so deep and touching....i cried when i read your blog...thank you!

[sabz]

Annie - your speech was spot on!! Couldn't have put it better myself!!
Thanks to everyone for all the pictures (and i agree the hair is a bit of an anticlimax but oh well, he looks great!)
Davis - thank you for your report, i couldnt imagine what it was like actually watching the match (for once i am thankful for livscores - or am i?? lol) looking forward to seeing those pics. About what you said He also looks very young and definitely A LOT BETTER in person than on any video or photo. well i have never seen the great man in person, so i am thinking if i pass out and have heartattcks looking at his photos, what the hell am i gonna be like meeting him in person - hopefully i will, one day!! ;D

Final Note - Whatever happens, by being a Marat Safin supporter, you have signed up for a rollercoaster! He is going through a low point at the moment and we should all be giving him ALL our support, and then sooner or later (preferably sooner ) that high point will come.
Always support you Marat
BRING ON ROLAND GARROS!!! ;D (he could surprise us all *fingers crossed*)

[tina]

My dear girls,I must say I m so sad!After match I was out with friend and she was talking and talking and all I could think is that WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MARAT?I m his fan and I will be no meather if he win or lose but why is he like that??What is wrong?He is GREAT tennis player and he is reason why I started to watch tennis and I now that he will be back but now I feel so *******

Marat good luck

[emma]

Found this on www7.online.rtlklub.hu