Hamburg Masters Series 2006

[bia2209]

www.e-sports.com/articles/1335/1/An-open-letter-to-Marat-Safin-%28aka-Mulan-Man%29

Here is the link i mentioned earlier to the article i wrote. It was a cathartic experience for me as i had to take a step back and at least aim for objectivity ...lol...i also posted the article itself in the articles thread in case anyone has trouble with it...

to everyone..and btw there are some mulan lady references in it..i wonder how many can you spot? ;D

[SAFINNO1]

Thanks bia for the article

[CaliforniaSuds]

Thanks Davis for your report. There is nothing so disheartening than getting to watch Marat play in person and watching him lose in person. I at least got to watch a win at Indian Wells (considering the year before I watched him lose to Dent). Hey, it's hard to work your way back up, especially in the clay court season with players like Nadal. He did great at Davis cup and he'll work up the second half of this year. Funny side point -- while I was watching Marat get bageled in the second set my 23 year old daughter (a real hottie) came in to the room and said "Oh is that the Russian guy you're gaga over? Is that a bun!?? How lame!" She was quite disgusted at me. I tried to explain to her southern California surfer girl self, that it's a Euro thing. She nodded at me like I had no taste in men at all. Some people just don't get it, but I know many of you do, so thanks for being here.

[blue]

Okay, I came just back home from Hamburg, today unfortunenately without Marat
I also saw him practising on Monday, I think it was more of a warm up for his match, it wasn´t even that long, he did the whole things, baseline, return, net, serve. He played okay, missed a few forehands and volleys, I expected his match to get tough, because he was not in the best of his forms, but really thought enough to beat Saretta.
He looked great like always with his red shirt and even with the ponytail, that is now a bit shorter but still there. He was practising with Verdasco, Lundgren was there of course and that guy, maybe his physical coach, I don´t know.
When he was almost finished with his practising procedure I left, because I wanted to try and get an autograph, and I knew that the players who practice on these courts always come and go from the back, because it´s much farer to the locker rooms, when you go through the front exit.
So I waited there still all alone (at least the only one who was waiting for Marat ), but the moment he arrived he was surrounded quickly by several people (kids and girls) and I had a tough time, as I´m small and don´t like to use my elbows just to get an autograph. So then he had my pen, signed couple of autographs with that, but not mine
I said no, that´s not okay and insisted and as he already wanted to leave to the locker rooms, he still took my pen and signed my cap ;D and some other autographs. He was very nice, and tried his best to fulfill all the wishes of the fans
But it´s very interesting, as soon as he arrives, the hell is going on, and he has to battle his way through, while other players like F.Lopez, Ljubicic, Gaudio, T.Johansson etc. walk along totally unrecognised and are happy if there´s someone who wants an autograph.

Okay, then later I watched his match, I was pretty close to the court and could well see him
Unfortunenately he lost, of course he could´ve beaten him, even with the form he was in, but maybe the lack of confidence because of his devastating match in Rome led to this, and Saretta played pretty well, he didn´t give it to Marat. I was very pissed that he lost and almost felt like crying, but these kind of things happen, he was trying to fight but he just couldn´t do it. I hope he can battle himself into the FO and regain some confidence, lets hope that. Marat will get out of that little whole he´s in right now, like he did so often in the past, I´m sure. So, that´s all, I took a lot of photos, but I have no digicam, I don´t know if I can post them, but we´ll see.

[avalon]

Thanks Blue. I'm glad you persisted and got your autograph ;D

[yse]

Thanks Davis and Blue for your report ;D ;D ;D

[Annie]

Thank you Blue sweetie...great report ;D And congrats on your autograph

[lavia]

Thanx Blue for your report...KISSES

[kristen]

thanks blue....it felt like i was there with you..lol

[davis]

blue, we must have met without knowing it maybe next year we'll time it better...

My third day of the Hamburg tournament is over and even though it's not the same without Marat I still enjoy the whole thing immensely. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a big tournament, I had nearly forgotten about it. Some highlights that I thought I'd share:

1. The performances of the "new generation": Watching Gael Monfils, Andy Murray, Gilles Simon, and Novak Djokovic gives you an idea of the things to come. They play a more unorthodox tennis than the big players in their mid- to late twenties and even though - with the exception of Simon - they didn't make it past the second round I'm sure they will be the ones to keep an eye on in the future. Strictly speaking Rafael Nadal belongs to this crowd but he is already so far ahead of everyone that he is in a league if his own.

2. Discovering trends among the players. Very hip in Hamburg:
a. The bun !!! Not just Marat saw Disney's Mulan, he seems to have inspired others to follow his lead. Gaston Gaudio traded his ponytail in favor of a bun (very nicely seen during his training session without the unavoidable baseball cap), as did Xavier Malisse, Nicolas Massu and two players that I encountered during practise but who I couldn't place - probably some doubles specialists.
b. Bright turquoise-colored underwear (brrr...). Marat wore them, Simon wore them, Seppi sported a pair and even Tommy Robredo seemed to like them. Maybe they are a tournament goodie... And no, I didn't see all the guys without their shorts on (wish I had... ;D), just got a glimpse of the waistbands.

One question I'd like to ask Annie or anyone else who is familiar with Marat's entourage: Who is the guy next to Peter?



He was definitely a close acquaintance. The two spent more time chatting with each other than watching the match (that's how it seemed to me at least).

Okay, enough for today, maybe I'll send some final words 2morrow.

[yse]

www.maratsafin.com/content.php?did=10&aid=f8d379a9fc1d7eafacaf5707c9686d79

Pics from Hamburg ::)found on Marat safin . com

[arwen21]

he looks sooo cuteeeee!!! thanks yse!!! xxx

[mari]

Thanks yse for the link, great pics!!!
Great report blue!!! I have to admit that I'm a little bit jealous!!!! you met him and got his autograph!!! good for you blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kristen]

thanks yse!

[kuniochi]

Davis, Blue thank you for the great reports.