Roland Garros 2006

[SAFINNO1]

Welcome to Roland Garros 2006 ;D

Well since Marat has not been at his greatest in his tournaments running up to Roland Garros, i think it time we looked into the future at a tournamnet Marat wants to win deerly in a city he loves

Tournament Information
ROLAND GARROS 2006
Location: PARIS, FRANCE
Dates: 28 MAY [New Sunday Start] – 11 JUNE 2006
Prize Money: € 6,711,040
Draw: 128 DRAW

SURFACE: RED CLAY
BALL: ROLAND GARROS – FRENCH OPEN
PRIZE MONEY: EURO
WEB SITE: www.rolandgarros.com

Main Draw (names in bold are seeded players)

Marat's half first of all:

Alberto Martin
Julien Benneteau

Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo
Ivan Ljuibicic

Gael Monfils
Novak Djokovic

Lleyton Hewitt
Rafael Nadal

[glow=red,2,300]Kolya's half of the draw[/glow] (I could have called it Roger's, but I don't want to LMAO ;D ;D ;D ;D

Roger Federer ;D
Thomas Berdych
Mario Ancic

David Nalbandian
Martin Vassallo Arguello

Gaston Gaudio ;D ;D
Nikolay Davydenko ;D ;D



Winner Race Points 200 Entry Points 1000
Finalist Race Points 140 Entry Points 700
SF Race Points 90 Entry Points 450
QF Race Points 50 Entry Points 250
R/16 Race Points 30 Entry Points 150
R/32 Race Points 15 Entry Points 75
R/64 Race Points 7 Entry Points 35
R/128 Race Points 1 Entry Points 5

[SAFINNO1]

Marat's record at Roland Garros

1998 - R16
1999 - R16
2000 - RF
2001 - R32
2002 - SF
2003 - DNP
2004 - R16
2005 - R16

[SAFINNO1]

Article found on Tournament OS

Marat's one-track mind
By Guillaume Baraise
Thursday, April 27, 2006

There are some players who leave a gaping whole in the line-up if they have to miss out on a tournament. Marat Safin is one of those types - after six months away from the circuit due to a knee injury, the Russian made a come-back at the end of February, with one thing on his mind - Roland Garros.

Marat certainly looked a little different. Long hair off the court, and a samurai-style pony-tail on it. Scratch beneath the surface, though, and nothing seems to have changed. Six months waiting for his left knee to heal certainly did nothing to dampen his sense of humour. "I've grown my hair because my father's bald, and in any case, I thought that it was now or never," he said of his new look. He also seems to have lost none of his character and his competitive spirit. In Valencia, he refused to shake the hand of his Spanish opponent Nicolas Almagro after the latter had, according to Safin, celebrated his win in their semi-final a little too openly, particularly after the Russian had suffered a mild ankle sprain. Safin's racquets have also borne the brunt of some of his recent defeats...

One thing is certain, however - the former world n°1 was glad to get back on court. The 2006 season began for him in Dubai with an impressive victory over world n°5 and fellow Russian Nikolay Davydenko. "I really missed playing tennis," he confessed at the time. "I didn't expect to win against a player of that stature so soon. I was nervous about my knee, and I've still got a few mountains to climb before I get back to the top…" Since then, Safin has done even better still, overcoming Richard Gasquet in a titanic five-setter in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. The Russian, coached by Peter Lundgren, is usually his own severest critic, but he currently seems over the moon with his level of play. "If I carry on at this rate, I'll be back in the top 10 before you know it..."

The 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open winner is famous for his lack of patience, and despite talking about taking things one step at a time, he is itching to get back to his old level of competition. Safin has never made any bones about the fact that he would love to win at Roland Garros, and even if he is not a genuine clay court specialist, it is a surface he is very much comfortable on, having learned the tricks of the trade in Valencia. In the past, however, Roland Garros has always been a bridge too far for him, with a semi-final appearance in 2002 being his best performance to date. The French public do enjoy the Russian's fighting spirit, however, but he often uses up too much energy in the first week as he struggles to get into a rhythm. By the time the business end of the tournament comes around, he tends to find that he has too little left in the tank...

If he is in peak physical condition, however, Safin should be one of the favourites in Paris. Maybe Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will have some competition after all…

[lavia]

Thanx Safinno1 for the info! hope Marat at least will manage NOT to lose in the 1st round...

[Annie]

some interesting read from the official RG site

Open secrets
By Benjamin Waldbaum
Friday, May 12, 2006

With less than three weeks to go before the first match, the build-up to the French Open is in full swing and we have lots to tell you about - including how the various players' tune-ups are going, news about the qualifying tournament and a new rule regarding lucky losers.

Roland gets a face-lift

Roland Garros is currently a hive of activity. Since spring arrived, the ground staff have been working on the clay courts. Almost all of them are now ready except the prestigious Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen courts, which are currently having their make-over. The entire stadium has already been kitted out in its tournament gear, with the stands being made ship-shape and temporary seating installed around the outside courts.

Sneak preview

A number of French players have come to check out the brand new playing surfaces and to practise on the courts themselves using official tournament balls. Since the end of March, both world number 1 Amélie Mauresmo and 2005 French Open finalist Mary Pierce have been spotted on the courts, along with Nathalie Dechy, Richard Gasquet, Gaël Monfils, Paul-Henri Mathieu and Gilles Simon. Tatiana Golovin, who suffered an ankle injury in Miami, was also spotted at Roland Garros in early May, but while it was heartening to see "Tati" walking without crutches, she is not yet fit enough to train fully.

Big names in the qualifying rounds

In the week before the French Open, the qualifiers will see some 128 players fighting for 16 spots in the tournament itself. This pre-tournament rounds will throw up some mouth-watering ties, featuring players such as Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui (world n° 14 in 2003), Spain's Albert Portas (n° 19 in 2001) and Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta (n°21 in 2000). The qualifiers will be played from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 May (24 - 27 May for the women), and some of the final qualifying round ties will also be shown on Eurosport. Tickets for the qualifiers are available, priced €16 for adults and €8 for under 15s. Under 7s are admitted free.

Lucky losers need even more luck

The rule regarding lucky losers in Grand Slam tournaments has changed this year. Previously, should a player in the tournament itself declare forfeit after the start of the qualifiers, the highest-ranked loser in the last qualifying round automatically got through. From now on, however, once the qualifiers have been completed, there will be a draw among the four highest-ranked losers of the final qualifying round to define the order in which lucky losers will replace those dropping out, should more than one player declare forfeit. If there are more than four forfeits, then the fifth-highest ranked player will go through, as was the case in the past.

Notable absentees

Even though they have not yet officially confirmed their absences, it sounds like three former champions will not be taking part in the 76th French open. 1999 men's winner Andre Agassi has decided to play no tennis at all on clay this year, in order to protect his injured hip, whilst Gustavo Kuerten, who won in 1997, 2000 and 2001, is suffering from a similar injury. Among the women, Serena Williams will most likely not make the trip to Paris - the 2002 French Open winner has been off the circuit since the Australian Open due to a knee injury.

[Madou]

I can't wait before RG... I just can't wait... Marat I wish you the best in Paris, and perhaps I'll even be able to see you
Thanks for the info, Annie and Ily !!!

[sonya]

yey,it's almost here!!!!!!!!!finally a tournament that i can follow! ;D

GOOD LUCK,MARAT!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!! DO IT FOR YOURSELF AND FOR ALL POOR FANS THAT WOULD DIE FOR A CHANCE TO ENJOY WATCHING YOU ON COURT PLAYING AMAZING TENNIS AND DROOLING OVER YOU FOR WHOLE TWO WEEKS!!!

;D ;D ;D

GO,SAFIN,GO!!!!

[SAFINNO1]

It's being reported Coria has pulled out of RG

Udachi Kunitsyn, Gabashvilli, Korolev in qualifiying

[annie]

all the best luck to Marat....i'm so nervous and excited about this, my heart's about to explode....

[carole]

I'm nervous too! I'll be at the French Open on monday 29 and tuesday 30 and i hope i can see Marat there! With my luck i have the feeling that they 're going to make him play on sunday... But if i can see him, don't worry, i'll make my report here for everybody! Last time i saw him at the French Open was the morning before his match against Nalbandian when he had so many blisters on his hands, i hope it will be better this time! But i don't think i bring bad luck every time to him, because i was also there in Paris Bercy Masters Series in 2004 and he won the tournament! We'll see this time!

[nicole1224]

well, i hope you have a great time at the French Open carole! hope you get to see Marat!

[fancy]

welcome welcome roland garros

i really really love this tournament ( the power of the french lol ) and i hope Marat has a very good luck in it

go on Marat , we re waiting !!

[SAFINNO1]

Quly draw is out
www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/draws/qs/index.html

[kristen]

good luck to marat!..

[kittycatnat]

Good luck Marat, you can do it!!!!