The Big Apple is calling - US Open 2006

[SAFINNO1]

WELL DONE MARAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





That seemed a good performance minus the 3rd set but the victory is the most important - if he keeps up his good serving that will help hom alot and he seemed to be hitting many winners and not scared to attack the net even though i dont like when he is at the net
With the rain delays the guys at Sky think he would play on Friday on the Grandstand court hopefully against Nalbandian cause i think Marat would beat him !

• Match Stats
  
• 1st Serve % - 53 of 89 = 60 %
  
• Aces - 15
  
• No double faults
  
• Unforced Errors - 34
  
• Winning % on 1st Serve - 44 of 53 = 83 %
  
• Winning % on 2nd Serve - 21 of 36 = 58 %
  
• Winners - 49 ;D
  
• Receiving Points Won - 43 of 103 = 42 %
  
• Break Point Conversions -6 of 13 = 46 %
  
• Net Approaches - 29 of 41 = 71 %
  
• Total Points Won - 108
  
• Fastest Serve 135MPH
  
• Average 1st Serve Speed - 125MPH
  
• Average 2nd Serve Speed - 102MPH
  

[davis]

[yse]

[marats]

Congrats Marat !!!
Well done !!!

[emma]

Without watermark ;D

[safinette]

CONGRATS MARAT! WELL DONE!

[marats]

Thank you Emma !
Not shure who's Marat's contender in the second rond ...............Nalbandian is 4/5 behind in the fourth set !
He lost the first and second set !
He needs to win this fourth set for staying in the match !!

[yse]

[safinbgfan]

GREAT VICTORY!!! ;D Well done,Maratik! You`re the best!!!
Thanks for the pics!

[yse]

[emma]

[safinette]

Next match is against Nalbandian.

[SAFINNO1]

MATCH REPORT

Safin Victorious Over Vik
by Erin Gell
Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Marat Safin has not graced the US Open courts in two years, but his confident all-court style carried him to a 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Robin Vik of the Czech Republic today.

This match was one of the many first round matches held over from Tuesday’s rain-out. It was also the first time the two men had met.

Though his No. 104 ranking has him ranked lower than Vik (No. 85), Safin began the match with a decided edge. The Russian maneuvered comfortably between the baseline and the net, oozing confidence and dictating the pacing and placement of every shot, while Vik struggled to return each ball. Safin took the first set, 6-1.

The second set brought about the first challenge of the day at Louis Armstrong Stadium when Safin elected to challenge a serve that was called out. The instant replay on the screen showed that it actually had just barely grazed the line, so Safin came away with the point and the satisfaction of being right in his first ever US Open challenge. Safin wrapped up the set 6-1.

Though it has been six years since he won the title here against Pete Sampras, Safin was making it clear that he has the potential to be a champion once again.

Yet as the third set got underway, Vik began hitting harder and making fewer mistakes. In the fourth game of the third set, Safin made his second challenge, questioning a fault call on the center line. But his beginner’s luck had worn off when the instant replay showed the original call had been correct. That didn’t stop Safin from continuing to debate with the Chair Umpire about it. Meanwhile Vik continued to improve his speed and power, and managed to grab a break that would get him the set 6-3.

Vik was visibly more confident now; he took chances, and aggressively chased down Safin’s balls, even running into a camera trying to catch up with a drop shot. As Vik’s confidence grew, so did Safin’s frustration as he stumbled into errors. At one point, Safin slammed his racket onto the court after missing a point.

The fourth set brought about the final challenge of the match, this time from Vik. A Safin serve down the sideline was called in, and the instant replay agreed with the judges.

Vik really jostled for the ball and had won much of the crowd over. Yet Safin nabbed a break to go up 5-3 and from there was able to close out the match and secure a place in the second round.

It's official David Nalbandian v Marat Safin in the 2nd Round of the US OPEN

DAVAI MARAT

H2H
Nalbandian 1-5 Safin - only place Safin has been beaten is on clay and i dont think David likes Marat's game - he can't handle it on hardcourts!

2004 Madrid AMS Hard F Safin 6-2 6-4 6-3

2004 Roland Garros Clay R16 Nalbandian 7-5 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3

2002 Paris TMS Carpet R32 Safin 6-3 6-2

2002 RUS v. ARG WG SFCarpet RR Safin 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 6-0 6-3

2002 Roland Garros Clay R32 Safin 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-4

2002 Monte Carlo TMS Clay R16 Safin 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2

[emma]

Rafa Downs the Scud; Safin Through in Four


Rafael Nadal made it through to the second round of the US Open Wednesday with a straight sets victory over former finalist Mark Philippoussis. The Spaniard required only one break in each set, as he took 123 minutes to complete a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over the 29-year-old Australian.

Philippoussis, previously a World No.8, served 19 aces, but his 35 unforced errors helped Nadal to victory. Nadal will now anticipate a fixture with Luis Horna in the next round, after the Peruvian's 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

World No.4 David Nalbandian survived a tough five-set test to Michael Berrer. Nalbandian, who was two sets down, came back and eventually prevailed 4-6, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 in 214 minutes. The Argentine will now face former World No.1 Marat Safin in the next round.

Safin came through his first round test with the Czech Republic's Robin Vik in the first round. In a rapid 110 minute match, Safin prevailed 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. It was the Russian's first victory since beating Wesley Moodie in the quarterfinals in Washington earlier this month. Safin will now face either the No.4 seed David Nalbandian, or German Michael Berrer in the second round in New York.


In-form Fernando Gonzalez prevailed against Jiri Vanek to reach the second round. Gonzalez came through 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 to clock-up his 14th victory of the North American summer hard court season. The Chilean will face the Czech Jan Hajek in round two.

The 2001 Champion Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the second round relatively untroubled in a 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 win over Spaniard Albert Montanes. The Australian is playing in his eighth US Open, and will next play Czech Jan Hernych.

The 24-year-old Guillermo Coria, who was playing his fourth US Open, fell out of the Open Wednesday retiring with a right hamstring strain when trailing 2-3 in the opening set to Ryan Sweeting of the USA. Sweeting, who was playing only his sixth career match on the ATP circuit, will play Belgian Oliver Rochus in the next round.

The rising Czech star Tomas Berdych also advanced to the second round with a comfotable 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 win over Serbian Boris Pashanski. Berdych plays Florian Mayer next after the German's straight sets victory over Stefan Koubek Wednesday. Mayer progressed 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

[Annie]

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

with a bit of a heart attack but HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

I am watching a match replay right now and he looks extremely focused and is playing very well ;D ;D ;D

Nalby struggled a hell of a lot..I watched the last two sets and I wasn't too impressed...but he is a dangerous one..even though if Marat plays like today, I think we have a chance ;D ;D ;D ;D