The Big Apple is calling - US Open 2006

[Tish]

Thanks Madou for Bodos article always entertaining...

And for all of those hot pics....I am glad that Marat has advanced and will be praying, supporting and sending positive thoughts his way against Nalbandian

[marats]

I think Marat has a good chance to beat Nalbandian !!!
He is motivated and played very well during his first match !!!
Good luck tomorrow Marat !!

[Mariana]

Congrats Marat for yesterday's victory and good luck against Nalbandian tomorrow

Thanks guys for all the pics and for the article

[bia2209]

Oh my lord...can i just say how happy i was when marat won?? No thanks to stupid French Eurosport who were showing Grosjean v Johansson (ick ick double ick) while our baby was out there playing what appears (according to the scoreline at least) to be one of his better matches in a long while.

I will be hoping and praying for him against Nalbandian. David hasn't been playing too well lately so hopefully Marat can take advantage. We all know the ability is there.

And can someone please settle something for me? The French commentators have been sayin that yesterday is the first match Marat has won at the US Open since 2002...granted he didn't play last year but still...can such a thing really be true?

[karolka]

when is next Marat match??

[Madou]

Yes Bia, it's sad but I think it's true. I don't know about 2003, but he lost in the first round in 2004 and he didn't play last year. So I guess he lost in the first round too in 2003.

That's a new beginning at the USO, and I really think he can win tomorrow: Nalbi can only beat him when he has blisters on the hands (RG 2004) !!! ;D ;D

[Madou]

Karolka, Marat will play tomorrow, but we don't know exactly when

[alsl]

OH GOSH they were showing every other match except Marat's!!they showed Nalby's and Rafa's and court 10 and 11 ALL EXCEPT MARATS!!! >:(i was gonna go but i decided to stay till 1am and well wat do u know..marat comes on at 1am...well only for 10 minutes but it was worth it ;D

didnt really watch the match much but his u.errors arent too good...his forehand is a CRACKER tho ;D

at first when I heard that Marat was playing Nalby i was thinking "oh gawd..poor lau"

[SAFINNO1]

I think this is the match Marat will need if he is to do well - beating the name Nalbandian will do him a world of good - world no 3 - even if he is not at his best. I have not been this confident in Marat for ages!
I genuinly feel the end to the season will be good - he will win a tournament or 2 like in 2004.

As for Peter Bodo - he is a genius

Could'nt find an interview so..
US Open quotes

• "I still think I can win a lot of tournaments, and I still think I can win a couple of Grand Slams, even if (top-ranked Roger) Federer will not play," Safin said. "I'm still waiting for my opportunities."
  Safin is trying to find his best form after injury problems
  
  
• I don't think it's 100 percent"
  When video replay confirmed the "out" call, Safin questioned that, too. Later, he said of the new system
  
  
• "The people -- they were wrong
  People who though Marat would dominate Tennis
  
  
• "I'm still far away and looking for my best game. Nobody is scared of me any more."
  Marat Safin in upbeat mood after beating Robin Vik in the first round.
  
  
• "For me, being alone in Cincinnati — have you ever been to Cincinnati?" Safin said. "So just go there and see how depressing that place is. Then if someone offers to play with you ... I'm not with Gabriel Markus. He's the coach of Massu, and that's it."
  Safin on the Cincinnati Masters, played in Mason, Ohio and a new coach
  
  
• "Every time I say I am very close to (coming back), I find myself in a very difficult situation," Safin said. "So I guess I'm still far away and I'm looking for my best game."
  Safin is doing his searching without a coach - at least for now.
  
  
• "Everything was new, and right now I'm already eight years on the tour, so it's kind of, things have changed," Safin said. "... I was young, and that's why I guess I won. I wasn't scared."
  On his victory in 2000
  
  
• "Right now I'm already 26," Safin said. "So you're 26 and everybody asking what's going on, you not winning a lot of matches, your ranking dropped, and this kind of thing."
  
  
• "(Safin) is always dangerous, it doesn't matter what his ranking is," Nalbandian said. "It's going to be a tough match"
  Nalbandian on the next round
  
  
• "I think I still have it for a lot of tennis," Safin said. "I just need to put myself together, be a little bit lucky in some moments, and that's it. Everything will come back. I'm not retiring."
  Safin aint going nowher!!!!!!

[Madou]

Thanks Ily for all these quotes ;D ;D

[luxsword]

[marats]

Thanks Safinno1 !

[safinbgfan]

Thank you for these great pics and the quotes ;D

[bia2209]

Thanks Madou...i was wondering though...might he have missed the Open in 03...cause wasn't that when he had that trouble with the wrist?

[emma]

bia2209 said:

Thanks Madou...i was wondering though...might he have missed the Open in 03...cause wasn't that when he had that trouble with the wrist?

In 2003, the only Grand Slam that Marat played was the Australian Open.

More pictures from yesterday ;D