San Jose - SAP Open 2007

[Mrs. Fabregas]

He lost it 6-4 6-3
Now take a bit rest, and then up to the doubles....

[Patxy]

Bia , waiting here for your report, even though today's outcome was not what we wanted it to be, please...
Let's hope he does well in doubles, if he feels like playing it...

[justsafin]

waiting for bia's report too

i guess he must've been too tired to fight...

relax on doubles!

[bia2209]

Ask and you shall recieve PaT...lol.

Well what to say, Becker is a player that doesn't really give points cheaply and Marat was always going to have to play cleanly to win.

The first set was fairly even. They were both serving well, Becker in particular. Then at 4-4, Marat was 0-30 on Becker's serve. He played two bad shots to 30-30, started to get frustrated and ended up losing the game.

That is when the racketcide, screaming and ball smashing kicked off.

So then he has an appalling start to his game, serving to stay in it and it cost him the set.

At this point he's starts looking a bit tired and a bit spaced out. You know like how a three year old gets when they are tired and fussy? That was Marat.

Becker meanwhile just kept doing what he was doing. Serving well, hanging with Marat on the baseline and drawing mistakes from Marat.

Marat's forehand was all over the place. Except in the court. It decided not to investigate that part of the stadium

He got broken, was quickly down 3-1 and then 4-1 in the second set and by that time it was obvious that he simply didn't feel like being bothered. The body language was all wrong, not even a baby hint of a fightback. I just think that mind and body were not in proper harmony with him tonight.

That's it really.

Now I can drool stress free over the doubles.

[justsafin]

thank you for the report, bia!

[Patxy]

So it was a matter of weak mentality and bad serve, plus this Becker guy has been performing well, lately.
Thank you Bia.
I wanted him to play in Dubai but that tournament is not on his schedule!. So no Marat the next week until TTC Open.

[bia2209]

Ok, just watched the doubles..and as I suspected during his singles match, Marat was simply running very, very low on gas. He had NO legs left. He was absolutely shattered and it showed. It was just one of those days. They didnt play too badly, esp in the second set but that wasn't really the point. I think had it been a different type of tournament he might not have bothered to play at all.

Ok, this that part where I get slightly paranoid, but I saw him testing that knee a couple of times. The commentator pointed it out as well and I hate, hate seeing him do that.

I mean I think it's probably just the result of a crazy week, changing surfaces, flying 15 hours, playing a lot of tennis but it still makes me nervous. Can't help it.

Anyways, he was adorable as usual staying behind to sign autographs and things and now he will have time to rest before Vegas, is it?

I think he needs it. And of course if he needs any TLC, Lady Lollipop is just a phone call away

[Joyce]

Thanks bia for the report.

[inez]

Hi everyone - Inez calling from a burning hot Melbourne - I also watched the livestream from the sap open - and my impression was that macdaddy definately left his mojo at home today - he looked like he was sleepwalking from the first to the last - waking himself up occassionally but generally his body language spoke of not enough recovery time after the game last night - and as Bia says, he just ran out of gas - mentally as much as physically - perhaps not all that surprising after all - the knee bending thing - well, we all hope there is no injury - but I think it's more likely that he was just hot(Marat :Global Warming Alert!!), bothered, fed up and tired - even the raquet throwing was a bit half hearted!!! - anyways, onward and upwards girls - he lives to fight another day!!!

[bia2209]

Welcome Inez! You make a good point about the racket throwing lol...it's often occured to me that Marat sometimes throws his racket more out of habit than any real need to break it. hehehe

[lau]

ok..., 2 things befoire crying....

1-Thanks bia honey for your reports
2- welcome inez to TGFR

Now....

Oh well, I hope he has some rest....

[miffy]

gutted that marat lost but found this gorgeous pic from todays press conference to cheer everyone up

[lau]

thanks miffy

Another pic

[sonya]

bia2209 said:

Ok, this that part where I get slightly paranoid, but I saw him testing that knee a couple of times. The commentator pointed it out as well and I hate, hate seeing him do that.

I mean I think it's probably just the result of a crazy week, changing surfaces, flying 15 hours, playing a lot of tennis but it still makes me nervous. Can't help it.

It is scary,but I guess it is also completely normal and a result of the things you mentioned above.His injury is chronical,his knee will never be completely painless again . Even the wheather change only can produce pain in a place that was injured once-no matter how bad or how much time ago.
I only twisted my ankle,I think it's about 3 months now-and still-the swelling is not completely off and after longer walk or when it rains I start to feel pain .

inez said:

even the raquet throwing was a bit half hearted!!!

bia2209 said:

it's often occured to me that Marat sometimes throws his racket more out of habit than any real need to break it. hehehe

Developing different techniques of throwing & breaking racquets,huh?
I think we can soon expect an article in Wikipedia .

[Patxy]

^^..unwatermarked... ;D