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Post by SAFINNO1 on Aug 23, 2008 16:46:07 GMT 3
Interesting piece from this website - www.sportingo.com/tennis/a10047_us-open-qualifiers-sign-times-as-andy-murray-marat-safin-prove-they-true-gentlemenUS Open qualifiers: A sign of the times as Andy Murray and Marat Safin prove they are true gentlemen have to mention that, when Safin took off his shirt during his early practice on one of the practice courts, you could hear all the girls - young, old and very old, shriek and swoon with delight. He got almost all the attention, when he came in, even though, Venus was practising on the left court and Jankovic on the right court. I think the court numbers were 8 and 10, but I wasn't really noting down the court numbers. It was too heady an experience to watch the players up close and personal and also too hot at that time (around 10.30 am). Before I ramble on, also worth mentioning is the fact that, when I asked Safin to pose for a picture as he was walking down the tunnel in the grandstand after finishing his game with Mathieu, he was a perfect gentleman. Safin was playing so bad that I think he lost the set to Mathieu; 6-2 or 6-3, no one was really keeping the score except for the players and their tense looking coaches, who were on the courts and I mean coaches were right on the courts as the players played on. Safin was erratic, his serve was completely off and his volleys were not going beyond the net. As expected though and to the delight of the majority of watchers, he slowly started getting angry and then his frustration caused a mini explosion, he smacked a ball in anger, that sky rocketed to the big TV screen , bounced-off back towards the court and interestingly enough landed in the stretched hands of an off-duty ball boy sitting in the lower court side seats. Everyone knew who was playing. To me the surprising part was that as Safin finished the game and came out, I was hesitant to ask for his autograph, thinking that his unhappiness could spill all over me, but man, was I wrong! He smiled, stopped, signed and continued on his way. I was highly impressed. This man is so different than what I had imagined all these years, based on the TV coverages and expert commentators, that talk of his volatile nature. On-court he may be explosive but off-court, the man is a gentleman. from Atptour.ru
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Post by justsafin on Aug 23, 2008 17:04:01 GMT 3
Interesting piece from this website - www.sportingo.com/tennis/a10047_us-open-qualifiers-sign-times-as-andy-murray-marat-safin-prove-they-true-gentlemenUS Open qualifiers: A sign of the times as Andy Murray and Marat Safin prove they are true gentlemen I have to mention that, when Safin took off his shirt during his early practice on one of the practice courts, you could hear all the girls - young, old and very old, shriek and swoon with delight. He got almost all the attention, when he came in, even though, Venus was practising on the left court and Jankovic on the right court. I think the court numbers were 8 and 10, but I wasn't really noting down the court numbers. It was too heady an experience to watch the players up close and personal and also too hot at that time (around 10.30 am). Everyone knew who was playing. To me the surprising part was that as Safin finished the game and came out, I was hesitant to ask for his autograph, thinking that his unhappiness could spill all over me, but man, was I wrong! He smiled, stopped, signed and continued on his way. I was highly impressed. This man is so different than what I had imagined all these years, based on the TV coverages and expert commentators, that talk of his volatile nature. On-court he may be explosive but off-court, the man is a gentleman. Thanks for the article! ;D That is sooooooooo very true! Marat is incredibly sweet off-court. He does have quite a lot of old-lady fans telling me "Marat is like my son".
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Post by Patxy on Aug 23, 2008 20:09:25 GMT 3
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Post by Dina on Aug 23, 2008 23:14:12 GMT 3
thanks Patxy!!!! hot hot hot!!!!!!! but sincerely it's time to cut of the girls!!!
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Post by maryb on Aug 24, 2008 0:38:56 GMT 3
I agree Dina. No more old ladies for the boy, it's too distracting for him. He's turned on too much by that blue-rinse look. LMAO. ;D
Ok Pixie, I want to see that focused heid on again. I will choose to ignore the meltdown with Dima ... will I heck. What the friggin' hell was that about anyway? Get your toes back an inch behind the baseline. Your last blowout until you retire, sunshine. 8-)Your fairy godmother has no more patience for your drama queening. You will behave, a la Wimbles. You were on your best behaviour for me, and I will expect more of the same. ;D
Where's my fish?
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Post by Dina on Aug 24, 2008 1:19:58 GMT 3
goodness I wanted to say time to cut the curls!!!!!!!!!! oh my! but still Mary you're right: distraction isn't allowed at 28!!!!!!!!
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Post by jenhatter06 on Aug 24, 2008 4:45:55 GMT 3
Dinara's thoughts on the US Open: “For me, this tournament is special because of my brother. That's why I like coming here, and it’s really always nice to come back here,” she said. “It's just coming too fast. I'm not used to it (being Olympus US Open Series champion). If I was used to it I would say, ‘OK, I can think about it.’ But at the moment, (everything) is just coming too fast, so I still cannot really take a breather to realize what's going on. So I'm coming in and (it is a) dreaming situation now.” www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2008-08-23/200808231219530491687.html
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Post by TennisMaiden on Aug 24, 2008 5:21:57 GMT 3
Maaaan ... Zolazk, if there was any possible way of accompanying you the USO for a spot of Marat-appreciation then whole forum be there LMAO! ;D ;D So, in your role as TGFR's most privileded current member, we are relying on you for piccies, vids and a generally a very tasty account of all 6'4" Russian Tatar! Have a FABULOUS time!! Well, I am packing my bags as I surf the web for the last time tonight. I can't believe I actually feel a little "stressed" over...."can I get some good pictures, will I stick my thumb in front of the lense, will I forget to turn the camera on, etc." When I purchased my ticket for Arthur Ashe for Monday evening session, I got one free. Back then I thought, yay...I'll take someone who is more camera proficient than me. Unfortunately, were I live, there are NO tennis fans amongst me. I didn't want the ticket to go to waste, so I had been telling brothers & sisters, "hey, why not spend a nice evening in NY...see the sights (as in "exotic tennis players" ;D) and enjoy the fresh air." As luck wold have it, my brother was considering going (he is a tennis fan,) but he can no longer take the following day off from work. So, now I will have an empty seat next to me, AND for whatever reason, I had been sent two extra passes to the US Open Club. If there is anyone out there in the NY Tri-State area, who can make it, please feel free to PM me. Even though it was free, I hate to see it go to waste. Perhaps it is not too late to arrange for someone to use it. I will be "borrowing" time on my sister's computer during my stay in NJ...so I will be checking in here (and my e-mail,) when I can, between Sunday morning, and Monday. At any rate, I will try my best to get good pictures, juicy details, etc. My luck...this year I have the good camera but, will probably end up with no good vantage points. Last year, I not only stood next to Marat & Gumy numerous times (seemed like no one noticed them...,) but, I was one of the first persons to get a good spot at the practice courts...I was too mezmerized to take pictures...I only took one of Dinara (the very first pro match I saw,) and two of Juan Carlos..... Wish me luck!! I'll need it. LOL!
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Post by Anne on Aug 24, 2008 13:08:26 GMT 3
Yes.. the part about Marat didn't really sound good but then again, it's not like he watched his practise day after day..
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Post by Dina on Aug 24, 2008 13:23:22 GMT 3
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Post by carol77 on Aug 24, 2008 17:16:05 GMT 3
OK.Everyone considers this is a lovely draw,I can't agree more. It's really weird to see Nadal on the top spot . ;D Good luck,Marat.
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Post by justsafin on Aug 24, 2008 20:04:03 GMT 3
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7579334.stmPressure on Nadal now - Federer Roger Federer (left) congratulates Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard's 2008 Wimbledon win Federer (left) has had to play second fiddle to Nadal in 2008 Former world number one Roger Federer says the pressure is firmly on Rafael Nadal as they head into the US Open. Wimbledon champion Nadal, who won the Olympic title last week, ended Federer's record 237-week run at the top of the world rankings last Monday. "Rafa will now feel what I had to feel for a very long time," said defending US Open champion Federer. "It will be interesting to see how he handles it, but so far he's been great and played so well on all surfaces." Federer might have won the men's doubles at the Olympics, but he has had a difficult year, including a bout of glandular fever, as he seeks a fifth straight title at Flushing Meadows. In addition to losing his place at the top of the world rankings Federer also lost his Wimbledon crown to Nadal. Rafa has played great so he deserves the number one position Defending champion Roger Federer However, Federer feels the loss of his status as the man to beat could play to his advantage in New York over the next fortnight. "I would think it does (reduce the pressure). Five years almost, I was expected to win every tournament I entered, so maybe now it changes a little bit," he said. "Maybe it's nice to go into a Grand Slam for a change not having number one next to me. "Rafa has played great so he deserves the number one position. He's in a way the favourite now all of a sudden, even on hard courts, because he's played so, so well." While Federer is insisting no longer being number one is a weight off his shoulders, Nadal is determined to scotch any suggestion it may prove to be a burden. "When you want to win, the goal is the same and the pressure is the same," said Nadal. "I am not thinking that I am number one or number two. I have been happy being number two for the last three years. "I know how tough it is to be number one and I know I can just as easily slip back to number two or number three. "I have to try to enjoy this moment and accept it because I am not always going to play like I did the last six months. Right now I am having the best moment of my career." Meanwhile, third seed Novak Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the Olympic Games before losing a tough three-set battle to Nadal, has admitted he is feeling the effects of flying thousands of miles. "The last couple of weeks for me were really exhausting," he said. "I had to travel all over the world, because I went from Cincinnati, I went back home and then went to Beijing and then came here. Everything in 10 days. You can imagine how I feel. "I feel excited (about the tournament) but physically I still need to work on some things hopefully so that (by) Tuesday, Wednesday, I can be fit."
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Post by justsafin on Aug 24, 2008 20:13:52 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Aug 24, 2008 20:20:40 GMT 3
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Post by justsafin on Aug 24, 2008 20:45:41 GMT 3
Is anyone going to US Open besides me? I'd like to have some company there..! Ahh, I've been going nuts getting ready for this, and I have just now found time to sit down and catch up on posts. Yes, I am going, but only for the first three days. Last year was the first time I went (only opening day.) I had met up with someone there who had been going to the Open for ages. This year I'm flying solo. It would be fun to have someone to pal around with. I spent most of the opening day last year (after stumbling upon, watching the guys on the practice courts...courts which everyone seemed to forget or not know about. That is where I saw Marat pull his pants down, and I'm looking at the people around me, and no one else seemed to notice this. Silly me had a (borrowed,) camera in hand but didn't take photos. I have never been much of a photo person. After standing next to Marat, and so many of my favorites, I vowed to come back prepared this year. I don't feel prepared yet. HELP!! This year, in honor of going back, I bought a brand new camera for myself, and at this moment, am still trying to learn how to take decent pictures. Anyone who has been to any of the other major torney's have any advice at all...advice as to how I can get the most "fun" out of my three days? I wish I could pack all of you, and take you with. Relax, tennismaiden! *Make sure the camera's battery is fully charged and read the instructions. Check battery status from time to time. *Take notes of scheduled matches and practice sessions and remember to get there earlier just in case. Practice courts and time are subject to change. So, if you don't see the player(s), check out other courts or ask around. *Don't be shy to ask for pictures or autographs if you really want them, better do that at practice courts. Many players are nice even they just smashed a racquet. Marat usually doesn't sign before he practices but after that. Please remember to take pictures if he ever pulls his pants down again. ;D I don't wanna just imagine! LMAO! Good luck on finding companies and have a great time at USO!
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