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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 20, 2009 17:14:02 GMT 3
Stepanek and Troicki defeated Marat Safin and Dusan Vemic
6-3 3-6 10-6
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Post by memtennis on Apr 20, 2009 17:33:37 GMT 3
Any details Safinno1? Like how he played or what frame of mind he seemed to be in?? Can't wait for the match tomorrow..
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Post by tinuviel on Apr 20, 2009 18:31:51 GMT 3
oh people cheer up @ least we have him 4 one more year. can u imagine if he had decided not to play anymore on december last year...we wouldn't have a farewell...lets just enjoy. No pressure, leave that for the newballs... Totally agree! Me too - I've been meaning to post for days now but felt so annoyed with all the negative vibes that I thought I'd better calm down. I watched most of the Lapentti match and, apart from the result obviously, I actually enjoyed some of the phenomenal shot making and good play. Not sure where all you negative people were. |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 20, 2009 20:03:47 GMT 3
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Post by Annie on Apr 21, 2009 12:06:23 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 21, 2009 14:20:16 GMT 3
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 21, 2009 18:00:59 GMT 3
Safin, Monaco square off in Barcelona showdown
4/20/09 9:19 PM | Ricky Dimon
Marat Safin and Juan Monaco will do battle in a marquee first-round matchup at the Open Banco Sabadell on Tuesday afternoon in Barcelona. It will be just their second career meeting.
Arguably the best first-round match of the entire Barcelona first round will feature Marat Safin and Juan Monaco on Tuesday afternoon. In their only previous encounter, Monaco ousted Safin 6-0, 7-6(4) on the indoor hard courts of the Masters Series Paris last fall.
The clay courts of the Open Banco Sabadell will give Monaco even more of a chance at getting the best of Safin for a second straight time. Monaco briefly became a force even on hard courts during his breakout 2007 campaign, but dirt is by far his best surface. Injuries plagued the Argentine throughout last season, but he is rounding into form this year, especially on the slow stuff. Monaco finished runner-up to Tommy Robredo in Buenos Aires back in February (lost to Tommy Robredo in a third-set tiebreaker) and advanced two rounds at last week's Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Safin is ranked 38 spots ahead of his opponent at No. 20 in the world, mainly on the strength of an out-of-nowhere semifinal performance at Wimbledon last summer (lost to Roger Federer). The Russian's alleged last year on the ATP World Tour, however, sees him stuck in neutral. Safin has not won back-to-back matches in an ATP event since his first appearance of the season in the Australian Open (again lost to Federer in the third round). In his last two tournaments--both Masters Series events--Safin squandered double-break leads and multiple match points in the third set; first against Gael Monfils in Miami and last week against Nicolas Lapentti in Monte-Carlo.
As a result, Monaco has to have a significant edge in a close contest. That's likely what Tuesday's clash will be, too, since Safin will not be able to overpower Monaco right off the court on a slow surface. His big serve and punishing two-handed backhand would have more of an effect on hard courts (although they did not last year in Paris). Long baseline rallies are exactly what Monaco wants, and that's what he will get in Barcelona. Safin's talent alone should earn him a set, but he is undoubtedly struggling with confidence in tight matches. Look for Monaco to overcome the No. 11 seed in three sets.
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Apr 21, 2009 20:42:53 GMT 3
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Post by maratsmaiden on Apr 21, 2009 20:48:50 GMT 3
fyi - there's a livestream on channelsurfing.net  |
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Post by minisound on Apr 21, 2009 20:59:39 GMT 3
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Post by maratsmaiden on Apr 21, 2009 21:24:02 GMT 3
livestream just quit...?
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Post by maratsmaiden on Apr 21, 2009 21:29:04 GMT 3
Thanks Davis!
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Post by minisound on Apr 21, 2009 21:53:37 GMT 3
Where´s Marat, the real one???
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Post by maryb on Apr 21, 2009 22:02:33 GMT 3
Oh goody. At a key moment ... the football is now being broadcast.  Anybody know where there's a livestream still showing the match? |
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Post by maratsmaiden on Apr 21, 2009 22:04:03 GMT 3
tell me about it maryb... the channelsurfing.net one is out too. ridiculous.  |
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Anybody know where there's a livestream still showing the match?