Articles about Marat

[ANNA205]

Thu, Jan 06, 2005


Move courting disaster




Marat says speeding up surface bad for game

FORMER world No.1 Marat Safin disagrees with Lleyton Hewitts calls for a faster court surface at the Australian Open, believing its important the years first grand slam retains its own identity.

Hewitt has teed off at Australian Open organisers and particularly tournament director Paul McNamee over the Melbourne Park surface, saying it should be faster to suit Australian players.

Hewitts coach Roger Rasheed also joined the debate, stating the Australian Open courts werent fit to host a grand slam tournament.

But Safin feels the surface at all four majors needs to be different and speeding up the Rebound Ace courts in Melbourne would make the event too similar to the hard courts at Flushing Meadow, where the U.S. Open is played.

Safin cited the French Open as an example, when clay-court specialists such as last years winner Gaston Gaudio performed well but struggled at the remaining majors.

The big Russian, who has made two Australian Open finals, had no doubt the court surface was fair.

“Yeah, I think so. I mean what they have here is a little bit slower, the bounce is very high,” he said.

“Then you have the French which is clay, Wimbledon is fast and low and then the U.S. Open is a fast hardcourt.

“So basically you have all different types of courts.

“If you dont like the Australian Open you must like the U.S. Open because its a little bit faster and the ball bounces a little bit lower.

“But if you really want it to be fast you can go to Wimbledon or if you want it really slow you can go to the French Open so theres something for everybody.”

Hewitt won the 2001 U.S. Open and lost last years final to Roger Federer, but has never progressed beyond the fourth round the Australian grand slam.

Safin feels the Rebound Ace surface suits his game, while Hewitts style holds up better on the hard courts of the U.S. Open.

The Russian added the ATP tournament in his native Moscow is played on carpet which he doesnt like.

“Lleyton and I have a completely different game,” Safin said.

“For me I like it when it bounces high, when its not so fast. It really suits me.

“He likes probably for it to be a bit faster.

“Its 50-50. Fifty players they would love and 50 players would not like this surface.

[SAFINNO1]

well said marat not every surface is going to suit everyone.

BTW Hewitt should concentrate on his tennis as he has just lost to Taylor Dent and has said he can win the AO

Thanks for the article

[annie]

yep, i totally agree with Marat...besides, you can't please everybody all the time...

[kasey]

yeh Marat's right bout keeping the Australian Open's individualism. As far as i know Lleyton is the only player complaining about the surface...

[ANNA205]

Safin needs luck
By James Dampney
January 7, 2005

MARAT Safin admits he needs plenty of luck at this month's centenary Australian Open after a woeful performance at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

The big Russian enjoyed tournament favouritism and top seeding alongside French Open champion Anastasia Myskina at the mixed teams round-robin event at the Burswood Dome.

Safin was coming off an outstanding finish to 2004, when he won the Madrid and Paris Masters Series tournaments and lost a Masters Cup semi-final to Roger Federer, ending the season ranked No.4.

He had a late arrival in Perth after receiving an award for his tennis exploits from the Russian government.

But the 24-year-old has struggled to shake-off the jet-lag all week.

In Russia's first tie against unseeded Germany, he suffered a sluggish three-set loss to Tommy Haas.

That performance was excused as he had only arrived the day before, but little had changed two days later when he was rolled by Argentine Guillermo Coria in straight sets.

He completed his disappointing week with a three-set loss to Italian journeyman Davide Sanguinetti, including a 7-0 loss in the opening set tiebreak.

Safin and Myskina also lost all three of their mixed doubles rubbers.

Safin was at a loss to explain where his best form had gone this week.

"Somewhere, but definitely not here," he said.

"I could say it can't get any worse, it can only get better.

"I can find a lot of excuses actually, it depends which one you want.

"I have a lot of them."

The two-time Australian Open finalist garnered little support from Myskina, who comfortably won her three singles matches this week.

Asked about her partner's form this week, Myskina could only laugh and say "no comment".

"My singles has been pretty good," she added.

"Mixed we didn't win a match since last year, so hopefully next year we'll have more chances."

Safin will need to find some form in a hurry if he is to again have a good run at the year's opening grand slam tournament.

Wished good luck for the Australian Open, Safin said: "Thank you. I will need some luck for sure."

[MariaV]

Thanks for posting all the articles Anna! Keep up the good work!

[SAFINNO1]

Once again thanks for the article AnnA.

i think Marat's performance at hopman was just a practise warm up , i think he knows that as well , just to ease himself back to match practise.

[annie]

SAFINNO1 said:

i think Marat's performance at hopman was just a practise warm up , i think he knows that as well , just to ease himself back to match practise.

yeah, i think so too...that's why i wasn't so disappointed about it...

and Anna, thanks for the articles...i wish Marat a LOT of good luck... ;D

[ANNA205]

no problem.so great to hear that he can play in the third round.anyway i just found marat's article on his sis Dinara.enjoy


Safin tells sister to lift her game
Bruce Matthews
20jan05

IN THAT blunt Russian manner, Marat Safin is sparing no one. Not his first two hapless opponents . . . not even his younger sister.
Pictures: Open shots

Safin launched a scathing critique on Dinara Safina after needing only 81 minutes to get the job done against Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4 6-1 6-3 yesterday to march into the Australian Open third round.
He expressed absolutely no sympathy for his 44th-ranked sibling, who earlier squandered a set lead to fall to second seed Amelie Mauresmo on centre court.

In an extraordinary observation of his sister's career, Safin virtually shut the door on any more big brother advice to the 18-year-old.

"Of course, she's a little bit young, she has a big future in front of her. But I'm sorry, if you don't really understand yourself what's going on, it's a little bit difficult for somebody to fix it and explain it," the world No. 4 said.









"Nobody is going to tell her what to do, she has to decide for herself. It's my duty to help her, but if she doesn't want to listen. So then we're gonna have a lot of matches like this."

Safin, who watched Dinara's match on TV, said his sister possessed the game but not the fighting qualities of other Russian women like Maria Sharapova, Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"She has to grow up, be a little bit responsible for the things that she's doing and the decisions that she's making," he said.

"For some reason, she cannot make any decisions, she needs somebody to explain her everything. It's a little bit sad to watch this because I can see that she has a great potential. What they (other Russians) are good at is that they have a character of fighters, of wanting to achieve something.

"She's my sister. It's just a little sad to see, sit back and watch this, you know, the train pass. And then she has to run away when I told her already that, 'Take this train, you know, before it's gonna be too late'."

Safin took out his frustration on Ulihrach, who had won their only previous meeting on hardcourt nearly three years ago.

Aside from dropping his opening service game, the fourth seed was in complete control with heavy groundstrokes producing 37 winners, including 10 aces.

With the 74 minutes it took for the first-round victory, Safin is in no mood for a repeat of last year's marathon Open experience when he endured successive five-setters against Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi before falling to Roger Federer in the final.

He declared this year as his best start to a grand slam following a solid pre-season when he hardly took a rest from the end of 2004.

"I did a good job in the pre-season, worked hard and I'm ready. Also I have more experience, so I know what to do. Always I was looking for a good start in every grand slam, but for some reason I haven't been able to do that," he said.

"Last year was different because I didn't play for a long time coming from injury and I was fresh, nothing to lose, no pressure whatsoever. We finish the year (2004) very late, I didn't rest at all, so basically I'm continuing from the last year."

Safin took a swipe at tour officials for not providing the players with a long enough rest at the end of the year and his last message could easily have been directed to his sister.

"I have a coach, he explains to me what I have to do. And I'm also learning from my mistakes. Now is the time to take advantage of it. Once you know what are your strongest points and weak points, it's easier to choose the directions where you want to go."

[ANNA205]

Spoilsport Safin strikes Australia
National hero Hewitt bows in Open men's final


By Lisa Dillman
Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times

January 31, 2005


MELBOURNE, Australia -- Marat Safin is a national spoiler. It happened first in 2000, when he won the U.S. Open by whipping Pete Sampras.

That was nothing compared with Sunday, when the host nation was poised for one very g'night at Melbourne Park.




But Safin stopped the centenary party dead in its tracks. The fourth-seeded Safin defeated No. 3 Lleyton Hewitt 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open final in front of a stunned crowd. It was Safin's first title in three finals at the Australian Open.

"I'm sure in a couple of days, I'll look back and think it's been a great achievement," said Hewitt, who followed the match by proposing to his girlfriend, actress Rebecca Cartwright.

"I'll have no regrets, and I've put everything into this tournament.

"Right at the moment, I'm human and I'm disappointed. To come that close, train so hard to put yourself in a position, it's hard to take at the moment."

So much for destiny and the end of Mark Edmondson's symbolic hold on the event.

Hewitt was two sets from ending almost 30 years of waiting for another Australian man to win here. Edmondson was the last, in 1976. Safin and Hewitt had split sets and Hewitt was up a service break in the third, taking leads of 3-0 and 4-1.

But the wild card was the unpredictable genius of Safin, who called the win "a relief for me."

"Two Grand Slams, it's something. One Grand Slam, you can win by mistake, like I did in 2000," he added, smiling. "It was a mistake, actually."

The Aussie turnaround came in the third set. Safin's penetrating backhand started finding the range down the line, and Hewitt didn't help himself by coming undone over a foot-fault call in the seventh game. He went on to receive a code-violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Safin broke serve and stepped it up, winning the final five games of the set.

"When I got the break in the third set, something happened inside of him that he didn't believe anymore that he could win that match, and he started to miss," Safin said.

Hewitt's "c'mon's!" started to dwindle, along with his foot speed. Still, Safin's level elevated significantly. Of his 18 aces, 16 came in the final two sets. He had none in the first.

"There's not a whole heap you can do when you're down a break in the fourth set and the guy is hitting three aces every service game," Hewitt said.

Safin's effectiveness carried over to the postmatch ceremony. He shared a warm moment with Hewitt at the net after match point.

Safin had won respect with a semifinal upset of Roger Federer. Last year's talk had been about a Federer-Andy Roddick rivalry. Now, Federer vs. Safin could be the headliner in 2005.

"I don't think anyone can dominate the men's game," said Safin's coach, Peter Lundgren, calling Federer and Safin "the best."

[ANNA205]

Tennis: Safin is Champion Jan 31 2005




By Phil Casey, The Evening Chronicle


Marat safin paid tribute to coach Peter Lundgren after his brilliant victory over home favourite Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open final.

Safin lost the opening set 6-1 in just 23 minutes and trailed 4-1 in the third before staging a brilliant fightback with some inspired tennis.

The 25-year-old reeled off seven games in a row on his way to a 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory and his second Grand Slam title, ending Hewitt's hopes of becoming the first home winner in Melbourne since 1976.

Safin won the US Open in 2000 with a stunning demolition of Pete Sampras and reached the final in Melbourne in 2002 and 2004, but until now had never fulfilled his enormous potential.

But working with Roger Federer's former coach Lundgren appears to have finally brought the best from the enigmatic Russian, and Safin was quick to praise the Swede's input.

"I never believed in myself until I started to work with him," said Safin.

"It took us a little bit longer than usually people need to come up with results but it went in the right way.

"We worked really hard. We communicate really well. He understood who I am and I understood what he wants from me. It like took us basically four or five months before the results came.

"But then once the results came, they are there. They are continuing to come. He makes me believe that I can be a good player and I don't have so many doubts about myself, about my tennis."

Safin admitted his victory came as a massive relief, especially after a dreadful first set which he conceded "could not even be called tennis". He added: "You go and you lose the first set 6-1 then you start to think `This is not my day. The way I am playing is ridiculous. People came here to see that?'

"You start to really eat yourself. But then you start to be a little bit more selfish and try to find a way out of there. And I found it."

Hewitt received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct for gesticulating angrily at an umpire who foot-faulted him in the third set, but was gracious in defeat.

The 23-year-old had never been past the fourth round here before but became the first Australian finalist since Pat Cash in 1988.

"I did not lose the match - he had to win it," he said.

"I got out of the blocks and played well but he had not hit his stride. He is an awesome player and at no stage did I think it was going to carry on like that. I did not feel I played that badly - he was just too good."

[shacks]

Safin-Lundgren Partnership Pays Dividends Early in 2005

By Richard Vach

Marat Safin was having less than a good time at last year's US Open.
Up to that point in 2004 the temperamental Russian was 0-2 in tournament finals, losing to Roger Federer in the Australian Open championship match and to Juan Ignacio Chela on clay at Estoril.
A first-round loss to Thomas Enqvist at the US Open was the last straw.
After the match Safin and coach Peter Lundgren argued for a long period in the locker room. The Russian insisted his season was over, his game was in shambles, and it would be best to blow off the remaining tournaments on the year and take a sabbatical. Lundgren tried to keep things positive, insisting that the Asian events and the European indoor swing before the end of the year could easily turn his game around.

In the end Lundgren's persistence paid off, and Safin kept his post-Open obligation in Beijing where he won his first title of three in 2004, including Masters Series wins at Madrid and Paris.
Thus has been the influence of Lundgren on the wildly erratic Safin, who was seemingly destined for Grand Slam greatness when he brutalized Pete Sampras in the 2000 US Open final. With his win at the 2005 Australian Open, the Russian's pairing with the Swede has picked up where the four-year span of failed expectations finally left off.
Russian Tennis Federation President Shamil Tarpishchev, who said no foreigner could successfully coach Safin because in his opinion it was 'a Russian thing,' told Reuters he is now forced to eat his words.
"Without question, Peter Lundgren has been able to get the best out of Safin, which is by no means an easy thing to do," Tarpishchev said. "You have to give full credit to Lundgren for the way he has handled Marat's temper and channeled it in a positive way...He proved me wrong, but I'm not bitter. I'm happy, very happy for both Marat and Peter. It seems like they have found a common bond and you can see how much Marat respects his coach."
Safin says Lundgren, who also coached the surly Chilean former No. 1 Marcelo Rios, helped him conquer his self-doubt.
"He made me believe that I can be a good player and I don't have so much doubt about myself," Safin said after beating Lleyton Hewitt in the Aussie Open final. "He understood who I am and I understood what he wants from me. It took us four or five months before the results came. But then once they came, they have continued to come."
The result is almost laughable in retrospect, with tennis punters and the media completely writing off Safin prior to the Open. Safin skipped the two weeks of ATP events leading into Melbourne, making his only pseudo-competitive appearance representing Team Russia at the Hopman Cup exhibition.
In his first match against Germany, Safin dropped a three-setter to Tommy Haas, then teamed with countrywoman Anastasia Myskina to lose 7-6 in the third in the doubles. In his next match against Argentina, Safin lost the first set in a tiebreak to Guillermo Coria before mentally pulling the plug, losing the second set 6-1 then getting bageled in the doubles. It seemed the same old Marat in 2005.
In his last match versus David Sanguinetti of Italy, the big Russian split the first two sets in tiebreaks before bailing on the final set 6-0, then went on to lose the doubles for a perfect 0-6 record at the event.
"I am playing well. I am not complaining, I'm playing well, I am hitting the ball well. Peter is satisfied with the way I am playing," said Safin during the Hopman cup struggle. "I'm very confident of playing well (in Melbourne). Win a couple of matches and then everything is going under control."
Indeed.
Now that the numerous Roger Federer win streaks are no more, Safin himself has a new streak, 7-0 in 2005, and a rounding confidence to challenge the formerly un-challengable Swiss.
How long Lundgren can successfully manipulate the Rubik's Cube that is Marat Safin's brain, and if this is just another blip on the radar ala the 2000 US Open, will be interesting to observe during the next 10 months.

[Damita]

Guys, i've translated articles related to the Oz Open but can't post in the australian Open thread for some reason so i'll post them here.

L’Equipe, 01/31/2005
Vincent Cognet

Do you want it or not?

Marat Safin’s on- court performances depend on his mental involvement.


It’s not a coincidence if 4 years and a half have passed between the 2 Grand Slam titles Marat Safin has won. Between September 10, 2000 – date of his absolute triumph against Pete Sampras in the US Open final – and January 30, 2005, the Russian has almost always been running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, torn between 2 desires, 2 interpretations of himself.

The 1st one I an “ideal” vision, the vision of a champion who is 100% aware of his huge potential, and ready to scarify his youth for the fulfilment of his work. The 2nd one sticks to reality, it’s dependent on a personality which would like to bite into life with gusto. Unfortunately for him, competition among top players doesn’t permit to reconcile extremes anymore. That’s why his career looks like a difficult dilemma: playing this double game with himself, or cutting one of his arms to let the other express itself.

Nothing else than the Australian Open of 2002 and of 2005 could illustrate this duality better. Three years ago, the Russian reached the final with the support of a clan dominated by 3 “safinettes”, all very curvaceous and wearing low-cut dresses. “I wanna thank my family”, he said in his speech after his defeat against Thomas Johansson. The sally made the 15,000 spectators laugh, and stresses not only the boy’s sense of humour, but also a suspect involvement into the duties which come with the job of a professional tennis player.

There was no similar show during the past 2 weeks: he has settled down, he went to Melbourne only with his fiancée and 3 Russian friends. The start of the tournament has been the best of his entire career; the end of it was pefect as regard to his results, his behaviour, and his concentration. Bye bye Federer and Hewitt, make way for the master from Moscow.
In many respects, Safin stands for the archetype of the man born with a talent surplus. Exceptionally gifted with the game, he is also a good-looker, funny, and charming beyond reasonableness. “He’s the James Dean of tennis”, says a close relation and former coach of Nicolas Escudé, Arnaud Casagrande.

In Spain (he’s been living in Valencia from 13 to 19 years old, and still practise there sometimes), he has developed a “Latin” mentality which was ready to express itself at any time. Another brake on the consistency of his results: an outstanding beginning of his career. He was playing the qualifications of Roland Garros in 1998, and then came his masterpiece against Sampras in Flushing Meadows is September, 2000. The syndrome is well-known: too fast, too soon…<br>
The nightmare of 2003

“At the time, Marat didn’t want to hear of stardom, says his agent, Gérard Tsobanian. After his victory at the US Open, he was often telling me “II don’t want to be Agassi or Kournikova”. The problem is, he doesn’t have the choice…” Dollars, honours, girls, start system: the field is favourable to a big waste.

His body then decided to bring him back on the right track. Victim of a serious left wrist injury, Safin went through a nightmare in 2003. His year varied between withdrawals and returns on tour, each of them being more frustrating than the previous one. Between the final lost to Moya in Barcelona and then end of the year, he played 6 matches only. 6 defeats. It was the ideal moment to question his motivation: “I missed tennis, he admitted in Moscow in October, 2003. Really. Everytime I watched a tournament on TV I was thinking: “You should have been there, it’s you who should have won that match”. Tennis is my life. It gave me a lot of happy moments, but I want more of them. Now I know what I want”.

It was becoming even more obvious since his rivals weren’t waiting for him and were winning major titles. That year, Ferrero won in Roland Garros, Federer in Wimbledon, and Roddick at the US Open. Jealousy bothered him more than what he dares to admit: “It’s very difficult to see others winning Grand Slam titles and not being able to compete with them. I know I can play as well as they can, even better perhaps… I want to be back in the top 10 and aim at the #1 ranking. I hope that 2004 will be my year”.

And it has been… from October. He won 2 Masters Series in a row in Madrid and Bercy, and was a semi-finalist in the Masters where he alone drove Federer into a corner): Safin got quite late the results from the partnership he began in April with Peter Lundgren, Federer’s former coach. We know the rest already: very short holidays, a serious preparation made in Valencia, and a proclaimed intention of (finally) making his mind conform with his arm. In short, a total involvement. For him more than for any other champion, it is the sole guarantee for his talent to be allowed free expression.

[Damita]

L’Equipe, 31/01/2005

Gerard Tsobanian, Safin’s agent:

“It’s a fabulous victory for him. After 2 finals, he’s finally reached his goal. He really wanted that title, it was the centenary of the tournament. When you see his 1st set, I think he was still in the locker room. Then he started to focus, he went into the match step by step and turned things round. It’s good, it’s great, it’s huge! Month after month, since September, he’s progressing, he has results. It’s good, now he’s on top. Tomorrow he goes back to Moscow, to visit his family and friends as he has 3 weeks off before the tournament in Dubai”.

“It’s no more rollercoaster performances, it’s consistency. He has matured a lot as a person. He knows well when to party and when to concentrate”.


Peter Lundgren, Safin’s coach:

“This win, it’s something huge for me. I can’t believe it. Yes, it’s perhaps as great as when Roger (Federer) won Wimbledon. Wimbledon remains Wimbledon… But I have to say this is #2 in my heart, or maybe even as good as Wimbledon. I have no secret with him. He knows so many things already… In the first set, Marat wasn’t playing well. Lleyton had a good start. Marat was looking for his game but couldn’t find it. His 1st serve percentage was of 39% only, which is too weak. Then he broke and began to relax, he was serving a bit better. Last Friday he didn’t do anything. On Sunday he trained a little bit. And yesterday (Sunday) we started to train at noon. He’s been in the final twice here, and he won the US Open in 2000, so it’s good to finally win another Grand Slam title. Marat is now just behind Roger Federer”.


Walt Landers, Safin’s physio:

“It’s an outstanding performance, especially when you see the way Lleyton Hewitt was playing and how he was running on all the balls. He put a big pressure on Marat. To win this match, for Marat, for all of us, I was something very special. To beat Federer was already a great result. He defeated him in a match full of emotions, where Roger saved 6 match points and Marat also one, one of those big classic matches which will find their places in history… Before the match, Ihe was maybe too relaxed. The weather was nice, the stadium was good, I was beating my head and thinking: “does he realize it’s the final?” Then he woke up”.

[ANNA205]

Safin vows to play at Wimbledon


Sports Ticker



1/31/2005

MELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) - One day after winning the Australian Open, Marat Safin of Russia promised to compete at Wimbledon despite previously vowing never to return to the All England Club.





Safin claimed he would not play at Wimbledon again after his first-round exit to compatriot Dmitry Tursunov last year.



The 25-year-old Safin reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2001 but has won just two other matches. In 2004, he lost in four sets to Tursunov, who was ranked No. 70 in the world.



"I give up on Wimbledon," Safin said after that match. "It's definitely not the tournament for me. I hate this. I have to admit it. I didn't go out last night and I didn't have fun. I was trying to prepare myself and give myself another chance but I think it's the last one."



Safin apparently had a change of heart after defeating local favorite Lleyton Hewitt on Sunday to win his second career Grand Slam title.



"I will play, but not with so many expectations," said Safin, who recovered from a set down to beat Hewitt. "Every year I'm coming and I'm practicing, I'm spending so much time on the practice court and trying to play on that surface. But all of a sudden you come play the first round and lose to guys that you don't know how they even get to the main draw.



"People interpret what I said at Wimbledon, they took it to such (an) extreme way. For one day I was so famous because I said something which has nothing to do with the tournament, has nothing to do with anything around the tournament."



Safin was just 20 when he won the U.S. Open in 2000 with a stunning demolition of American Pete Sampras and went on to become the world's top-ranked player. Until recently, he had failed to fulfill his enormous potential.



Working with Roger Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren has been a major factor in Safin's renaissance, and he admitted he had struggled to believe in himself before the likable Swede's involvement.



"It's a little bit difficult because once you have bad losses, people start to think you're not (good enough) and because the people speak, you listen," said Safin, who celebrated his 25th birthday Thursday with a semifinal victory over Federer, ending the defending champion's unbeaten streak at 26 matches.



"The rumors, once it gets into your head, it's difficult to accept and you really start to believe that maybe it's who I am," Safin said. "I have a talent, I'm a good player, but not good enough to be where I want to be."