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Post by Damita on Feb 17, 2005 23:50:46 GMT 3
i somehow feel that a sampras-safin pairing wouldn't work out. part of the reason why the lundgren-safin pairing is working, i feel, is because lundgren was a little like marat back in his player days and so can bring his "been there done that" experience to marat. pete on the other hand has a totally different work ethic and attitude towards the game than marat. i somehow feel that they'd clash if they worked together Amen!  Safinno>> there's no easy draw in RG: sooner or later you have to play clay-courters. But as Nicki said, i don't think that's a problem for Marat. He can beat them, he beat some of them in the past. But of course that's tough. Even if Marat showed in Melbourne that he had learned how to win his matches in 3 or 4 sets in early rounds not to get too tired then, RG would probably different. Because on clay there are always five-setters to expect. So it will depend a lot on how much energy he needs in the first week... and also we have to pray he doesn't have those awful blisters again   |
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Post by Teresa on Feb 18, 2005 1:00:11 GMT 3
Defeat by Safin still hard to accept for Federer
Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:43 PM GMT
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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Roger Federer believes his shock defeat in the semi-finals of the Australian Open provided him with a timely reality check.
"I've come used to winning so much that when you lose, it can get to you easily as tennis is a very mental sport," the world number one said at the World Indoor Tournament on Wednesday after winning his first match since that Melbourne defeat.
"Everyone was praising me before and saying 'No one can beat Federer' which creates pressure. But I don't want the pressure off my shoulders as I always want to win."
Federer had entered the season's opening grand slam as one of the hottest favourites in the tournament's history after capturing 11 titles in 2004.
Enjoying a run of 21 consecutive victories, he even had a match point against eventual champion Marat Safin in an epic five-set contest.
However, his decision to return a Safin lob with a shot between his legs eventually proved to be his downfall.
"It's hard to take, because I felt that maybe it was just another grand slam that went away from me," said Federer, who won three of the four slams last year.
"But then again I was happy with the way I fought."
Instead of torturing himself with what might have been, Federer hopped on to a flight and spared himself the ordeal of witnessing Safin's victory.
"I didn't see the match at all. When I got off the plane, they told me who won and I was like..," he said with a shrug.
"I had a few days off and went skiing with my girlfriend and then went back to my training. This tournament is now a new beginning for me."
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Post by Teresa on Feb 18, 2005 1:02:42 GMT 3
Federer eager to regain his aura of invincibility unbeaten run
By Mark Hodgkinson
(Filed: 16/02/2005)
Roger Federer has admitted that the memory of his semi-final defeat at the Australian Open, where Marat Safin ended his 26-match unbeaten run and his aura of invincibility, remains "painful". It will be a determined Federer who makes his first appearance back in Rotterdam today, a world No 1 eager to regain his dominance.
That switchback ride of a match against Safin, the eventual champion at Melbourne Park, is still reverberating through the sport. Federer's ranking position is far from under threat, but if he fails to win the title in the Dutch port city the worries will start to build in his mind about whether this is to be a season of anti-climax.
Federer won three Grand Slam events and eight other titles last year. Although the 23-year-old Swiss will be expected to advance through the field in Rotterdam, he suggested that he would be helped by the fact that he is not the defending champion at the indoor tournament, having lost to Tim Henman in the quarter-finals last February.
So Federer, who plays Czech qualifier Bohdan Ulihrach, is in the rare position of being able to improve on his ranking points this week. "Almost every other tournament I now enter, I'm the defending champion, so I have lots of points to defend. I lost here in the quarter-finals last year, so it makes a nice change that I can make up some ground here," he said.
He has made no mention of the physical problems - a blister on his toe and nerve problems in his back - that troubled him during that epic, five-set match against Safin. Those who are relishing the prospect of a rivalry between the Swiss and the Russian are hoping that both arrive in good shape for the outdoor event in Dubai next week. Safin has not played since Melbourne.
Federer admitted at the start of the year that "to do it all again would make the mental approach hard". He knew that he would not be able to maintain his high standards all season, and that was why he hired Tony Roche as his coaching consultant
Federer hides his competitive fires behind a calm, collected persona, but it is clear that he is adamant that he will build another winning streak. "I will now have to show a reaction to the defeat at the Australian Open," he said.
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Post by MariaV on Feb 18, 2005 1:43:24 GMT 3
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Post by Jasmine on Feb 18, 2005 5:18:04 GMT 3
Nice to know that Marat has some influence on Roger's mind, so next time they meet, not just Marat who's nervous but Roger be also.
I like Pete too, and I will be happy to see my two fav. work together. But I agree that Pete won't leave Bridgette and his son, Christian. I think Marat kinda tune-in with Peter and I like the way they are now. Maybe playing double might help him for net approach and some shot Marat needs, if the game won't spend to much time on "Chit-chat" (Which very boring.)
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Neo
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Post by Neo on Feb 18, 2005 14:53:58 GMT 3
Nice articles, Teresa, thanx!  "I didn't see the match at all. When I got off the plane, they told me who won and I was like..," he said with a shrug.  |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 18, 2005 18:08:05 GMT 3
Yes many people are saying he is not looking as his previuos self and another fact that he is struggling to cope with is the pressure that he has mant title to defend and will lose ranking points if he does not defend them again.
Thanks for the articles teresa
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kasey
Full Member
Posts: 443
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Post by kasey on Feb 19, 2005 13:19:54 GMT 3
Yeh i was surprised with Roger's comment  ...mmm |
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Feb 19, 2005 16:52:46 GMT 3
after watching him scrape by Davydenko i really fell he is going through his bad patch now. He just does not look right.
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Post by Teresa on Feb 24, 2005 6:01:50 GMT 3
Maria A BIG BIG thank you to you and Tanya for translating and posting Marat's interview for us all. Its long and I know you all must have put some real time into the translating and typing up, thank you. Its really a great interview, and much appreciated. I just love his honesty, his wonderful way of saying exactly how he feels, he's humble, hes funny, hes sensitive, and he is soooo much more. and when he's been so philosophical you just gotta love him. I love that he is studying but at the same time he is saying he does not really know whats the point in this study, hahhah.... He will make a great coach, I think, if he does decide to follow that path. Love 'Look at my curls, how can I get married' LMAO I love the curls Marat........hahah dont cut them please!! And so much more, he gave us answers to so many questions we have been wanting answers for. A great insight and indepth into his personal life and himself. Davai Marat |
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kasey
Full Member
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Post by kasey on Feb 24, 2005 8:00:27 GMT 3
Maria A BIG BIG thank you to you and Tanya for translating and posting Marat's interview for us all. Its long and I know you all must have put some real time into the translating and typing up, thank you. Its really a great interview, and much appreciated. I just love his honesty, his wonderful way of saying exactly how he feels, he's humble, hes funny, hes sensitive, and he is soooo much more. and when he's been so philosophical you just gotta love him. I love that he is studying but at the same time he is saying he does not really know whats the point in this study, hahhah.... He will make a great coach, I think, if he does decide to follow that path. Love 'Look at my curls, how can I get married' LMAO I love the curls Marat........hahah dont cut them please!! And so much more, he gave us answers to so many questions we have been wanting answers for. A great insight and indepth into his personal life and himself. Davai Marat I agree entirely with what you said, he looks at things from an alterior angle and his ability to be honest yet remain a gentleman is amazing. The article was another in depth insight to Marat's deeper values and much appreciated to all who helped with the translating etc ;D thanks a bunch!! Hehe i laughed bout the bit with the curls...where does he come up with some of the stuff he says? hehe so funny  |
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Post by MariaV on Feb 24, 2005 23:35:02 GMT 3
LOL, you're welcome guys. The curls remark made me laugh too, soooo cute isn't it. I wonder how long he is going to keep these lovely curls now. Hehe, seems that now he IS looking @ the mirror. |
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Post by annie on Feb 25, 2005 7:36:33 GMT 3
Hehe, seems that now he IS looking @ the mirror. imagine what a shock that might have been for him! ;D ;D |
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kasey
Full Member
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Post by kasey on Feb 25, 2005 7:59:25 GMT 3
imagine what a shock that might have been for him! ;D ;D Hahahaha!! |
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Post by Teresa on Mar 3, 2005 15:14:23 GMT 3
This is a link to an interview with Marat, its to do with Marat been a founding member of a Charity Fund set up to help sports Veterans, if anyone can or wishes to translate this would be great for those of us that do not read Russian www.utro.ru/articles/2005/03/03/413500.shtml There is also a great pic  |
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...mmm 
