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Post by Natasha on Oct 28, 2008 17:15:13 GMT 3
im hopeful he will decide one more year, doing it for the last time it worth the trouble.
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Oct 28, 2008 20:31:54 GMT 3
Williams, Blake confirmed for Hopman Cup
The United States and Russia are set for a heavyweight showdown in January's Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth with former world No.1 Serena Williams and crowd favourite James Blake confirming their participation.
The US, a five times winner of the Hopman Cup, have been handed the top seeding but will have their work cut out to knock off second-seeded Russia, who will be represented by sibling act Marat Safin and Dinara Safina.
The two countries will meet in the final should they top their respective groups.
But Safin's participation is far from guaranteed after the two-time Grand Slam winner indicated he may take a break from the game following his 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) loss to Juan Monaco in the first round of the Paris Masters on Monday.
Hopman Cup tournament director Paul McNamee said Safin's manager told him the star Russian would announce his intentions in the first week of November.
World No. 20 Igor Andreev is on standby if Safin, whose ranking has slipped to 31, pulls out.
"Of course any tournament would miss Marat if he can't make it," McNamee said.
"But I think having a top 20 player come in like Andreev - I wouldn't say there's any downside to the Russian team but there's only one Marat Safin, so I hope he doesn't retire because he's such a great character of the game."
France (Alize Cornet and Gilles Simon) have been seeded third followed by Australia (Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt), Italy (Flavia Pennetta and Simone Bolelli), Germany (Sabine Lisicki and Nicolas Kiefer) and Slovak Republic (Dominika Cibulkova and Dominik Hrbaty).
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Suh
Junior Member
clear mind, full hearts
Posts: 60
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Post by Suh on Oct 28, 2008 20:38:29 GMT 3
Fernando Meligeni wrote his thoughts about Marat quiting tennis on his blog. I'll post it here in case anyone would like to try to use a translator... As soon as I can I'll try to translate it myself, maybe in the weekend, cause right now I'm really out of time.  Não para Safin, não faz isso. O tênis precisa de você Fica Marat Quando li a declaração que o Safin pensava seriamente em abandonar o esporte gelei. Sua decisão seria a mais normal do mundo. Depois de tantos anos viajando, jogando e nos últimos tempos, na grande maioria das vezes perdendo, não podia esperar outra reação. Vinha me perguntando o que motivava ainda ele. Ex número 1 do mundo e jogador de ponta, nos últimos anos era apenas mais um no circuito. Mas sendo ele, o cara mais divertido de se ver jogar, mais maluco, mais nervoso, mesmo não jogando bem, NÃOOO. Tive a chance de conviver muito com ele, essa sua “loucura” em quadra era apenas dentro dela. Sempre de bom humor, super carismático e brincalhão fora da competição Quando diziam “play” meu deus, o homem virava bicho. Nunca teve pudor em quebrar duas ou três raquetes no treino depois de ter seu saque quebrado. Mandar o técnico para aquele lugar era outro de suas atitudes preferidas. Era dos poucos jogadores que lotava quando jogava e quando treinava. Todos esperavam suas reações. Dois minutos depois de treinar voltava a ser o cara de sempre, como se nada tivesse acontecido. Quando ele chegava no torneio vinha com um caminhão de raquete, se ele ia ganhando você começava a escutar que ele estava esperando a Head mandar mais raquetes pra ele. Já tinha quebrado 10, 12, ou sei lá quantas. Ele era a alegria dos meninos pegadores de bola. Ia distribuindo raquete quebrada pelo clube. Para mim ele hoje é dos caras mais importantes no circuito. Em uma época em que os “robôs” mandam no tênis, poucos fazem alem de jogar, ganhar, perder e pegar seus cheques no fim do torneio, ter um Marat no campeonato é certeza de emoção. Você percebe isso quando jogadores top 10 são tirados da quadra central para darem lugar ao jogo dele. Eu particularmente e a grande maioria dos diretores dos torneios preferem o Marat e um top 100 na quadra central a ver um top 10 sem sal e um top 20 sem vibração. Um Robredo contra o Soderling. Lembro de uma passagem neste mesmo torneio de Paris em 1999. Crianças não usem isso como exemplo,ok. É apenas uma passagem de circuito. Eu e o Guga perdemos na primeira rodada. Eu para o hiper simpático Hewitt e o Guga para o Safin. Como era o último torneio do ano e estávamos de ferias aproveitamos para dar uma saidinha naquela mesma noite. Estávamos no centro de Paris e nos contaram que tinha uma baladinha chamada VIP que “bombava”, como éramos filhos de deus fomos dar uma conferida. Realmente o lugar era show. Na entrada a primeira pessoa que encontramos é o cantor Prince e uma bengala de oncinha. Olhei pro Guga e disse, que pico é esse Gugão? Logicamente chegamos nele no meio da noite. Que cara figura. Fomos nos habituando na baladinha até que bem tarde quem chega? Ele mesmo. Marat Safin e vários amigos. Nem um pouco preocupado com o horário, muito menos que ainda estava “vivo” no torneio, senta numa mesa e começa a curtir sua noite. Lá pelas tantas vejo o Guga conversando com ele, INDIGNADO, me aproximo e escuto: vai dormir cara, você tem jogo cedo. Me tirou do torneio e agora fica na balada??? Ele na maior tranqüilidade diz, relaxa, cara, vou ficar até de manhã e vou ganhar o torneio esta semana. Você vai ver. Foi o que ele quase fez, contrariando todas as coisas certas, ele saiu todas as noites e fez final no torneio. Na final perdeu de ninguém menos que o Agassi. Vai entender. É verdade que nos dias de hoje ele não joga nem 30% do que ele já jogou. Suas “patadas” de saque e sua esquerda com as duas mãos eram coisas que faziam qualquer amante de tênis babar do lado de fora da quadra. Hoje, um pouco mais lento e muito mais errático que antes mostra que perdeu aquela gana, fibra e principalmente, agressividade em quadra. Mesmo assim torço para que ele esteja passando por um momento de dúvida. Que no ano que vem esteja no circuito outra vez. O tênis perderia muito, os apaixonados pelo esporte ficariam órfãos de um grande tenista e principalmente de um grande ser humano. para mim um daqueles caras que fazem a diferença. Tem jogadores que quando param ninguém mais lembra, outros, ficarão não memória para sempre. Fica Safin, o tênis precisa de você. |
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Post by justsafin on Oct 28, 2008 21:20:49 GMT 3
Fernando Meligeni wrote his thoughts about Marat quiting tennis on his blog. I'll post it here in case anyone would like to try to use a translator... As soon as I can I'll try to translate it myself, maybe in the weekend, cause right now I'm really out of time. Não para Safin, não faz isso. O tênis precisa de você Fica Marat Quando li a declaração que o Safin pensava seriamente em abandonar o esporte gelei. Sua decisão seria a mais normal do mundo. Depois de tantos anos viajando, jogando e nos últimos tempos, na grande maioria das vezes perdendo, não podia esperar outra reação. Vinha me perguntando o que motivava ainda ele. Ex número 1 do mundo e jogador de ponta, nos últimos anos era apenas mais um no circuito. Mas sendo ele, o cara mais divertido de se ver jogar, mais maluco, mais nervoso, mesmo não jogando bem, NÃOOO. Tive a chance de conviver muito com ele, essa sua “loucura” em quadra era apenas dentro dela. Sempre de bom humor, super carismático e brincalhão fora da competição Quando diziam “play” meu deus, o homem virava bicho. Nunca teve pudor em quebrar duas ou três raquetes no treino depois de ter seu saque quebrado. Mandar o técnico para aquele lugar era outro de suas atitudes preferidas. Era dos poucos jogadores que lotava quando jogava e quando treinava. Todos esperavam suas reações. Dois minutos depois de treinar voltava a ser o cara de sempre, como se nada tivesse acontecido. Quando ele chegava no torneio vinha com um caminhão de raquete, se ele ia ganhando você começava a escutar que ele estava esperando a Head mandar mais raquetes pra ele. Já tinha quebrado 10, 12, ou sei lá quantas. Ele era a alegria dos meninos pegadores de bola. Ia distribuindo raquete quebrada pelo clube. Para mim ele hoje é dos caras mais importantes no circuito. Em uma época em que os “robôs” mandam no tênis, poucos fazem alem de jogar, ganhar, perder e pegar seus cheques no fim do torneio, ter um Marat no campeonato é certeza de emoção. Você percebe isso quando jogadores top 10 são tirados da quadra central para darem lugar ao jogo dele. Eu particularmente e a grande maioria dos diretores dos torneios preferem o Marat e um top 100 na quadra central a ver um top 10 sem sal e um top 20 sem vibração. Um Robredo contra o Soderling. Lembro de uma passagem neste mesmo torneio de Paris em 1999. Crianças não usem isso como exemplo,ok. É apenas uma passagem de circuito. Eu e o Guga perdemos na primeira rodada. Eu para o hiper simpático Hewitt e o Guga para o Safin. Como era o último torneio do ano e estávamos de ferias aproveitamos para dar uma saidinha naquela mesma noite. Estávamos no centro de Paris e nos contaram que tinha uma baladinha chamada VIP que “bombava”, como éramos filhos de deus fomos dar uma conferida. Realmente o lugar era show. Na entrada a primeira pessoa que encontramos é o cantor Prince e uma bengala de oncinha. Olhei pro Guga e disse, que pico é esse Gugão? Logicamente chegamos nele no meio da noite. Que cara figura. Fomos nos habituando na baladinha até que bem tarde quem chega? Ele mesmo. Marat Safin e vários amigos. Nem um pouco preocupado com o horário, muito menos que ainda estava “vivo” no torneio, senta numa mesa e começa a curtir sua noite. Lá pelas tantas vejo o Guga conversando com ele, INDIGNADO, me aproximo e escuto: vai dormir cara, você tem jogo cedo. Me tirou do torneio e agora fica na balada??? Ele na maior tranqüilidade diz, relaxa, cara, vou ficar até de manhã e vou ganhar o torneio esta semana. Você vai ver. Foi o que ele quase fez, contrariando todas as coisas certas, ele saiu todas as noites e fez final no torneio. Na final perdeu de ninguém menos que o Agassi. Vai entender. É verdade que nos dias de hoje ele não joga nem 30% do que ele já jogou. Suas “patadas” de saque e sua esquerda com as duas mãos eram coisas que faziam qualquer amante de tênis babar do lado de fora da quadra. Hoje, um pouco mais lento e muito mais errático que antes mostra que perdeu aquela gana, fibra e principalmente, agressividade em quadra. Mesmo assim torço para que ele esteja passando por um momento de dúvida. Que no ano que vem esteja no circuito outra vez. O tênis perderia muito, os apaixonados pelo esporte ficariam órfãos de um grande tenista e principalmente de um grande ser humano. para mim um daqueles caras que fazem a diferença. Tem jogadores que quando param ninguém mais lembra, outros, ficarão não memória para sempre. Fica Safin, o tênis precisa de você. Thank you so much, Suh! :-*What a heart-felt article! It made me cry...... I just used google translator. It's not that good, but it's not hard to catch the gist. Will delete my post after Suh translates the article. Take your time, Suh. I look forward to reading it! ======================================= Not for Safin, does not. The tennis needs you Stay Marat When I read the statement that Safin thought seriously considering leaving the sport gelei. His decision would be the most ordinary of the world. After many years traveling, playing and in recent times, in most of the time lost, could not wait another reaction. Vine wondering what still motivated him. Former No. 1 player in the world and cutting-edge in recent years was just another in the circuit. But he is the man most fun to see you play, the more crazy, more nervous, even not playing well, Õ not. I had the chance to live a lot with him, that his "madness" in court was just inside it. Always a good mood, super charismatic and playful out of the competition when they said "play" My God, the man turned man. I never had shame to break two or three rackets in training after having broken his sacking. Mandar the technician to that place was another of his favorite attitudes. It was of the few players who played when and where lotava train. Everyone expected their reactions. Two minutes after the train back to be the guy ever, as if nothing had happened. When he arrived at the tournament came with a truckload of racket, he would earn if you started to hear that he was hoping to have more Head rackets for him. Had already broken 10, 12, or whatever how many. He was the joy of the boys handle the ball. Ia distributing racket broken by the club. For me he is now the most important guys on the circuit. In an era in which "robots" send in tennis, few do besides play, win, lose and get their checks at the end of the tournament, Marat Tuesday in a championship is sure to thrill. You realize that when top 10 players are drawn from central court to give rise to his game. I particularly and the vast majority of the directors of the tournaments prefer Marat and a top 100 in the central court to do a top-10 without salt and a top 20 without vibration. A Söderling against Robredo. I remember a passage in this same tournament in Paris in 1999. Children do not use it as an example, okay. It is only a transition from circuit. HALEY H and I lost in the first round. I for the hyper sympathetic to the HALEY H Hewitt and Safin. What was the last tournament of the year and we were on vacation to capitalize on a saidinha that same night. We were at the heart of Paris and told us he had a VIP baladinha call that "bombs" as we children of God we were given a given. The place was really show. At the entrance to the first person we meet is the singer Prince and an ounce of Bengal. I looked and said pro HALEY H, which is the peak HALEY H? Logically it arrived in the middle of the night. That guy image. We were accustomed to in baladinha well until late arrival? He did. Marat Safin and several friends. Not a little worried about the time, much less that it was still "alive" in the tournament, sit at a table and begins to enjoy his night. There I see so many HALEY H by talking to him, indignant, get close and listen: man goes to sleep, you have game early. I took the tournament and now is the ballad? He increased the reposal says, relax, man, I get up in the morning and I win the tournament this week. You'll see. It was what he almost did, contradicting all the right things, he went out every night and made final in the tournament. In the end lost to anyone unless the Agassi. Vai understand. It is true that in this day and age it does not play or 30% of what he has played. His "patadas" of looting and the left with both hands were things that were any lover of tennis dribbling outside of the court. Today, a little slower and more erratic than before shows that he lost appetite, fiber and most importantly, aggressiveness in court. Still torço so he is going through a moment of doubt. That next year we are on the circuit again. The tennis lose much, passionate about the sport of orphans would be a great tennis player and foremost a great human being. for me one of those guys who make the difference. You have players who stop when no one else remembers, others are not memory for forever. Safin Stay, tennis needs you. |
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Post by Alya10 on Oct 28, 2008 21:55:33 GMT 3
Giving Suh a break It's translated. Thanks for the google translation advantage, justsafin. It saved time ;D No Safin, please don't. Tennis needs you Stay Marat When I read the statement that Safin was seriously considering leaving the sport I froze. His decision would be the most normal in the world. After many years traveling, playing and in recent times, most of the time losing, you could not expect another reaction. I have been wondering what still motivated him. Former No. 1 in the world and a cutting-edge player, in recent years he was just one more in the circuit. But being him the most funny for you to see play, the most crazy, the most nervous, even when not playing well, NOOOOOO. I had the chance to live a lot with him, to know that his "madness" in court was just inside it. Always in a good mood, super charismatic and playful out of the competition when they said "play" My God, the man turned into a beast. He never was ashamed to break two or three rackets during training after having lost his serve. Telling his coach to go to that other place was another of his favorite attitudes. He was one of the few players who got the most crowds when he played and when he trained. Everyone expected his reactions. Two minutes after trainning was over he was back to being the same guy as ever, as if nothing had happened. When he arrived at the tournament he came with a truckload full of rackets, if he was winning you would start to hear that he was hoping to have more Head rackets sent for him. He had already broken 10, 12, or whatever how many. He was the joy of the ballboys . He distributed broken rackets around the club. For me he is now one of the most important guys in the circuit. In an era in which "robots" rule in tennis, few of them do anything besides play, win, lose and get their checks at the end of the tournament. To have Marat in a championship is a sure thrill. You realize that when top 10 players are moved from the central court to give way for him. I particularly and the vast majority of the directors of the tournaments prefer Marat and a top 100 in the central court than a top-10 without salt and a top 20 without vibration. A Söderling against a Robredo. I remember an episode in this same tournament in Paris, in 1999. Children do not use it as an example, okay. It is only an episode from the tour. Guga and I had lost in the first round. I to the mega nice Hewitt and Guga to Safin. Since it was the last tournament of the year and we were on vacation we decided to go out that same night. We were in the heart of Paris and we had been told of a VIP club that was a "bomb" and as we were children of God we decided to check it out. The place was really a show. At the entrance to the first person we meet is the singer Prince and an - (I have no idea what he means here - Brazilian slang). I looked and said to Guga, "this is awsome Guga!?" Logically we had arrived in the middle of the night. What a show. We were getting used to the sound when well into the night who comes in? He did. Marat Safin and several friends. Not a little worried about the hour, much less that he was still "alive" in the tournament, he sits at a table and begins to enjoy his night. Further into the night I see Guga talking to him, indignant, I get closer and I hear: "man, go to sleep, you have a match early. You took me out of the tournament and now you're here enjoying the sound?" And he, calm as a cucumber says, "relax, man, I'm staying till morning and I'll still win the tournament this week. You'll see." And he almost did that, contradicting all facts, he went out every night and reached the final in the tournament. In the end lost to no one other than Agassi. Go figure it out! It is true that in this day and age he does not play at 30% of what he used to play. His "strokes" of serve and two handed backhand were things that made any lover of tennis drool from the stands. Today, a little slower and more erratic than before he shows that he lost the hunger, the nerve and most importantly, the aggressiveness in court. I still hope that he is only going through a moment of doubt. That next year he will be on the circuit again. Tennis would lose much, tennis lovers would be orphans of a great tennis player and foremost a great human being. For me one of those guys who make a difference. You have players who when they stop no one else remembers, while others stay in your memory for forever. Stay Safin, tennis needs you. |
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Post by Natasha on Oct 28, 2008 23:28:51 GMT 3
please dont quit.
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Post by Barbarella on Oct 29, 2008 1:17:45 GMT 3
echoe that. please don't quit. tennis will never be the same without you. please have a good holiday and come back to us refreshed and renewed. we have faith in you. we will also seek maryb's formula for the fairy dust and send it to you in sackloads... and pad your arse with those furry slippers as and when required. whatever it takes, our boy. keep the faith. we will.  |
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Post by annie on Oct 29, 2008 5:09:56 GMT 3
its a great piece that fernando meligeni wrote... So heartfelt...and coming from a person like him makes it even more meaningful...
Also that story he told about Marat at the club...what he told him...he had so much confidence in himself and his abilities...I wish he could get some of it back..
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Post by memtennis on Oct 29, 2008 17:57:34 GMT 3
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Suh
Junior Member
clear mind, full hearts
Posts: 60
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Post by Suh on Oct 29, 2008 19:17:23 GMT 3
Fernando Melinegi wrote a few words about Marat today.
"Yesterday we made comments on Marat Safin and check out the power he has even in this blog: over 9.000 people visited the page, more than 70 comments were made and for the first time the girls were frenetically expressing their opinions. That's called charism folks. The man is fire. The man is popular in the tournaments, in his country and even in my blog."
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Post by justsafin on Oct 29, 2008 21:47:45 GMT 3
Fernando Melinegi wrote a few words about Marat today. "Yesterday we made comments on Marat Safin and check out the power he has even in this blog: over 9.000 people visited the page, more than 70 comments were made and for the first time the girls were frenetically expressing their opinions. That's called charism folks. The man is fire. The man is popular in the tournaments, in his country and even in my blog." Thank you Suh! Yeah, we all love this charismatic, passionate, humorous, beautiful boy. |
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Post by maryb on Oct 30, 2008 0:03:18 GMT 3
LMAO. Big Yin, if you ever visit this board, how could you POSSIBLY consider retiring now? Can I just give it one more shot with you pet? Agassi again. The boy plummeted down the rankings - way below any ranking you've ever been on. He was considered down and out. But he dug in deep and got that fire back. He won several Grand Slams ... past the age of 29 ... when he realised that he still wanted it so much. It's not about ability, and never really has been, it's about desire. And I know that you've still got it. You just need to take a step back, and take the pressure off. Forget about what's past, and focus on the future. We ain't asking you to stay out there untll you're 35. Give it until you're 30 (ok ... include Wimbledon 2010 in there just for me ). Please? Hell, I'll carry your kit bag, wipe yer forehead ... wipe yer ... ???maybe not ... clean your shoes, I won't nag you about net play ... aye, right, only fun I get ... and you can play with as many furry slippers as you want. ;D You still want it. Don't make a rash decision that you'll regret. |
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Suh
Junior Member
clear mind, full hearts
Posts: 60
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Post by Suh on Oct 30, 2008 1:38:38 GMT 3
you're welcome justsafin!!
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Post by SAFINNO1 on Oct 30, 2008 1:49:46 GMT 3
29th October 2008
THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE
After losing in the 1st round in the last tournament of the year, Marat mentioned that he was thinking about what was in his future regarding tennis and this was picked up by the media and has spread a lot of speculation around the world.
In order to try and get a better idea of what Marat is thinking, we spoke to him before he left for his vacation.
Q: How do you feel right now?
A: I'm very tired. I guess after so many years on the tour, when you finish the season, you feel very tired and can't wait to get away and also I need it in order to take the right decision.
Q: Where do you plan to go?
A: I'm going this week to Miami and in a couple of weeks when I am back in Moscow, I will be wiser and more concrete about my plans.
Q: Can you please clear a little bit the confusion that is around about what you were talking about in the press conference after losing your 1st round match?
A: I actually said nothing in particular, I was just talking generally and I don't really know where all these rumours came from. All I said was that I am tired and I need some time off in order to make some good decisions.
Q: You can understand how your many fans are feeling these days. Can you clarify more about the various options and your wishes?
A: I have been playing professional tennis for over a decade. Its hard for me to find new goals for my career however the love for the game and the passion inside me are still very strong and that is why it makes it more difficult. There are still places where I would like to play, to be able to meet my fans and say goodbye properly to the many people who have followed me through out these last years.
I'm considering to play for one more year. I am also considering maybe to stop completely and then another option is to particularly play mostly in the places and tournaments which I really like and that had a tremendous impact on my career. That's why I need some time off to think it through properly, to talk to my my long time partners and sponsors and then I'll be able to hopefully make a better decision.
Q: We wish you a great vacation and there is no need to mention how much all of us would like to see you on the court playing your great tennis.
A: Thank you so much. This is all part of my consideration.
I ask you all not to listen to the rumours flying around and I promise to all my fans that they will hear from me directly once I make up my mind.
I wish you all happy vacations.
Marat.
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Post by sabz on Oct 30, 2008 2:03:57 GMT 3
Hope he has a fab holiday and fingers crossed it will put things in perspective and show him he should at lease play a little longer. I aint ready for you to leave the courts just yet! |
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