Articles about Marat

[Andrada]

Thank U for the info, Sabz!!!

So sad when I read that he was in pain , SO HAPPY THAT HE NOW FEELS BETTER!!!

And he is such a great person! Sending his gift and wanting to be with the rest of the team for the Davis Cup matches! Well, this is our dear Marat!

[Jasmine]

At least his pain will be gone. That's the most important.

Thanks Sabz for the article.

[MaRije]

Yeah, thanks Sabz!!

I´m so glad to hear that MaRat hasn´t pain
at this time.. Only it´s so sad that he has pain!
But I´m Very happy now..! ;D

XxX, KisSes and HugSs to you, MaRat!
fRom MaRije..!

[something]

hi all

this article is a little dated, after Marat won AO, but i wanted to post it anyway.

enjoy!

Marat Realises His Potential
by Trevor Grant

His charge sheet over the years makes depressing reading for those Russian loyalists, and other more impartial judges, who are convinced Marat Safin is a genius, not a fool.

He's done everything on a tennis court from exposing his backside to the chilly spring Parisian air to celebrate a winner at the French Open to catching an opponent's serve rather than returning it when he decided mid-match he'd enough tennis for one day at the Australian Open.

The sometimes maladjusted Muscovite never seems far from having a screw or two working loose up in the loft, and even though he went into last night's Australian Open final with his pants firmly hitched up and his eye on the ball, no one could safely say something would not come unhinged before the end of the match.

The groundwork was laid for a full-blown tantrum when his opponent, Lleyton Hewitt, nailed him from the first outset in the first set.

Hewitt usually gives up easy points as often as he takes reporters out to dinner, and with Safin looking as nervy as a kid on his first day at school, there was no way the AUstralian wasn't going to breeze through the first set.

Strangely, thought, his pristine tennis was played in cathedral silence. Hewitt had no need for a C'mon until the second set and Safin's body language betrayed more bewilderment than frustration.

Indeed, about the only action from the sidelines, where the Russian's coach, Peter Lundgren, was constrantly on his feet trying to sting his charge into action.

It took more than an hour and almost two sets for normality to return and the contest to begin. With it came the brain explosions. Hewitt verbally attacked a linesman who, correctly, foot-faulted him in the critical third set. Along with the gobful came a stare that belonged on the set of Psycho. Safin was not immune from the tension, pounding his racquet into the court surface and threatening to add to a record which saw him break about 68 tools of the trade last year.

Not so long ago, Safin declared he had learned his lesson about losing control. "If it's going to be like this i cannot play. I try to calm down," he promised.

By the end of the third set, he was true to his word. His concentration levels, as in his semi-final win over world No.1 Roger Federer, were exemplary.

Of course, it's made easier when the points are flowing so beautifully, and consistently, from your racquet. And when a trickle turned into a flood late in the fourth set, the red mist had cleared and Safin could see nothing but a clear pathway to victory.

Nothing can ever be certain against the most feared fighter on the tour but the signs were all too obvious.

When Hewitt gives up a 4-1 lead, as he did to lose the crucial third set, you know he's go to be feeling more than a touch overwhelmed.

And that's precisely what Safin did in the end. His power, his physical presence and - can you believe it - his mindset covered Hewitt's burning ambition like a fire blanket.

Russia's Davis Cup captain once said Safin could be as dominant in tennis as Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher and Tiger Woods have been in their sports. But he added: "Unfortunately he has the talent but not the desire."

It's taken his several years to do it, but Safin has finally proved he's got the desire and is so much more than the mad Russian.

[raghda]

I was really affected by this article
if Marat can only do this again

[Teresa]

Men's Game Has A Long Rally Ahead

By Michael Wilbon

Monday, August 8, 2005; Page E01

Don't get me wrong, an Andy Roddick vs. James Blake final was perfect for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. If a vote had been taken on the eve of the tournament, the mandate would have been for Roddick vs. Andre Agassi. But Blake turned out to be far more than a suitable stand-in with the absence of Agassi. The very sophisticated tennis public here is intimately familiar with Blake's attempts to overcome injury and illness to climb the long road back to elite status in his sport. And Roddick is not only the best America has to offer in men's tennis right now and a top-five player, but something of a crossover celebrity, a star who is fancied by starlets and is a nice young man to boot.

Also, the tennis was about what people hoped for. Blake played with the optimism and assertiveness of a man who can sense he is in position to get his career back on track, and Roddick played with the businesslike attitude of someone tuning up for something big, which would be the U.S. Open. Blake was the first player to break Roddick's serve all week. But Roddick stayed in a controlled mode and grabbed the critical points.


So, yes, William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center offered pretty much what fans were looking for yesterday, especially those enjoying the first all-American final here since 1990.

But this is where we come to the "however" part.

As understandably proud as folks were to see two Americans, friends no less, reach the final, it would seem we've got to get past our own xenophobia, particularly when it comes to men's tennis. What, the final would have been unappealing had Spaniard Rafael Nadal, Mr. Capri Pants, been opposite Roddick yesterday afternoon?

Every conversation about the drop in popularity of men's tennis over the years seems to center on what the American players are doing, or not doing.

For the record, Americans Roddick, Agassi and Robby Ginepri have won in successive weeks. But that's beside the larger point. For years, particularly during the tennis boom of the 1970s and '80s, foreign-born players weren't just accepted, they were treated as an indispensable part of the theater. Did it help interest here if Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe was involved? Yes, of course. But Americans looked forward to seeing Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas, Ivan Lendl and Ilie Nastase playing, even if it was against each other.

Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe, as involved in media as he is in tennis at this point in his life, is uniquely qualified to speak to what in the world has happened. "It's the media's fault," he said. "It's our fault."

Yesterday, McEnroe was wearing his media hat and analyzing the action for ESPN2, which televised the final from 16th Street NW. Last week, while hosting the Jim Rome talk show all week, McEnroe thought he might slip in a little bit of tennis conversation. "But you know how this goes: 'Let's have more in a minute on T.O. [Terrell Owens].' I get it," McEnroe said. "I'm a sports fan. But let's not blame it on 'no personalities.' That's a false premise. Roger Federer is a personality by force of his talent. He has the most effortless magic I've ever seen.

"Lleyton Hewitt has a Jimmy Connors-like combativeness. He's married to an actress, hates the press, the whole thing. He's T.O. with an [Australian] accent.

Marat Safin is a self-tortured genius. He's off the wall with tremendous physical talent.
And Nadal -- talk about personality and game. He's like the fighter who throws a hundred punches in a row."

McEnroe isn't the only one making this argument persuasively. Two weeks ago, when I was stupidly critical of men's tennis players' personalities and artistry, Roddick phoned me to say what McEnroe says.

"We don't know the international players like we used to, so we're critical of them and it's just not accurate," Roddick said. "Roger brings incredible artistry. I know. I was on the other side of it at Wimbledon [in the men's final]. But Roger is here, what, four or five times a year maybe, while Yao Ming is here six, seven months a year. No, Roger's not going to moon a cameraman just to get headlines or ratings. Roger is like Pete Sampras, just from another country."

The basketball analogy is interesting because after several false starts, American basketball fans have certainly embraced foreign-born players. Yao is the most obvious. Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) have certainly had more success. So why don't we take to Federer and Hewitt the same way?

"Remember," McEnroe said, "Parker and Ginobili are still representing San Antonio. Pedro Martinez was representing Boston, so there's a different relationship. They play for the local team."

But most of all, the sports/entertainment landscape is crowded. Other sports have marketed themselves so much more effectively than tennis. The NFL, now with its own channel, is 365 days a year. "It's harder for [tennis] to find its niche," McEnroe said.

Tennis had its niche in America and gave it up. There's no problem with the popularity of tennis in Australia or Europe. There is a problem here. To that end, the USTA came up with this U.S. Open Series. It only involves the six weeks leading up to the U.S. Open, but it's a good start -- except for the dopey "reality series" concept and these nicknames (Serena "The Diva" Williams, Andy "Rocket Man" Roddick, Lindsay "Top Gun" Davenport) that make Roddick roll his eyes and the rest of us want to throw up.

But one element is smart and long overdue (and I'm not talking about the blue court, which also is smart because it makes the matches easier to watch). The U.S. Open Series puts a tournament final on ESPN2 every Sunday at 3 p.m. This might not sound like programming genius, but it's a revelation to tennis. Perhaps the biggest problem for tennis is that you don't know when it's going to be played, don't know where to find it, and don't know who'll be there. NASCAR exploded when folks knew they could find it on Fox or NBC every single Sunday.

Now, NASCAR goes a step further and guarantees every driver will be in virtually every event. You still don't know who will open a tennis tournament. Agassi, at the last minute, canceled on the Legg Mason. There were six late withdrawals in Los Angeles. NASCAR never has to sell a ticket not knowing whether Dale Earnhardt Jr. will show up. So tennis has its challenges. But taking a page from the NFL and setting the programming should help immensely. Sports viewing is more habitual than ever.

"I think the big value," Roddick said, "is getting everything under one tent. Okay, these nicknames are a little stupid, though maybe they'll get people talking one way or the other. But there has to be some consistency, and once you have that, people here can get to know and more appreciate some of the non-American players. But I think you'd have to agree you saw some artistry today, right?"

[annie]

Thanks Teesa!!!!! Great read. I have something huge coming up too here LOL...just have to finish translating..hopefully it will happen THIS year LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[SAFINNO1]

Thanks Teresa, i really think Tennis right now is at a a high level but how do you feel players like Federer, Hewitt, Nadal, Roddick and Marat would compare with the greats like Connors, Borg, Johnny Mac, Wilander, Vilas etc. You cannot esily compare them because of two different eras. Is Tennis stronger now than before??? Question we cannot answer but would like to know your opinion.

Dont worry Annie, as long as it is Interesting

[SAFINNO1]

I dont know if this old but Marat will make a nice pay day when he goes to Bangkok,

Next month's ATP Thailand Open in Bangkok has passed out under-the-table appearance fees of $400,000 each to Roger Federer and Marat Safin, and $100,000 to Tim Henman and Tommy Haas. Seems like they'd be able to get a better discount with Henman, rather than putting him on the same level as the former No. 2-ranked German. Henman should come with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon

[annie]

safinno1 said:

Thanks Teresa, i really think Tennis right now is at a a high level but how do you feel players like Federer, Hewitt, Nadal, Roddick and Marat would compare with the greats like Connors, Borg, Johnny Mac, Wilander, Vilas etc. You cannot esily compare them because of two different eras. Is Tennis stronger now than before??? Question we cannot answer but would like to know your opinion.

Dont worry Annie, as long as it is Interesting

LOL Ily thanks for encouragement, I will finish that mega mamma article about our boy in the next couple of days I promise.

I also like the subject you brought up ;D I personally think we really cannot compare the two eras right now. Edberg, Lendl, Connors, McEnroe were heroes in their times and the ones you mentioned are our heroes right now. Tennis is much more speedy, powerful...ermm how shall I say this...athletic I think. It's not just a matter of tactics right now, it's also a matter of power and physique right now. I mean look at Nadal....those arms are not tennis player's arms

To tell you the truth I sometimes miss the old times...at those years it was all more.....innocent I would say. But nowadays it's one big show and there are still guys who try to find their way through.

Since I am Russian I will talk about a Russian. Take Kolya Davydenko. He is not that tall, not strong, doesn't have the power. But he finds his way around it, he has brilliant tactics that put his opponents into puzzlement and put him into the top 10. Same with Misha Youzny. Him and his coach know that he doesn't have a backhand like Marat or a forehand like Igor Andreev but they try to find a way out. It's all very difficult for these guys now to be able to compete with power machines like Nadal or Marat.

That's my opinion anyway. But I think both eras have their charms

[lau]

I though it was better having this thread here and not in trhe tournament`s threads board...

[SAFINNO1]

lau said:

I though it was better having this thread here and not in trhe tournament`s threads board...

Well lau you are an Admin so what ever you think goes.LoL.

Annie, i completely agree with you. About power, speed, etc

One main factor is the racquet and serve speed. The technology used to enable better serve and ARod serving at 150 mph, but on pure talent i would give the oldies the nod with exception to Marat and Federer.
Your right Nadal has not got tennis arms but his court speed is amazing similar to Micheal Chang. so he could fit in.
But generally what a sport tennis is and will be.

[Annie]

Really liked that Sovetskiy Sport article..glad he had a good time and got to spend some quality time with his Dad, too ;D

[mackiemad]

most of it's pretty boring unless you are interested in kooyong, but it mentions our boy
taken from www.theage.com.au

Kooyong still sings for its supper
By Len Johnson
October 7, 2005

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ONCE the Australian Open was played there regularly; so, too, the Davis Cup that Australia just as regularly won. The Rolling Stones famously did a gig, as did Led Zeppelin and David Bowie before local residents got cranky and had rock concerts stopped.

Now, the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club has only one tournament a year, and that's not a proper tournament, nor is it played on grass.

But the club needs the Kooyong Classic just as much, if not more, than it ever needed the bigger events that came its way.

"The tournament gives us an on-going attachment with international tennis," said Kooyong chief executive Chris Brown.

The club does not need a tournament to survive. Nor does Wimbledon need strawberries and cream ¡ª and rain ¡ª to stage its annual championship. It's just that top-class tennis is synonymous with Kooyong and having an annual tournament is, in Brown's words, a "terrific add" for its members.

In much the same way, Colin Stubs reckons the Kooyong Classic wants, but does not need, a naming rights sponsor. "The tournament would survive without one," its director said at the launch yesterday. "I don't know about me."

Last year the Classic ran without a major sponsor. It made little noticeable difference: attendances were up by a third, gate receipts by half, corporate sales by 13 per cent. Stubs, presumably, just got a little leaner and even more angular.

This year, though, Stubs can eat. Insurance company AAMI has taken up the naming rights, Channel Seven will telecast the tournament final and ¡ª completing a three-course extravaganza ¡ª he has three of the world's top six signed and a fourth all but assured.

World No. 1 Roger Federer, No. 3 Andy Roddick and No. 6 Guillermo Coria are three of the five players to have committed to the Classic, to be staged on January 11-14. David Nalbandian (ranked 12) and Tommy Haas (45) have also signed on.

The players are lured by negotiated appearance money (not prizemoney) and the guarantee of three matches against quality opposition on Rebound Ace, the surface the Open is played on.

Andre Agassi is also likely to make his ninth appearance. Stubs said the American veteran had commitments during his post-season break, so he had been unable to contact him directly, but he was confident of clinching a deal in the next couple of weeks. "I've had an indication that (Andre) wants to come," Stubs said.

It is not hard to understand why Stubs is so keen to secure the veteran. Agassi is one of the most popular players in world tennis, and sensible and articulate with it.

"He has a charismatic personality," said Stubs, "and he is a thinker. You always get some tennis words of wisdom and maybe some wisdom about life as well at Andre's media conferences."

Indeed, the highest praise he could give Federer and Roddick was that they showed signs of following Agassi's lead.

"They're younger, obviously, but given time they may turn out to be the same sort of ambassadors for the sport as Andre is."

Stubs is also negotiating with Australian Open champion Marat Safin, French teen Richard Gasquet and Taylor Dent to fill the eight-man tournament.

What he does not have is an Australian ¡ª read Lleyton Hewitt, for he is the only local male who could add value to this event. Stubs tried for Hewitt, but the world No. 4 opted for the Sydney International. Stubs will try again next year.

KOOYONG CLASSIC
CONFIRMED STARTERSRoger Federer (world No. 1)

Andy Roddick (3)

Guillermo Coria (6)

David Nalbandian (=12)

Tommy Haas (45)

LIKELYAndre Agassi (5)

PROBABLESMarat Safin (8)

Richard Gasquet (=12)

Taylor Dent (24)

¡öTickets on sale today through Ticketmaster (13 6122).

[Annie]

thanks mackie