Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 15:55:41 GMT 3
24 K
By Isabelle
Please do not reproduce this elsewhere without her permission
It was not his best performance. He'd given that to secure his place in the Finals. But it was enough.
At long last, five years after he stunned Flushing Meadows, Marat Safin held aloft his second Grand Slam trophy, after the solid two weeks he spent getting there. And in a way, he stunned the crowd again by refusing to back down, by overcoming a first set thrashing and going on to outclass and outplay their hero. But unlike the first time he arrested my attention in the French Open, when he apologized profusely to the crowd after defeating Cedric Pioline, this time Marat made no apologies.
Last year he was unseeded, wasn't given any chance, coming from a year beset with injuries. Yet somehow he pulled through, and gave it his all, and endeared himself despite the odds against him with the attitude and guts he displayed.
This year he was all business, right from the first round. He was a man with a mission, his jaw set, his eyes determined, his whole being focused on his 'destiny'. No fake smiles. No hidden agendas. No bull. This attitude has earned him tremendous respect in the past fortnight of the Australian Open, and in no other match was it clearer than with his semifinals encounter against the defending champion. Amazingly enough, after that ridiculous final match point, Marat showed no exultation at his win; he even shrugged off the victory with a gesture of his hands that seemed to dismiss all that he had accomplished with that single triumph - never mind that he'd beaten the "man who was almost impossible", never mind that he'd bested the one whom most people widely acknowledged as the "best player in the world". You can see it in his eyes when they meet Roger's at the net - all they displayed was grim acknowledgement of the other's defeat, and in that moment the only significance of that loss was that it was a necessity toward the other man's dream.
That is why Marat, despite appearances and his reputation, is so well-liked and respected among his peers. Ego never factors in when he shows up on court; it is never about playing to defeat the other player, rather it is about excelling himself, always. I've discussed before how Marat is the obsessive perfectionist, and that is what you get when you watch him play: his desire to surpass himself. The other player losing is just a necessary outcome of the situation.
While off court he remains as witty and endearingly self-deprecating and charming as ever, on court these days he has been the consummate professional - no longer does he 'daydream' as much (a habit he has himself admitted to), no longer does he make those gut-wrenching errors that cost him so much. This time he fights for every point, seeking to conserve his energy and cut short his hours on the court.
He used to rely solely on his own dominant game, occasionally producing brilliant winners on his opponent's serve, but mostly playing defensive, powerful tennis. These days he attacks whenever he can, he is much more aggressive and assertive and authoritative on court; and so the danger he presents to the other player is doubled and magnified. Truly, here is the Marat who is nearly invincible, almost unplayable even. But this time it's no longer a case of desperately trying to "get in the zone" to play such absolutely dazzling tennis, and then losing so ridiculously when he fails to find the switch - these days it seems Marat is always there. In the past Marat internalized all the pressure and imploded from within; but today we find him transformed into a blindingly brilliant diamond under pressure.
So all credit to Mr. Peter Lundgren, for taming the volatility but certainly not the firepower. It is crystal clear how incredible, and yet subtle, the transformation in Marat's game has been: the control, the precision, the discipline, has emerged - without sacrificing Marat's brand of thrilling high-risk but devastatingly deadly winners.
All credit to Dasha as well, for obviously being a great inspiration and offering tremendous support, as well as to all of his entourage of friends, managers and trainers. Well done all.
And above all, all credit to Marat himself, for his drive, his dedication, his commitment, and his fierce resolve and courage to beat all the odds. One would think it would have been fitting for Lleyton Hewitt to commemorate the centenary of the Australian Open by bringing glory back to his country with the Men's Singles trophy. It certainly would have been serendipitous. Unfortunately for him, one Marat Safin stood in his way.
So is Marat a reluctant hero? Only in so far as this year was a banner year for the Open, and it would have been the icing on the cake had the local favorite won the title. But Marat deserved the win, and I believe in the end everybody acknowledged the fact and gave him the respect he merited. Lleyton Hewitt himself, while not known for being the most sportsmanlike player on the tour, was the most gallant in admitting his defeat: "You fair deserve it, mate." I think that says it all.
"Astra declinant, non necessitant." - Ruggerio the Old, astrologer to Lorenzo de'Medici
Marat spoke of 'destiny' going into the Finals, musing philosophically that everything he'd been through was meant to be, and had brought him to this moment, on the brink of his second Grand Slam victory. And yet - "the stars dispose, but do not compel," as the above saying goes. Nothing is ever certain. The odds may be in your favor, your destiny may be written in the stars, but ultimately YOU have to make it happen. Third time lucky? I think not. It took a whole lot of heart, soul and guts to get to the finish line and capture the gold. Marat Safin grabbed hold of his destiny, and with faith, he made it happen.
Well done Marat. Congratulations! May this be the start of even greater things to come.
I believe - Isabelle *)
01.31.2005
By Isabelle
Please do not reproduce this elsewhere without her permission
It was not his best performance. He'd given that to secure his place in the Finals. But it was enough.
At long last, five years after he stunned Flushing Meadows, Marat Safin held aloft his second Grand Slam trophy, after the solid two weeks he spent getting there. And in a way, he stunned the crowd again by refusing to back down, by overcoming a first set thrashing and going on to outclass and outplay their hero. But unlike the first time he arrested my attention in the French Open, when he apologized profusely to the crowd after defeating Cedric Pioline, this time Marat made no apologies.
Last year he was unseeded, wasn't given any chance, coming from a year beset with injuries. Yet somehow he pulled through, and gave it his all, and endeared himself despite the odds against him with the attitude and guts he displayed.
This year he was all business, right from the first round. He was a man with a mission, his jaw set, his eyes determined, his whole being focused on his 'destiny'. No fake smiles. No hidden agendas. No bull. This attitude has earned him tremendous respect in the past fortnight of the Australian Open, and in no other match was it clearer than with his semifinals encounter against the defending champion. Amazingly enough, after that ridiculous final match point, Marat showed no exultation at his win; he even shrugged off the victory with a gesture of his hands that seemed to dismiss all that he had accomplished with that single triumph - never mind that he'd beaten the "man who was almost impossible", never mind that he'd bested the one whom most people widely acknowledged as the "best player in the world". You can see it in his eyes when they meet Roger's at the net - all they displayed was grim acknowledgement of the other's defeat, and in that moment the only significance of that loss was that it was a necessity toward the other man's dream.
That is why Marat, despite appearances and his reputation, is so well-liked and respected among his peers. Ego never factors in when he shows up on court; it is never about playing to defeat the other player, rather it is about excelling himself, always. I've discussed before how Marat is the obsessive perfectionist, and that is what you get when you watch him play: his desire to surpass himself. The other player losing is just a necessary outcome of the situation.
While off court he remains as witty and endearingly self-deprecating and charming as ever, on court these days he has been the consummate professional - no longer does he 'daydream' as much (a habit he has himself admitted to), no longer does he make those gut-wrenching errors that cost him so much. This time he fights for every point, seeking to conserve his energy and cut short his hours on the court.
He used to rely solely on his own dominant game, occasionally producing brilliant winners on his opponent's serve, but mostly playing defensive, powerful tennis. These days he attacks whenever he can, he is much more aggressive and assertive and authoritative on court; and so the danger he presents to the other player is doubled and magnified. Truly, here is the Marat who is nearly invincible, almost unplayable even. But this time it's no longer a case of desperately trying to "get in the zone" to play such absolutely dazzling tennis, and then losing so ridiculously when he fails to find the switch - these days it seems Marat is always there. In the past Marat internalized all the pressure and imploded from within; but today we find him transformed into a blindingly brilliant diamond under pressure.
So all credit to Mr. Peter Lundgren, for taming the volatility but certainly not the firepower. It is crystal clear how incredible, and yet subtle, the transformation in Marat's game has been: the control, the precision, the discipline, has emerged - without sacrificing Marat's brand of thrilling high-risk but devastatingly deadly winners.
All credit to Dasha as well, for obviously being a great inspiration and offering tremendous support, as well as to all of his entourage of friends, managers and trainers. Well done all.
And above all, all credit to Marat himself, for his drive, his dedication, his commitment, and his fierce resolve and courage to beat all the odds. One would think it would have been fitting for Lleyton Hewitt to commemorate the centenary of the Australian Open by bringing glory back to his country with the Men's Singles trophy. It certainly would have been serendipitous. Unfortunately for him, one Marat Safin stood in his way.
So is Marat a reluctant hero? Only in so far as this year was a banner year for the Open, and it would have been the icing on the cake had the local favorite won the title. But Marat deserved the win, and I believe in the end everybody acknowledged the fact and gave him the respect he merited. Lleyton Hewitt himself, while not known for being the most sportsmanlike player on the tour, was the most gallant in admitting his defeat: "You fair deserve it, mate." I think that says it all.
"Astra declinant, non necessitant." - Ruggerio the Old, astrologer to Lorenzo de'Medici
Marat spoke of 'destiny' going into the Finals, musing philosophically that everything he'd been through was meant to be, and had brought him to this moment, on the brink of his second Grand Slam victory. And yet - "the stars dispose, but do not compel," as the above saying goes. Nothing is ever certain. The odds may be in your favor, your destiny may be written in the stars, but ultimately YOU have to make it happen. Third time lucky? I think not. It took a whole lot of heart, soul and guts to get to the finish line and capture the gold. Marat Safin grabbed hold of his destiny, and with faith, he made it happen.
Well done Marat. Congratulations! May this be the start of even greater things to come.
I believe - Isabelle *)
01.31.2005
