Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 15:34:19 GMT 3
Tennis Score Article
Madrid 2004
'Marat the brat', 'The James Dean of Tennis', and 'Bad boy Marat... baaad, baaad boy!' are some of the ways that Marat Safin, the ATP's No. 6 player has been described. Safin, the winner of this years Masters Series Madrid tournament, is a player with a tempestuous past. He first came to the public's attention when he defeated Pete Sampras 6-4 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes at the US Open, going to take on the No. 1 ranking in November in the same year. But because of his well known laziness, fondeness for smoking and general debauchery, an his open resentment toward any kind of authority, Safin didn't stay at the top. At the beginning of the year's tennis season, he had fallen back to the 89 ranking table, though much of this was because he was injured for the better part of 2003.
Safin showed early promise. Both parents were tennis coaches, determined to make something of their son. His mother, he has confessed, told him early on; "No darling, you are not going to play football because the coach won't care enough about you, and it won't get you anywhere. But I know tennis. I will teach you." At the age of 13 he was sent off to Valencia, Spain, where he stayed until he was 19. Rafael Menus became his coach and he met Juan Carlos Ferrero on numerous occasions. Ferrero has admitted that he admired Safin because he played so well, but he says Safin was always very casual and rarely arrived at practice sessions on time.
Besides beating Sampras in the 2000 US Open, Safin's achievements included two Australian Open finals (2002 and 2004) and four Masters titles (including Madrid). These days, Safin has moved up the table to No. 6, ahead of Tim Henman and he is only 15 and 19 points behind Guillermo Coria and Carlos Moya respectively. Safin has all but secured a position in theis year's Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.
Andre Agassi admitted after losing to Safin in the Madrid Masters semifinals that the Russian 'can beat anybody, especially when he's firing on all cylinders.' Safin himself called it 'one of my best matches in a long time'. One of Safin's greatest challenges is overcoming his mood swings. 'When I play badly, I'm terrible.,' he says; 'but when I'm playing great, everything comes so easily.' The star says he feels 'more mature as a tennis player' these days. His concluding statement that a tennis player 'cannot get upset everytime you miss a ball' because 'if you get upset or angry, you lose it all' shows a new Safin emerging.
Peter Lundgren can claim to have helped Safin along this year. Roger Federer's ex-coach, who is credited with unleashing the Swiss player's talents and bringing him to the top, has done wonders with Safin's lack of discipline. Safin openly acknowledges this, saying Lundgren is 'the most important part of my success,' because he is able to teach the ' small things that make such a difference when you play a match.'
The same Safin who once broke more that 50 rackets in a single year, showed remarkable self-restraint at the Madrid Masters. The public was quick to reprimand with hisses and boos when he looked like he was going to lose his temper. Safin was not their favourite player to win the tournament, and he didn't make many friends by defeating Spain's Madrid-based Feliciano Lopez, the ever popular Andre Agassi, and Argentina's Nalbandian, but he made an effort in his victory speech to appease the public. Safin responded to Nalbandian's 'Congratulations Marat' with a sincere and conciliatory 'Sorry, it wasn't your day', thanked the umpires and linesmen, 'without whom I wouldn't have got a point', and then recognized the fans for their warm support. Safin saved his greatest thanks, however, for the ballgirl models, who responded in kind by showering him in champagne.
The truth is the fans had showed little enthusiasm for the Russian, but this gesture won them over, and a loud round of applause filled the stadium. It seemed that the Russian youth, who had stunned the world four years ago, and then gone on to disappoint with a nasty temper and an undisciplined approach to his game, had finally found his way. The question now is how he will perform in St Petersburg, Paris and Houston.
By Leland Ludington
Madrid 2004
'Marat the brat', 'The James Dean of Tennis', and 'Bad boy Marat... baaad, baaad boy!' are some of the ways that Marat Safin, the ATP's No. 6 player has been described. Safin, the winner of this years Masters Series Madrid tournament, is a player with a tempestuous past. He first came to the public's attention when he defeated Pete Sampras 6-4 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 38 minutes at the US Open, going to take on the No. 1 ranking in November in the same year. But because of his well known laziness, fondeness for smoking and general debauchery, an his open resentment toward any kind of authority, Safin didn't stay at the top. At the beginning of the year's tennis season, he had fallen back to the 89 ranking table, though much of this was because he was injured for the better part of 2003.
Safin showed early promise. Both parents were tennis coaches, determined to make something of their son. His mother, he has confessed, told him early on; "No darling, you are not going to play football because the coach won't care enough about you, and it won't get you anywhere. But I know tennis. I will teach you." At the age of 13 he was sent off to Valencia, Spain, where he stayed until he was 19. Rafael Menus became his coach and he met Juan Carlos Ferrero on numerous occasions. Ferrero has admitted that he admired Safin because he played so well, but he says Safin was always very casual and rarely arrived at practice sessions on time.
Besides beating Sampras in the 2000 US Open, Safin's achievements included two Australian Open finals (2002 and 2004) and four Masters titles (including Madrid). These days, Safin has moved up the table to No. 6, ahead of Tim Henman and he is only 15 and 19 points behind Guillermo Coria and Carlos Moya respectively. Safin has all but secured a position in theis year's Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.
Andre Agassi admitted after losing to Safin in the Madrid Masters semifinals that the Russian 'can beat anybody, especially when he's firing on all cylinders.' Safin himself called it 'one of my best matches in a long time'. One of Safin's greatest challenges is overcoming his mood swings. 'When I play badly, I'm terrible.,' he says; 'but when I'm playing great, everything comes so easily.' The star says he feels 'more mature as a tennis player' these days. His concluding statement that a tennis player 'cannot get upset everytime you miss a ball' because 'if you get upset or angry, you lose it all' shows a new Safin emerging.
Peter Lundgren can claim to have helped Safin along this year. Roger Federer's ex-coach, who is credited with unleashing the Swiss player's talents and bringing him to the top, has done wonders with Safin's lack of discipline. Safin openly acknowledges this, saying Lundgren is 'the most important part of my success,' because he is able to teach the ' small things that make such a difference when you play a match.'
The same Safin who once broke more that 50 rackets in a single year, showed remarkable self-restraint at the Madrid Masters. The public was quick to reprimand with hisses and boos when he looked like he was going to lose his temper. Safin was not their favourite player to win the tournament, and he didn't make many friends by defeating Spain's Madrid-based Feliciano Lopez, the ever popular Andre Agassi, and Argentina's Nalbandian, but he made an effort in his victory speech to appease the public. Safin responded to Nalbandian's 'Congratulations Marat' with a sincere and conciliatory 'Sorry, it wasn't your day', thanked the umpires and linesmen, 'without whom I wouldn't have got a point', and then recognized the fans for their warm support. Safin saved his greatest thanks, however, for the ballgirl models, who responded in kind by showering him in champagne.
The truth is the fans had showed little enthusiasm for the Russian, but this gesture won them over, and a loud round of applause filled the stadium. It seemed that the Russian youth, who had stunned the world four years ago, and then gone on to disappoint with a nasty temper and an undisciplined approach to his game, had finally found his way. The question now is how he will perform in St Petersburg, Paris and Houston.
By Leland Ludington
