Marat news discussions thread

[Mrs. Fabregas]

That's bad, but in the other hand.... think it'll be a very wise decision!!!! Better to prepare good for the upcoming tournament then to get more dissapointments in the upcoming tournaments! Think he really thought about it carefully!


It will give him time to think and maybe to read some recent books ;D

Anyway, wish him all the best in his time off, and same as Anna... hope he will go to Portland as a cheerleader to see his fellow Ruskie's win the Davis Cup!!!!

for your preparation for the year 2008!!!!!!!!! Make sure Hernan makes you work HARD!!!!!!

[annie]

aww....well....see you next season, Marat! I wish you all the luck.

[justsafin]

Found the player list for 2008 Kooyong
www.aamiclassic.com.au/Players

Marat will be back !! Best wishes!

Players
2008 Field

Roger Federer (SUI)
Federer Profile Pic


Birthdate: 8-Aug-81

Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland

Residence: Oberwil, Switzerland

Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)

Weight: 177 lbs (80 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1998

Coach: None

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 1

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 1 (2-Feb-04)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 1

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 236

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 24 (9-Jun-03)

Andy Roddick (USA)
Roddick Profile Pic


Birthdate: 30-Aug-82

Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Residence: Austin, Texas, USA

Height: 6'2'' (187 cm)

Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 2000

Coach: John Roddick & Jimmy Connors

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 5

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 1 (3-Nov-03)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 5

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 722

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 87 (18-Aug-03)

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)

Birthdate: 29-Jul-80

Birthplace: Santiago, Chile

Residence: La Reina, Chile

Height: 6'0'' (182 cm)

Weight: 180 lbs (81 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1999

Coach: Larry Stefanki

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 6

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 5 (29-Jan-07)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 7

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 194

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 25 (4-Jul-05)

Tommy Haas (GER)
Haas Profile Pic


Pronounced: HAHS

Birthdate: 3-Apr-78

Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany

Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA

Height: 6'2'' (187 cm)

Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1996

Coach: Thomas Hogstedt

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 11

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 2 (13-May-02)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 9

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 0

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 127 (18-Feb-02)

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Ljubicic Profile Pic


Pronounced: ee-VON LOO-bi-chich

Birthdate: 19-Mar-79

Birthplace: Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovin

Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Height: 6'4'' (193 cm)

Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1998

Coach: Riccardo Piatti

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 12

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 3 (1-May-06)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 11

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 84

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 70 (16-May-05)

Andy Murray (GBR)
Murray Profile Pic


Birthdate: 15-May-87

Birthplace: Dunblane, Scotland

Residence: Dunblane, Scotland

Height: 6'3'' (190 cm)

Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 2005

Coach: Brad Gilbert

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 18

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 8 (18-Jun-07)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 21

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 187

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 89 (2-Apr-07)

Marat Safin (RUS)
Safin Profile Pic
Photo: Angelo Tonelli


Pronounced: mah-RAHT SAH-fin

Birthdate: 27-Jan-80

Birthplace: Moscow, Russia

Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Height: 6'4'' (193 cm)

Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1997

Coach: Hernan Gumy

Current ATP Ranking - Singles: 27

Career High ATP Ranking - Singles: 1 (20-Nov-00)

Current ATP Race - Singles: 41

Current Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 439

Career High Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking: 71 (22-Apr-02)

[Dina]

I just found on a french newspaper of Russia just now an article where they say they talked to Tarpi who is currently in Spain and he said that Marat is definitely playing, they made a deal and he said to not pay any attention to any information on Marat's OS and asked to stop speculate about this subject to the medias and the fans and that he doesn't want to hear anything more about Marat missing the DC!
obviously Marat will play, he is kind of bound to! Besides Tarpi is asking him to, so don't think Marat could ever give up on him!anyway I need to precise that the info is from Ria Novosti(I hope it's the right name!) which is a very serious paper and I'm just off time to translate it now!
I think only this insistence and trust Tarpi gives him should give Marat a will to do better next week and in DC of course!

[marti]

dina said:

I just found on a french newspaper of Russia just now an article where they say they talked to Tarpi who is currently in Spain and he said that Marat is definitely playing, they made a deal and he said to not pay any attention to any information on Marat's OS and asked to stop speculate about this subject to the medias and the fans and that he doesn't want to hear anything more about Marat missing the DC!
obviously Marat will play, he is kind of bound to! Besides Tarpi is asking him to, so don't think Marat could ever give up on him!anyway I need to precise that the info is from Ria Novosti(I hope it's the right name!) which is a very serious paper and I'm just off time to translate it now!

Tarpi didn't say that Marat is definitely playing. He said that he made his team selection and it still stands. He basically said that it's up to Marat and said he is not going to discuss it now.

[yarina]

I really hope they leave him alone this time, leave him come back when he feels ready; i think he shouldn't have played moscow either, he needs a break, a real one, because ge's just totally destroying his confidence (sorry Mary for using the forbidden 'c' word) by continuing to play at this stage...It is true that it is not guaranteed that the break will help him, but that's the best thing he can do at the moment, since it was quite clear that things were only going worse while he was out there, struggling continuously!

[Dina]

yeah marti you're right I checked again: they said that he was definitely COUNTING on him for this!
I honestly don't think not playing St-Petersburg and Paris will do him that much good! only 2 tournys ramin and if it doesn't do any good to him, it won't hurt either! I he loses he'll lose points and if he doesn't he will lose points as well!
and instead of preparing in Valencia he'd rather be within the team, practicing(wether he plays or not) I sincerely think that if he is part of an eventual russian victory especially under the circumstances he could be boosted for the aussie season!
but again, it's only my opinion!
and the 'c' world can't be destroyed anymore now! he kind of has nothing to lose at this end of the season!

[maryb]

Okay Silvitza, maybe it was appropriate to use the 'c' word here. ;D If the Big Yin needs time off to recharge his batteries, the end of the season is the sensible time to do it. There's no point in him beating himself about the head about it. The rankings shouldn't be his focus anyway, we all know how deceptive the ranking system is. I expect to see the boy back in January, psyched up - and playing the tennis we all know he's capable of. I also expect that by then, he'll be the best net player of this era!!! In the new year, he should play some doubles as well - get him back in to the thick of it.

PS Have you signed up for Liverpool yet Big Yin? Bjorn and I are waiting for you. There's a few grass-court techniques to be passed on.

[justsafin]

From webby's message, it explained why Marat was playing KC. Maybe that's why he looked grumpy and tired in KC becuz he didn't intend to play in the first place (doubles for DC practice). I second webby's concern. Marat has always devoted to DC wholeheartedly. If he thinks he can't do it, he must be in a desperate situation to have made this painful decision. I just want him to feel happy and play with passion, even though I will have to wait so long to see him play again.

kisses

www.maratsafin.com/forums/read.php?f=5&i=205640&t=205606
=============================
Author: webby
Date:
19-10-2007 08:15

As it stands Marat has made his decision but Tarpischev is going to keep going at him and I wish he wouldn't. I know he wants to win the Fed Cup and Davis Cup in the same year but I wish he would think about Marat for a change. Marat played in Moscow because of T and now he has to pull out of the rest of the season.
Playing for your country is a wonderful thing and Marat has always stepped up to do just that but at this stage of his life I feel he needs to give time to himself and get his year on track for next year.
There are 4 excellent players plus others who can play and win for Russia.
Lets hope that there is not a lot of pressure put on Marat to go against the sensible decision he has made.
Just my opinion NOT an official opinion.
webby

[luxsword]

i don't want marat to do like shriekapoova and play the practice partner for the davis cup
he wasn't there in the semis and he shouldn't really play the final... he's rigt, there are enough russians playing better than him at the moment...
let him rest and train hard for next year, to play well for himself and fully deserve to be on the davis cup team too...
i don't think it's been easy for him to give up on davis cup this year, so let him go through his choice, his time...

[marti]

Marat fully derservs to play in the final. He went to Chile when Kolya and Misha decided not to play. He won 5 decisive rubber agaisnt France. Kolya or Mitya didn't do anything significant this year in DC. Does is mean that they don't deserve to be in the final?
BUT like webby said he should take crae about his own career this time and make his choice basing in this.

[Dina]

I'm sure he'll make the right choice for him and for his health! don't bother yourselves guys!just keep having faith in him!lol

[hellanvodka]

justsafin said:

From webby's message, it explained why Marat was playing KC. Maybe that's why he looked grumpy and tired in KC becuz he didn't intend to play in the first place (doubles for DC practice). I second webby's concern. Marat has always devoted to DC wholeheartedly. If he thinks he can't do it, he must be in a desperate situation to have made this painful decision. I just want him to feel happy and play with passion, even though I will have to wait so long to see him play again.

kisses

;D I do understand what you've said and pretty much i agree with you! He has done more than enough for Davis cup team.
But, but, with Russian people, there is a kind of different sense (sometimes maybe strange to others), there are lots of "politics" going on in DC team and "relationships" between coaches, players, fellow team mates are very important for us. SO if Tarpi is keep pushing, he'll put Marat in a very difficult suitation.
I hope Marat can work out the best for himself.What ever he decides, i am happy for him.
Cheers ;D

[hellanvodka]

From OS
www.maratsafin.com/content.php?did=10&aid=cfb61e7bb3d1300a407989839ca3c711

20 October 2007

Dear Fans

A lot of things have happened lately and with the season finishing early for Marat after some difficult times, we would like to share Marat's thoughts and vision for the upcoming year with his fans. And also to give our response to an insulting article recently published on a well known site which some of you have seen and commented on.

Marat has decided with Madrid to end his season mainly because of the following facts.
First of all to give a complete rest to his wrist. It is still niggling and he does not want to further aggravate it at this stage because he does not want to go into next year with the niggle and does not want the wrist to bother him next year.
Secondly he felt with all that has happened in the last year, it would be wiser to start his "off" time earlier than usual and also to be able to start his preparation much earlier to ensure than he is of maximum fitness for challenging 2008.

As we wrote in the article before he truly feels that the Davis Cup team has four players better than him and his absence will not be felt that much as there are the people willing and able to take Russia successfully through the final.

For this reason he made his decision and will stick to it. He will be supporting the team in spirit and willing them on.

Recently an article was published on the Internet by the editor of tennis.com under his "Viewpoint" which was trying to put a smear on Marat's situation plus making recommendations re things he should do for the future.This "article" was written by someone who pretends to be a fan of Marat Safin.


Neither Marat nor his website has ever in the past made a point of commenting on things that appear in the media because throughout his career Marat has always maintained a great relationship with all channels of the media - be it written, TV or radio - always been available when asked for interviews etc, respected their work and treated them with dignity.

Now for the first time an article is written on a "respected" website and this article was full of hate - really patronizing and vicious in its comments and aimed at hurting Marat, his reputation, his past contribution and achievements in the field of tennis.

Marat himself was very insulted by this article that was brought to his attention for the very reasons stated above.

To try and attempt to under estimate Marat's past achievements in tennis and for his country and to try and present him as someone who doesn't respect the game of tennis or what tennis has done for him, is totally misleading and a deliberate attempt at muck raking.

Marat loves the game of tennis ( the reason why he came back to play this year even though he had decided after the US Open to write the rest of the season off). On every occasion during interviews he has always said how much tennis has done for him and how grateful he is for the life it has given him. To imply that he doesn't care is a total misrepresentation. There aren't too many players around the world today that can proudly present two Grand Slam Titles, Five Masters Series Titles and Two Davis Cup Titles for his country.

One of the reasons why Marat's popularity has always exceeded his ranking was not only because of his cheerful smile (and he really does have one!!) but also his kindness, honesty and most of all his sensitivity which all make up the personality which so many people want around on the tour these days.

We his team, friends and fans have all been insulted by the inferences made by the writer in his "Viewpoint". As the editor - what right does he have to make such damming innuendos about Marat? And to say he should give up and go play poker is such that the man who "wrote" this has no idea as to the actual man Marat Safin is.

We are all open to criticism and opposition from others but not when it comes in a wrong and unjustified manner.

Many fans of Marat have expressed their disgust at the manner of the writing of this article and while certain points are the truth - the innuendos made are not.

Marat is the first to be aware of his situation, his obligation to tennis and the challenges still lying ahead of him. If he wasn't committed to tennis he wouldn't be even thinking of them. He looks forward that together with hard work and your (the fans) support, 2008 will be a successful year for him. More than once in his career - mainly after his injuries - there were people who slated him and said he should retire. But Marat has no need to prove anything to anyone and as it happens he enjoys and is committed to the sport of tennis he loves.

He will do his utmost to bring a smile back to the faces of his fans once again. And lets all keep holding on to that thought that the man who has brought us so much joy will do so again.

As so many people keep pointing out - tennis needs him and one insincere "fan" is not going to stop Marat's commitment to bring joy to those who love tennis.

Marat would like to say once again to his fans with deep sincerity -

"Thank you for all your support and for being there for me during this time."

Webby and his team

[Dina]

good luck for 2008 hbibi!!!!!!!