Tennis Anyone? Austalian Open

Teri B. · 01-15-2008, 12:23 PM

Safin dominates in first round
Tuesday, 15 January, 2008
By Adele Holland

Marat Safin dominated his first round match today, defeating 19-year-old Ernests Gulbis in straight sets.

Gulbis who is playing in his first Australian Open showed promise against tennis veteran Safin today, taking the Russian to a tiebreaker in the last set.

The two players were a display of contrast today, the up-and-coming youngster in a fluorescent green shirt, versus Safin, a previous Australian Open Champion, in traditional white.

Both players were serving at enormous speeds, but Safin showed his Grand Slam experience, with only one double fault compared with six from Gulbis.

Gulbis adopted his opponents on-court temper, throwing his racquet at the ground and shaking his head each time his shot hit the net. The young Latvian had 43 unforced errors, compared with Safin's 27.

Safin will play Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.

Teri B. · 01-15-2008, 12:23 PM

I can't believe Murray and Moya got knocked out in the first round.

aloysious · 01-15-2008, 08:12 PM

What is it about tennis broadcasts where the announcers/ analysts feel the need to talk incessantly? Right now it's Bill McAtee and Martina Navratilova. They don't fucking stop, ever. If someone put a sock in John McEnroe's mouth I'm sure he still wouldn't get it.
I Tivo'd the Australian Open and can't watch it unless it's on mute. Is there any technology out there where I can selectively mute the announcers and still hear the rackets hitting the balls?
Can these tennis announcers go over to the Golf Channel and get some announcing lessons?

lucytalk · 01-15-2008, 08:15 PM

watching th mauresmo match ~ she's playing terrible, she must still be injured.

did you see the 17 yr old yesterday. her name is ~ sorana cirstea (she played #4 seed ana ivanovic) she lost but the girl has natural talent imo.

hardly wait for the serena match tonight.

lucytalk · 01-18-2008, 06:30 AM

mauresmo got beat out by the 78th ranked player

serena's thru to the 4th round but she's on the hard side if the draw

it's possible serena could meet venus in the finals ~ i love when that happens but it's a long way to go yet.

think we may see djokovic play some of his best tennis yet. if so he would probably meet federer in the semi's. not sure he could win that match yet but maybe and if so he'll win it all.

Teri B. · 01-18-2008, 07:15 AM

Crap! I watched her last match and thought she was looking pretty good.

Well, Safin's out.

He got beat by Bagjhdatis (6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2). I've got the match on TiVo and have been watching it a little at a time Even though I know Safin loses, it's all I'm going to get of him for a while.

It's a hell of a good match.

Shit, I hope someone can beat Federer. I'm so sick of his ass winning every thing. I know, I know . . . he's the master . . . it's history . . .

Quote:

Marat Safin Interview
Thursday, 17 January, 2008

Q. You gave it a good fight.

MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, well, yeah.

Q. What is your main emotion after that?

MARAT SAFIN: It's a pity, but I'm ‑‑ at the same time I'm pretty happy the way things are going. But I'm a little bit disappointed with the few things that happened to me in the first two sets. It shouldn't have happened, but unfortunately, that's the way it is.

But I consider I should have won in four; three, four sets. That's what happened to me in the first two. It's a mistake. This will be the first and last time it's going to happen to me, so...

Q. What's the reason for it?

MARAT SAFIN: I spoke already with my coach and with ‑‑ with my coach.

Q. When was the last time you played that well and lost?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, I don't know. Since a long time, I guess, been pretty long time I didn't play the same way. So for me it was a little bit surprising that I could ‑‑ unfortunately, I was pretty tense at the beginning of the match. So, you know, I didn't expect for a long time that I'm gonna play the same way.

So it's actually a little bit surprising for myself to be in such a good shape and play good tennis and be able to compete against top 10 players for five sets, you know, with a chance to win. So it's not really nothing wrong, but just it's small things that shouldn't happen at the age of 27, that's for sure.

Q. Is it your choice of shot or...

MARAT SAFIN: A few ‑‑ nothing to do with shots.

Q. How did you get back into the match after those first two sets?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, it was ‑‑ I should have gotten into the match a little bit earlier. But just the way things they were, I couldn't come into the match quicker. So I had to wait for two sets, you know, and then I start to play my tennis that I should have played from the beginning. The score was 2‑3 in a matter of minutes.

Then the fifth set, of course, my concentration went down a little bit. He made the early break. Then, of course, he was pumped up and he was ready to finish the match playing well.

If I would hold my serve a little bit longer in the fifth set, I think I would have a chance. But unfortunately my concentration and my ‑‑ everything went a little bit downhill, and he was just preparing himself for the fifth set. So it's a little bit unlucky.

Q. If you had got through that, do you think your game's at a level where you could have beaten Roger Federer down here?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, I just lost to Baghdatis. We're not talking about Roger Federer. Roger Federer is a different level person, different level player. The way he's moving right now, full of confidence. And, of course, after being the No. 1 in the world and winning 12 Grand Slams, how many he has, for the past five years. So I guess with the confidence that he has, I would play also the same way Roger does.

So it's tough to compete against him and have to compare to him. But he's the best by far, and he will be the best of tennis. So I don't think anybody in here on ATP Tour can be compared to him.

Q. Since Agassi and Federer, you were the one to have the most success on the Rebound Ace. The transition, how do you view it, the court characteristics?

MARAT SAFIN: I think the courts are pretty good, actually. They tried to make it as close as possible to Rebound Ace without being so soft. Because I think what's happened is a lot of people, they were complaining about the knee injuries and twisting their ankles. Well, it wasn't really my case. I was a little bit surprised when I heard it will be a different surface this year.

But it looks like they did a great job, you know, to make it as close as possible to Rebound Ace. But it's a little bit stiff, but you can play. I think it's great. They did a great job. Also with the balls.

Q. Are you encouraged by your form today for the rest of the year?

MARAT SAFIN: Yeah. I have to continue. I'm not gonna give up straightaway that I'm losing to Baghdatis. I mean, he's a top‑10 player. Just a pity I have to be out in a second round in a Grand Slam. It was a pretty long time ago that didn't happen to me. But actually for the past two years it happened, but it's not really the place I want to be.

But I have to deal with that. The year is pretty long, so I'll have my chances, that's for sure. Like I said before, I'm happy the way I'm playing and the results will come pretty quickly. So just keep continuing working. And thanks to my coach that he believes in me, I can come back. Thanks to all my team and let's make it happen.

Farewell for now my sweet . . .sigh . . .

At least I can still watch him on Grey's Anatomy.

lucytalk · 01-22-2008, 06:47 AM

damn ~ serena played terrible

i watched the sharapova/henin match this morning at 2:30 am

unfuckingbelievable tennis from sharapova.

Teri B. · 01-22-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucytalk

damn ~ serena played terrible

i watched the sharapova/henin match this morning at 2:30 am

unfuckingbelievable tennis from sharapova.

Federer and Blake should be great. It's great to see Blake up there with the big dogs in a slam. Too bad he had to slam up against Federer. Who knows - maybe he can beat him.

The_Heretic · 01-22-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teri B.

Federer and Blake should be great. It's great to see Blake up there with the big dogs in a slam. Too bad he had to slam up against Federer. Who knows - maybe he can beat him.

Normally I don't comment on sport [because I know jack shit about any of them], but it's funny how you're suddenly interested in anything-but-football.

Teri B. · 01-22-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Normally I don't comment on sport [because I know jack shit about any of them], but it's funny how you're suddenly interested in anything-but-football.

btw: I'll have you know, I started this thread before the tragedy.

01-15-2008, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Teri B. Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,318 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 37 Thanked 56 Times in 34 Posts	Tennis Anyone? Austalian Open Safin dominates in first round Tuesday, 15 January, 2008 By Adele Holland Marat Safin dominated his first round match today, defeating 19-year-old Ernests Gulbis in straight sets. Gulbis who is playing in his first Australian Open showed promise against tennis veteran Safin today, taking the Russian to a tiebreaker in the last set. The two players were a display of contrast today, the up-and-coming youngster in a fluorescent green shirt, versus Safin, a previous Australian Open Champion, in traditional white. Both players were serving at enormous speeds, but Safin showed his Grand Slam experience, with only one double fault compared with six from Gulbis. Gulbis adopted his opponents on-court temper, throwing his racquet at the ground and shaking his head each time his shot hit the net. The young Latvian had 43 unforced errors, compared with Safin's 27. Safin will play Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.
	Top

01-15-2008, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Teri B. Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,318 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 37 Thanked 56 Times in 34 Posts	I can't believe Murray and Moya got knocked out in the first round.
	Top

01-15-2008, 08:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
aloysious Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 589 Thanks: 4 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts	What is it about tennis broadcasts where the announcers/ analysts feel the need to talk incessantly? Right now it's Bill McAtee and Martina Navratilova. They don't fucking stop, ever. If someone put a sock in John McEnroe's mouth I'm sure he still wouldn't get it. I Tivo'd the Australian Open and can't watch it unless it's on mute. Is there any technology out there where I can selectively mute the announcers and still hear the rackets hitting the balls? Can these tennis announcers go over to the Golf Channel and get some announcing lessons?
	Top

01-15-2008, 08:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
lucytalk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 401 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	watching th mauresmo match ~ she's playing terrible, she must still be injured. did you see the 17 yr old yesterday. her name is ~ sorana cirstea (she played #4 seed ana ivanovic) she lost but the girl has natural talent imo. hardly wait for the serena match tonight.
	Top

01-18-2008, 06:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
lucytalk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 401 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	mauresmo got beat out by the 78th ranked player serena's thru to the 4th round but she's on the hard side if the draw it's possible serena could meet venus in the finals ~ i love when that happens but it's a long way to go yet. think we may see djokovic play some of his best tennis yet. if so he would probably meet federer in the semi's. not sure he could win that match yet but maybe and if so he'll win it all.
	Top

01-22-2008, 06:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
lucytalk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 401 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	damn ~ serena played terrible i watched the sharapova/henin match this morning at 2:30 am unfuckingbelievable tennis from sharapova.
	Top

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