Safin Goes Five Again

Marat Safin will  never have any energy left for the second week at this rate.  But maybe he won't need it if Andy Roddick defeats him in the next round:-)

From The Age: Safin weathers the storm, Roddick next

RUSSIAN Marat Safin used experience and Melbourne's unpredictable weather to survive a difficult five-set encounter 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 with a little-known player from Israel last night.

After being pushed to the brink of defeat by 21-year-old Dudi Sela, Safin said his campaign would have ended in the second round if not for a rain delay in the dying stages of the fourth set.

Safin Employs Unique Comeback Strategy

From The Australian: No need to shout when Safin orders the drinks

Trailing two sets to one against German Benjamin Becker, Safin's mind was not completely on his fightback.

While sipping on a sports drink at the change of ends, his thoughts turned to coach Alexander Volkov.

Hailing a ballboy, Safin ordered the youngster to deliver his mentor a drink...

Safin Goes Five

From the AAP: Safin back and volatile as ever

The 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin reclaimed Rod Laver Arena last night, surviving a tense five-set first round clash to advance at Melbourne Park.

Safin, who missed out on defending his men's singles crown through injury last year, outlasted German Benjamin Becker 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 6-4...

Safin Says New Generation Not Afraid

From The Age: Safin tries in vain to intimidate as younger players show no fear

MARAT Safin senses neither fear nor awe in the emerging generation of teenage tennis talent...

Safin, who won the US Open seven years ago as a 20-year-old, said he feared his older opponents much more back then, and while he tried to intimidate tour newcomers, he was having little luck.

"I don't think right now I do because it's a completely different new generation," he said. "They don't respect the older player.

"I was looking to them more as heroes and I was a little bit scared to play against them. Now, the new generation, they're not scared, they are pretty far from being scared, which makes it more complicated to play them.

Safin Advises Philippoussis on Injury Comeback

Do you think Scud really wants to hear this right now?

From The Age: Safin says Scud needs to be leaner

MARK Philippoussis' upper body bulk is likely to hinder his chances of making a successful comeback from his fourth and latest knee operation, according to Marat Safin, the powerfully built Russian who only recently has recovered from chronic knee problems of his own.

Safin, who is officially listed as 193 centimetres and 88 kilograms and is therefore relatively lean for his height, said the heavily-muscled upper body of the 196-centimetre, 98-kilogram Philippoussis was out of proportion to the rest of his body — notably his fragile legs.

Safin Returns to Australia

From The Herald Sun: Safin in town and in business

Marat Safin is back. And a warm welcome it will be when the powerful and personable Russian returns to the Australian Open next week, even though his last appearance on Rod Laver Arena was a dream-buster for Australian tennis fans...

Safin, though, looked ready for anything -- he had just turned 26, had beaten Roger Federer in a classic semi-final and was a top-five player, having briefly tasted the glory of the No. 1 ranking.

He was part player, part playboy, lining up a procession of girls to cheer for him, keeping the press amused with a droll sense of humour and still reaching three finals in four years.

He and Melbourne seemed made for each other. And perhaps they still are. Asked this week if he enjoyed coming here, he said: "Yes, of course. I used to play really well here." ...

Safin Arrives in Australia

From The Herald Sun: Safin joins early bird Roger

RUSSIAN challenger Marat Safin has copied defending champion Roger Federer's early Australian arrival.

Safin landed yesterday and went straight for a swim in the bay to cool off before heading to Melbourne Park.

However he had to sit and wait until Federer and his Australian coach Tony Roche finished a second practice session on sunbaked Rod Laver Arena.

Safin waited patiently while the world No. 1 rounded off his early Australian Open preparations.

The parties exchanged greetings courtside during the handover before Safin stepped on to centre court...

Marat Safin DVD Preview

From SideSpin Productions: Sharing a Laugh with Marat Safin

And Now Marat?

Bravo, ATP. Check out Marat's blog.

Sorry for the sketchy posting; it's been really busy over here!

The Davis Cup Ties: Friday

I'll be checking scores all weekend. If anyone's watching (or listening to) ties, please post your thoughts!

Here's the worldwide TV schedule. There's live scoring at the official site http://www.daviscup.com, and you can also listen to updates and player interviews at Davis Cup Radio. Be sure to listen to Thursday's preview, with interviews with Federer, Roddick, Hewitt, Youzhny and Nalbandian.

Already 3 big upsets: Volandri def. Robredo 6-3 7-5 6-3; and Safin def. Roddick 6-4 6-3 7-6(Only one tiebreak, and Danai Udomchoke def. Tommy Haas in 5 sets. So far Russia's gamble has paid off. Davydenko, by the way, may be playing on Sunday. Seems he needed more rest.

US Open 2nd Tuesday

Well, yesterday was just balls out tennis, folks. Mauresmo's incredible comeback after losing the 2nd set to Serena 0-6; Tommy Haas' marathon win over Robby Ginepri (whose ranking will now take a steep tumble into oblivion); the resurrection of Marat Safin, as well as Lleyton Hewitt prevailing over Richie Gasquet in a 5-setter that seems to be an instant classic (I wouldn't know, of course. Silly me fell asleep at 3-1 in the 5th and missed the 2 matchpoints Gasquet saved that seem to have converted all of NYC into Francophiles. Damn. It.). Also Kuznetsova falling to the charismatic primadonna Jelena Jankovic, Davenport squashing Schnyder, and Justine Henin-Hardenne making a bid for her own Federer-like H-H Express with a comprehensive beatdown of Shahar Pe'er. Who can stop that train?

Hmm, that's all yesterday stuff, isn't it. On to tuesday, which should be another stellar day of match play:

How much fun will Tommy Haas v. Marat Safin be? I mean, these guys can turn up the court crazy like nobody else. The two of them together? I'll need to take a valium just to sit through it. I'm picking Safin over Haas, mostly because I want a few more press conferences from the gloomy and ever quotable Russian.

I'm going to pick Blake over Berdych in the trickiest 4th round match; Murray over Davydenko in a very very tight one, Federer over Giquel (duh). I think Jankovic is ready for her close up and will upset Dementieva; and sorry, Lindsay, but Justine's unstoppable. Just like the Citizen Eco-Drive watch and the people who wear it. Unstoppable.

Safin: Still Crotchety After All These Years

Marat's post-Olivier Rochus press conference had me rolling. Here are excerpts:
Q. Through highs and lows here, people, fans have always stayed with you. Why do you think people connect with your game?
MARAT SAFIN: Ask people (smiling). I don't know.

Q. What's the most frustrating part of being Marat Safin?
MARAT SAFIN: Huh?

Q. What's the most frustrating part of being Marat Safin?
MARAT SAFIN: Frustrating part, well, it's just every time I've been playing well and every time I was in the top 10, I had one year, one great year, then I was getting injured and I had to start all over again. I really am tired a little bit of making comebacks.

...

Q. What are your thoughts on instant replay? Have you enjoyed it? Do you think it's successful?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, it's a little bit stressful right now because I'm playing every single day. I played yesterday five set match, I played today, and then I have to play tomorrow against Haas. So it's not really fun. You cannot really enjoy the city and, you know, just be...

Q. The instant replay, have you found it successful, the HawkEye?
MARAT SAFIN: Oh, HawkEye, sorry.

Q. No, that's okay.
MARAT SAFIN: But is not I don't think it's hundred percent right.

Q. You don't think it's 100% right?
MARAT SAFIN: No. No, no, no. I'm sure about that. I already said that.

Q. Why?
MARAT SAFIN: Why? You think I'm lying?

ETA: Here's a funny article about Safin from the LA Times. Cheer Up Marat!

Marat Takes a Break from Coach

Former tennis world number one Marat Safin has decided to take a break from his Swedish coach Peter Lundgren.

"Marat is not quite himself any more, he doesn't really know where he stands," said Lundgren, who helped the Russian to win his second grand slam title in 2005, the Australian Open.

Read the Story

Friday Wrap; the Semis

The quarterfinals ended up being pretty eventful.

DC: Marat Safin consolidated his upset of James Blake on thursday with a tight win over Wesley Moodie; Lleyton Hewitt was ousted by French veteran Arnaud Clement (!) Clement halted a 7-match Lleyton losing streak.

Andy Murray predictably took out Mardy Fish, though with a lapse in concentration late in the 2nd set.

Gonzo Takes Out Marat...AGAIN

Poor Marat Safin. The draw gods are just messing with him these days. A third early round loss to Fernando Gonzalez in as many months is just mean. Mean! Here's the story.

Wimbledon Day 4: Great Losses

Rafael Nadal d. Robert Kendrick
6-7(4) 3-6  7-6(2) 7-5  6-4

No doubt this was a great, tenacious win for Rafa, but Robert Kendrick, the 26 year old veteran journeyman who has been solidly challenger-tier his whole career, had the match of his life--Wimbledon, Center Court, spanking Rafa's big ass soundly on tennis' biggest stage for 2 and a half sets. Kendrick's super-sized serving for the first 2 sets (and most of the next 2) was just flawless.

The turning point came late in the 3rd when Kendrik was just 2 points away from the win. He had another close call in the next set, but you just knew the ending was written in stone once he missed his first chance.

Of course, Nadal's "sheer cussedness" (and Kendrick's creeping fatigue--not so many 5-setters on the challenger level) won the day, but Kendrick gained some face time on ESPN, advice and props from Brad Gilbert (who had picked him to win), and a legion of new fans. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of Kendrick; 26 doesn't seem so old anymore in tennis years these days.

Here's a match summary / Rafa's Interview /  Kendrick's Interview

Fernando Gonzalez d. Marat Safin
6-4 7-6 (4) 6-4 6-4 6-4

Safin was ornery and so was Gonzalez; both got warned--Safin for audible obscenity and Gonzo for racquet abuse. This one was a see-saw, but Safin won the first two sets and had chances to close it out. Gonzo gets his second consecutive grand slam win over Marat, and Marat gets another body blow to his self-esteem.

Article: Safin shows Jekyll and Hyde nature in defeat

Rudeski Thinking about Retirement; Safin Interview

Safin Makes Rudeski's Thoughts Turn to Retirement

Also, don't miss Safin's first round interview.  A gem, as usual.

Video: Safin at the Australian Open

Relive Marat's 6 minute post-Federer semifinal on-court interview with Jim Courier at the '05 Australian Open. Just spectacular atmosphere and and a spectacular Marat. The (opportunistic?) Courier hug, the crowd singing a belated (the match ended at 12:30am) Happy Birthday to Marat, and a slightly shell-shocked Safin working the crowd.

Here's a video of the last game of the match, too.

All Hail, Halle! Interview Transcripts Online

Like Queen's Club, Halle's also got press conference transcripts up. There's Marat Safin after his loss to Olivier Rochus, Tommy Haas, Marcos Bhagdatis on his first round loss, lots of Federer, and more.

Mats Wilander's Blog, Video Outakes

I didn't know Mats had one. I'm a big Mats fan and love the stuff he does for Eurosport. The blog's got some interview footage with Nalbandian, Ancic and Nadal, as well as posts by Mats himself and Mats' admin about Hingis, Marat Safin, and others.  Here's the blog.

Here are direct links to some of the video interview outtakes: Here's a Rafa one, here's a Nalbandian one, and here's Mario Ancic.

Marat Safin Skips Interview; Is Fined $10K

Marat, Marat, Marat. What is there to say? We still love you.

In the absence of a new set of quotables from the best linesman on tour, here are a couple of compilations of Safinisms: Safin, Take One and Safin, Take Two

Also, Peter Bodo's got a nice tidbit on Marat:

"Marat, You Will Forget My Birthday, Won’t You? Marat Safin is the tennis lover’s version of the handsome, irresistible cad (think of him as the anti-Tim Henman) who is forever breaking his girl friend’s heart by, oh, forgetting to call, failing to show up at the party, going stag to a wedding,leaving town for a week without saying anything, answering the heartfelt confession, “I love you!” with something like, “Oh. I’m glad for you” (yes, it’s a line from real life!)."

Nalbandian Vs. Gasquet: 2nd Round

This will be today's marquee match up. Yesterday, you had your pick of that heartbreaker for Marat Safin against Fernando Gonzalez or the battle of the morose teens between Gael Monfils and Andy Murray. Nalbandian should cruise due to Gasquet's recent lack of form, but you can never discount the power of a home crowd and Gasquet's beautiful backhand.

Marat Safin Interview

Safin talks French Open, Davis Cup and more. Here's the interview.

Ace Hot List

Well, the most important tennis rankings are out.

For the men, the Spanish Armada is, of course, well represented in the top 10--  Rafael Nadal, Feliciano Lopez, Juan Carlos Ferrero. And apparently bald is also beautiful, with 2 shiny domes making the cut.

For the women, the top 10 is dominated by the Russians and sort-of Russians: Myskina, Dementieva, Kirilenko, Golovin and Sharapova.

The Women's and Men's Lists

I must say I disagree with the rankings. Ivanovic, Venus, Dementieva and Mirza are IMHO the most beautiful women on tour; and the spaniards should clearly have a lock on the top 4 (Feli first, and where is Moya?), and the absence of Ancic and Nalbandian is obviously poor judgement. (Roddick, top 10? Blasphemy!)

Safin to Return to Davis Cup

From Reuters: Safin leads Russia in Davis Cup against France

Marat Safin will lead Russia in April's Davis Cup quarter-final against France...

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev added Safin, who has not played Davis Cup since 2005's first round, to a team of world number five Davydenko, Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and 2002 Davis Cup final hero Mikhail Youzhny.

"We'll take all five players to France and then I'll choose the best four just before the draw," Tarpishchev told Reuters...

Safin Complains About Tennis Schedule

From Tennis Week: Safin Says Players Squeezed By Schedule

When Marat Safin hears talk of tracing tennis injuries to the surfaces or the balls, it drives him up the wall. Actually, such speculation prompts Safin, who was sidelined for nearly seven months while recovering from a knee injury, to point to the object affixed to the wall — the tennis calendar — as the primary reason for player injuries.

Safin Still Aiming for the Top

Absence does make the heart grow fonder as they say.  All of the sudden, everyone loves Marat Safin.  Before his injury, reporters were criticizing him.

From Tennis Reporters: Safin swings for top again

The name Safin in Russian tennis circles is as legendary in that supremely athletic nation than the name Evert is in America, or Stolle is in Australia. Raouza Safina gave birth to Marat and Dinara. Her son is a two-time Slam champ and former No. 1, and her daughter now a solid top-25 player. She gave hard lessons to two women's Slam champs, Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva, plus another 100 or so very good kids who dreamed of being tennis stars.

Safin Continues Comeback

From The Desert Sun: Marat Safin's comeback

Despite displaying some of the skills that helped make him No. 1 against a former No. 1, Marat Safin wasn't going to get too carried away with his 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Carlos Moya on Sunday.

Safin, who is recovering from a knee injury that knocked him out for most of last year, said he cannot look too far ahead.

"That's the situation I am right now, I cannot ask for too much of myself," Safin said. "I have to think a little bit more about my knee."

Connors Speaks Up for Safin

From The Desert Sun:

...Safin is also one of the great characters in the game, and one who got praises from Jimmy Connors on Thursday. "Safin for instance, is not afraid to say and do a lot of things and has the game to back it up," Connors said. "The problem is, you don't cut him loose and allow him to do it. That's the kind of interest that's going to draw me to watch more tennis and to be apart of it on more of an everyday level to see someone like that show his passion, his interest, his love for the game and his pride in himself to be that good, and if not, better. But everyone is under the thumb now, it seems. They want to play the same. Forget the production line. Cut guys loose a little bit and let them be themselves."

Safin Hates Instant Replay

Not too subtle, is Marat Safin?

From Tennis Reporters:

Marat Safin told the Orange County Register's Janice Carr that he isn't buying it. "I am totally against it," said Safin. "I think it will destroy the game. It will slow it down, lose the momentum and the motion of the game. Who was this genius who came up with this stupid idea? Who approved it?" They are looking for solutions on how to save the game, and this is not it," Safin said. "It is bull. This definitely is not the way to help the game."

Safin Hoping to Avoid Top Players At First

From The Gulf News: Safin feels he has yet to reach peak form

Marat Safin knows he has a long way to go before he hits peak form on the ATP Men's Tour...

"It's a question of having enough matches under my belt before I can start playing well again," Safin said after his loss to the Belgian on Wednesday.

Safin Defeated (And Moody) in Second Round

From Super Tennis: Safin comeback ends in defeat

Marat Safin's comeback tournament came to an abrupt end on Wednesday amidst a bout of fretting and fuming as the former world No.1 was beaten by Olivier Rochus in the second round of the Dubai Open.

After six months out with a knee injury, Safin had done superbly to beat world number five Nikolay Davydenko on Tuesday, but this time there were mistakes and minor recriminations as he went down 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to the world number 31 from Belgium.

Safin had sometimes looked good enough to win. He served well, often hit pulverising ground strokes, saved two set points at 3-5 to regain parity in the first set, and led 4-2 in the second.

Safin Returns With Victory

I wasn't going to believe it until I actually saw him set foot on court, but Marat Safin is finally back.  Which Safin?  That remains to be seen, but his initial outing was encouraging.

His hair issues, on the other hand, have seemingly gotten worse during his time off.  We finally get Tommy Haas to cut his hair and now this.

From the AFP: Safin back with a bang

MARAT Safin has returned to the ATP Tour after six months with an outstanding win over world No.5 Nickolay Davydenko in the first round of the Dubai Open.

The former world No.1 from Russia beat his compatriot 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 despite having felt "lost" in the first set after such a long absence from competition.

It was not until the second game of the second set that Safin began timing his ground strokes with the characteristically devastating flat-hitting which has won him two grand slam titles.

Another Withdrawal for Safin

From Marat Safin's website:

It is with regret that we announce that Marat has today withdrawn from the Open 13 Marseilles.  Please note - there is nothing wrong with his knee - it was just felt that his level of fitness was not sufficient to enable him to know he can not only enter but also win a tournament.  As such he feels that another week will just fine tune his level of performance.  Marat is still very determined but does not want to start until he knows he is 100% fit.

Oh well - it was just too much good luck for ticket sellers in Marseilles to be able to market this year's tournament with the return of both Marat Safin and Rafael Nadal.

Safin Celebrates 26th Birthday

From Tennis Week: Safin Celebrates

Marat Safin took time out from training for his comeback in Valencia, Spain to fly to Moscow where he spent last Thursday celebrating his 26th birthday with friends Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Mikhail Youzhny and Igor Andreev. The 2005 Australian Open champion will sit out Russia's opening-round Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands on carpet in Amsterdam next weekend as he continues to strengthen his surgically-repaired left knee...

Safin Hints He May Not Be Ready for Australian Open

Marat Safin's website has given an update on his condition.  They're hoping for a miracle now.  It's a little weird that he has to ask his sponsors for permission not to play the Australian Open, but I guess after being out of action for so long he wants to stay on their good side.

"Marat took only a 3 day break in Moscow for New Year and then returned to Valencia to continue practice.  Peter has joined him and they are working together.  He is now practising his tennis and feels good.  It is already 4 weeks that he has been working on his fitness and it is coming along fine but it must be remembered that it is a long road back after such a long injury and Marat does not want to rush it.  Because of the length of time he has been unable to actually do anything strenuous with his knee, he really lost a lot of muscle strength around the knee and it is vital that this is fully built up again before going back to playing matches.

Safina Says Brother Unlikely to Appear in Australia

From The Age: Injuries place doubts over Open drawcards

INJURIES are threatening to bite heavily into the list of summer tennis drawcards, with Andre Agassi considered increasingly unlikely to contest the Australian Open, and Marat Safin's sister, Dinara Safina, adding to the growing pessimism over the champion's ability to mount a title defence.

"He is still injured with his knee, so I hope it will get better, but I think the chances are really small that he's coming," Safina, the world No.20, said before her quarter-final match at the Australian Women's Hardcourts on the Gold Coast. "But I hope (so). I'll miss him."...

It's Easier to Coach Safin Than Federer - Lundgren

An interesting analysis of the effect of Peter Lundgren on Marat Safin's game and some old comments by Lundgren that I hadn't heard before.  I think the author is giving Lundgren a bit too much credit.  Safin changed for the better for about a month.  After that injuries really made it impossible to judge him.

From Eurosport: Which Marat will it be?

...Safin then had the idea of turning to a new coach at end of 2004 when he lost in the first round of the U.S. Open. It was Peter Lundgren, who had trained today's World Number One Roger Federer for seven years before that. When a new union became public knowledge journalists asked Lundgren - was it easier with Federer than with Safin? An answer followed:

"On the contrary, it's easier with Safin for me. He is a straightforward guy, doesn't hide his emotions and speaks his mind even when it concerns something unpleasant. It is much easier for me to work with people like that than with someone, who listens to you carefully, but will remain with his own opinion. And that is exactly what Federer is like."

Lundgren drastically widened the tactical and technical arsenal of Marat. If before Marat's main strength was his powerful serve, now his game is much more versatile. The most important factor, however, is that Peter managed to change Marat's tennis psychology.

Safin Still Plans to Defend Australian Open Title

Marat Safin's coach Peter Lundgren has told the Russian press that Safin still has every intention of defending his Australian Open title this year, according to Marca.

Lundgren said that Marat's knee no longer becomes inflamed, but he still feels some effects from the injury at times. Lundgren mentioned, for example, that when the weather changes suddenly the knee bothers Safin a little.

He also said that the decision to withdraw from the Hopman Cup was taken to avoid repeating the mistakes of last season when Safin played in some tournaments despite his knee not yet having healed.

Although Safin began training again at the beginning of December in Valencia, according to Lundgren he's hardly taken up a tennis racket and his physical conditioning isn't yet ideal.

So if we want to read between the lines of all that, the good news is that Safin's knee really does seem to be improving and hopefully that means that he can avoid surgery and missing the entire season. 

But it also sounds like he'd be crazy to show up at the Australian Open.  He probably needs another month or so to get back into the swing of things.

Australian Open Tournament Director Doubtful Safin Will Play Open

From sportal.com.au: Safin likely to miss open

Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee conceded that defending champion Marat Safin is likely to miss January's Grand Slam event after failing to recover from a knee injury...

"It would have to be a race against time for Marat now," McNamee told ABC Sport.

"Not playing in this tournament [Hopman Cup] ... it's been a very important part of his preparation for Melbourne so it certainly puts him behind the eight-ball.

"There's certainly a question mark there, a big question mark."...

McNamee confirmed that Safin is still in the Open field, but he believes that the limited preparation for him may be the deciding factor on whether he will play.

"He hasn't played for a few months," he said.

"I spoke to his management in Shanghai where he was also unable to play - he was about to get back on court but apparently still hasn't been able to get out there so that's making it pretty tough for him."

That last part really doesn't sound good.  Obviously it's second-hand information and rather vague at that, but if it's true that Safin still isn't able to play tennis after all this time and treatment...

Safin Withdraws From Hopman Cup

Bad luck for anyone in Perth who bought tickets to the Hopman Cup planning to see Marat Safin.  He pulled out today and instead fans will see...Teimuraz Gabashvili.  Not exactly the same from a marquee name standpoint.

Safin's website announced the withdrawal and simply said,  "Although Marat has been working hard in Valencia, he feels that it would be too soon to start at the  Hopman Cup and feels he should spend more time getting ready for the defence of his title at the Australian Open."

The site also posted a little note from Safin which also gives no further insight into how his knee injury is shaping up. 

I wonder if Safin will even be able to play the Australian Open?  And all those points to defend! 

Marat Safin GQ Article

I just noticed that they posted the Marat Safin GQ interview over at The Safinator (from the September of October issue - something like that), so here it is if you haven't seen it already (I hadn't):

The Agony (and Fleeting Ecstasy) of Marat Safin

He has been called the purest physical talent in the history of the game. So why doesn't Marat Safin dominate the tennis world? John Jeremiah Sullivan explores the dark psyche of tennis's tormented genius.

I've hated him, you know. I've hated that wack-job six-foot-four-inch beautiful genuis Tatar. Oh, never for long. Never with consistency that might have led to true renunciation. But there have been times when I wanted to see him... well, not suffer - because i know he suffers; he tells us so. It's one of this words - suffering: "I just suffer a bit more"; "I was suffering too much"; "That's why I am suffering"; "Why should I suffer?" Not that, then, but to see him humbled. Yes - scolded, even. I'm watching at home, let's say, and he's just netted a midcourt forehand approach ahot for the twelfth time in the set, having gotten all freaked out about some completely inconsequential baseline error six games earlier, and maybe he's talking to himself, but loud enough for the mikes to pick up, saying things like "Why you fecking run? Why not you make heem fecking run?" when from nowhere comes a tiny, creaking voice.

New Marat Safin Interview

Marat Safin's official site has an English translation of a recent interview with Safin published in Sport Express in Russia - very interesting and lengthy.

A reporter’s life is full of sudden surprises. You come to a little Ukrainian restaurant next to Tsvetnoy Boulevard to have lunch without a tape recorder and a notebook, you look at the table next to you and suddenly see Marat Safin.You get slightly surprised - this place is nice but it’s nothing ultra fashionable. As any regular person I would think people of such calibre should go to ‘special’ places but Safin is here, quietly having a bite to eat in a very regular restaurant (for the most curious readers I state that Marat was alone and not drinking alcohol). The tennis player, who has grown a lot of hair and a little beard recently, is polite with waiters and talks to them in a half-whispering manner not wanting to be noticed...

Safin Exacerbated Knee Injury by Playing on It for So Long

Marat Safin's website has posted an English translation of a L'Equipe article that was published while Safin was over in France presenting the winner's trophy at the Paris Masters.  Some excerpts:

...Invited by the organizers to present the trophy to his successor, Marat Safin, three times winner at Bercy (2000, 2002, 2004), was yesterday in Paris.  Arriving at the Palais Omnisports at 16.15, in the company of his new girl friend and his large pal Marc Rosset (the latest pensioner on the circuit), the Russian agreed to talk about his injured knee which has wasted a large part of the season for him. Gracious and relaxed, he also told of his everyday life in Moscow, the purchase of a new apartment and his desire to return to the tennis courts during December. If the rest and the care to which he is subjected bear fruit, the 2006 season could start for him.

Safin Withdraws from Shanghai (Really This Time)

Marat Safin officially withdrew from the Masters Cup in Shanghai today so Shamil Tarpishchev wasn't speaking out of turn last week.  Safin's website posted the following message:

"Marat has today officially withdrawn from playing at the Shanghai Masters Cup BUT he will go there to do promotional work for the Masters Cup and Shanghai.  So people in Shanghai will still see him and I am sure there will be chances for signing for people too. 

For Paris fans - Marat will be in Bercy this weekend as he will present the winner's trophy to the lucky winner.  In the meantime he is continuing working on the knee rehabilitation and we will have a better idea after Shanghai as to his schedule leading up to the Australian Open."

Somehow I find the idea of Safin presenting the winner's trophy in Paris a little weird.  I mean, he won it last year - he's not retired or anything.  It's a little early for him to be hanging around tennis just for decoration.  But if he's comfortable doing it, why not?

The main thing is, how is his knee really?  Hopefully he's just being cautious by skipping Shanghai and will start 2006 fully healthy.  But this is an awfully long rehabilitation period, much longer than he originally expected.  Maybe trying to get the knee in shape to play the U.S. Open set him back. 

Now that we have Nadal around, we (well, me anyway) don't need Safin as much as we did at the beginning of last year when he seemed like the only guy who had the physical ability to challenge Federer now and again, but he definitely adds a little spice to the game so I'd like to see him back.

Tarpishchev Says Safin Out of Shanghai

Shamil Tarpishchev hasn't been entirely accurate when it comes to Marat Safin reports in the past so take this with a grain of salt. 

From Reuters: Safin, bothered by knee, won't play in Shanghai

Australian Open champion Marat Safin has not fully recovered from a knee injury and will miss next month's Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev, who is also the country's Davis Cup captain, said on Saturday that Safin would rest for the remainder of the year in order to be fit for next season.

"This is the best thing for him to do, not to play," Tarpishchev told Reuters.

"He must first get 100 percent healthy before stepping on the court again. The most important thing is to prepare well for the Australian Open, where he must defend his title."

Safin's Knee Still Not Ready

Marat Safin is officially out of the St. Petersburg Open and questionable for the BNP Paribas Masters in Bercy.

From Marat Safin's official website:

"Bad news I am sorry to say especially for the Russian fans.  Marat has had to withdraw from the St. Petersburg Open as his knee is not yet ready.  For the French fans in Paris - look out for Marat in your city as he will be there from Monday practicing to see if he can get his knee fit in time for Bercy.  It's a long hard battle and we must keep him in our thoughts."

My interpretation - he desperately wants to get back to playing tennis again so he'll show up in Paris, but under no circumstances should he be playing in the event. After sitting out this long to rehab, the worst thing he could do is to put next season in jeopardy by rushing his return and reinjuring the knee.

His website also throws a compliment Dinara Safina's way:

"Marat did find time to watch sister Dinara at the Kremlin Cup this week and he was very proud of her getting to the semis in both the singles and doubles."

Safin Visits Tatarstan

It's amazing all the things you can get done when you can't play tennis.  Marat Safin recently paid a visit to Tatarstan and his official site has photos of the events.  He managed to fit in a visit with the President of Tatarstan, sat at Vladimir Lenin's former desk at Kazan University, paid a visit to the main mosque in town, and stopped in at Shamil Tarpishchev's tennis academy. (Is there anything having to do with tennis in Russia that man doesn't have a hand in?)  And in not one picture does Safin smile - not even a little.

His website also has a translation of an article in Sovetskiy Sport on his visit.

Safin Comeback Delayed

Marat Safin, who originally planned to make his comback from knee injury in this week's Japan Open, has changed his plans and will now wait until the St. Petersburg Open on October 24 to make his return and finish off the season with just the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris and the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

His official website says, "This will give him some practice before the end of the season to test out the knee and then he will start the new season of 2006 fully fit."  It also says his "knee injury is progressing well."

That means Safin will miss the Madrid Masters Series event which he won last year so he won't be able to defend those points and his ranking will probably suffer.   

Safin Keeps Busy in Moscow

Besides rehabbing his knee, Marat Safin has been taking advantage of his time in Moscow to keep up with the celebrity scene.  According to his website, in the past week he's been to the Gallery Triumph Presentation of a new collection by DSquared2 (that would be a fancy name for a fashion show, right?), the Sports and Style Awards, and the MTV Russia Music Awards along with his sister Dinara.

Usually Dinara is just little sister and Marat is the tennis star, but this time he's just an injured player while she is a member of the victorious Russian Fed Cup team.  Must have been interesting.

Some pictures from the Sports and Style Awards can be seen here (you may have to sign in as a guest to see them).  When is someone going to finally break the news to Marat that he really, really needs a haircut?

Safin Probably Out of Davis Cup

Marat Safin's website reports that his current course of treatment for his injured knee is expected to take 5 weeks and that he is hoping to return in time for the Japan Open on October 3. 

Since Davis Cup starts on September 23, that would seem to indicate that Safin won't be playing.  No official announcement has been made though.

And he's had another change of plans regarding his medical treatment for a very sad reason.  A close friend of his, Leonid Nerushenko, died in a motorbike crash on Saturday and Safin flew back to Moscow from Frankfurt to attend the funeral.  Nerushenko was a famous musician in Russia.  In order to stay near his family and friends, Safin has decided to continue his treatment in Moscow rather than returning to Frankfurt.