Q. Can you talk about it's been a long time since you won at this tournament. Got to feel pretty good to come out as a winner. MARAT SAFIN: What was the question?
Q. It's been a long time since you won here. It's got to feel nice. MARAT SAFIN: How I feel now?
Q. Does it feel good? MARAT SAFIN: Well, it's just the first round. It feels much better when you win, that's for sure. When you win the first match, you have plenty of matches to go, and especially that you are not seeded you have to play against the seeded player, I guess. I guess against Nalbandian. I don't know what is the score.
Q. Is there any way of saying how close you are to 100% fit just now? MARAT SAFIN: You know how many times I answered this question already? Every time I say I am very close to it I find myself in a very difficult situation. So I guess I'm still far away and I'm looking for my best game. You know, looking in improving and trying to win my matches without playing well, which I think it's where you get the confidence, the most confidence, not playing well.
Q. What memories do you have from 2000 when you won here? MARAT SAFIN: Well, just it was a long time ago. Was a different environment, different mentality. Everything was new, and right now I'm already eight years in the tour, so it's kind of lot of things has changed. I played already seven times here. Not much. Just since like a very long time ago, and that was a great feeling. I was young, and that's why I guess I won. I wasn't scared. Right now a lot of people are coming up and are playing great tennis, a lot of young people, so you have to compete against them. I found myself in a position where I'm already not the youngest player in the draw and everybody wants to beat me. My ranking is not I'm not any more top 10 so it's even tougher and nobody's scared of you anymore. It's not the same situation it used to be before.
Q. Are you aware of how much your fans live and die by your matches? If you go on to Internet, people see a breakpoint, they go, Oh, my God, Marat's going to lose it. Are you aware of the interest? MARAT SAFIN: Well, I thank them for that, and I'm pretty happy that a lot of people like at 11 o'clock in the morning there was some people sitting there even with the terrible weather we have right now. They were sitting there clapping and applauding, they want you to win. It would be pretty great. I really think that during all these years when I was playing good and when I was playing bad, people still come to my matches and try to support me even though I was playing terribly. They were still behind me. I think it's a great feeling to be able to have so many fans and so many people really care about you.
Q. What are your coaching plans for the future? MARAT SAFIN: I don't know yet. We took one months off with Mr. Lundgren because I didn't know where I was going, and I found myself in a really tough position. I didn't win a lot of matches. I had difficult losses. So we decided to I decided myself to go into the States alone and just to see what's going on and make decision. We agreed to speak after the US Open and see what's happening.
Q. How many coaches have approached you and said, I'm available; you ought to hire me? MARAT SAFIN: Well, a couple (smiling). Believe it or not, only two.
Q. What about Markus? MARAT SAFIN: Okay, I'm gonna answer this question because I'm sick and tired of like everybody's coming to me and asking me the same question. It's really getting on my nerves. I was in Cincinnati and I was really like I had nothing to do. For me, being alone in Cincinnati have you ever been there (laughter)? So just go there and see how depressing is that place is. Then if somebody offers to play with you, you know, couple of times, and really is a nice guy. I think he is great guy, and I know him for a long time. Also from the challenger, when I was starting in the challengers I knew him already there because he was coaching some players. He offered me if you want to play with me a couple of times without no nothing involved, no coaching issues, just if you want to hit some balls, just let me know. So I hit with him couple of balls, and then all of a sudden everybody start to speak about that I'm splitting up with Lundgren and I'm going with Markus. No, it's not. I'm not with Gabriel Markus. He's the coach of Massu, and that's it. He's person I know and he try to help me a little bit, that's it.
Q. Do you think people try to take advantage of that? MARAT SAFIN: Of what?
Q. You have a checkbook, talented player, of trying to hook up with you? MARAT SAFIN: Who cares? I'm 104 in the world and I'm 26 years old, so I been already on the tour for eight years so try to bullshit me and nobody has a chance. So is like nobody can take advantage of me. I know what I want, I know what I need, and I'm looking for that. Just sometimes the things don't go the way you want them to go, and you trying, keep on trying. Then something will happen and I will decide what will happen. Hopefully, it will happen soon so I can get back in top hundred and start winning matches. I'm making some decisions right now.
Q. What do you want and what do you need? MARAT SAFIN: Well, just I keep it in my head for the moment until I have everything clear, because I have a couple of things and a couple of thoughts in my head where I need to just speak to my people, think about it and make sure that it's clear and make sure that it is the right decision before I make any of them.
Q. Is your mother helping at all? MARAT SAFIN: No, my mother, she's just, you know, my mother.
Q. She's a coach. MARAT SAFIN: No, she's not. She's already in a pension, and the only way she can help me is by staying by having a pension and having a great time and coming here just to watch the kids, me and my sister, and enjoy it. They can make a tour in New York. That's it. That's what she should care about only.
Q. Do you spend a lot of time with her? MARAT SAFIN: No, a couple of days went out for dinner. Unfortunately they're staying uptown and I'm staying downtown, so it's quite difficult. She came here to help a little bit my sister, support her, and that's it.
Q. You speak of 2000 like ancient history. Do you feel mentally and physically capable of ever rekindling what it took to become that type of player to win here? MARAT SAFIN: No, it just was a different position. I was 20 years old and I had been playing great for all the summers. I made the finals of Indianapolis. I won Toronto. I played great in Cincinnati. I was coming here already playing great tennis. So for me it was much easier, and I had a lot of confidence. Right now I'm coming I won just in semifinals of Washington, and that's it. Then two first rounds in Masters Series events and now I'm here. So it's not the same position. I was 20. Nobody expect from me anything. The only thing they were talking that I'm, you know, the youngest guy in the tour and like a promise. Right now I'm already 26. So you're 26 years old and everybody asking what's going on, you not winning a lot of matches, your ranking dropped, and this kind of thing. It's completely different approach.
Q. Do you feel that you could become that level of player again? MARAT SAFIN: I want. I think I still have it for a lot of tennis. I just need to get put myself together, be a little bit lucky in some moments, and that's it. Everything will come back. I'm not retiring. I'm not planning to retire. I still think I can win a lot of tournaments, and I still think I can win a couple of Grand Slams, even if Federer will not play. I'm still waiting for my opportunities.
Q. You spoke about the ATP commitment issues in the past on different levels. What did you think about the new ATP plan: The Round Robin and Sunday starts and all these things? Do you support it? MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, we spoke about it in Dubai. The meeting was Federer, was Nadal, me, Andre, and we sat down with Etienne. I think he's a great guy. I think he's great for tennis. Unfortunately, we have a lot of old guys running also an ATP that, in my opinion, should have been gone also, because you cannot have the same people from the old school and trying to make the tennis different. Could you imagine in ten years and they're still here and taking already different position. The new guys coming, and it's like kind of because he knows what he wants, Etienne. But at the beginning, when he came in, he didn't really knew where is it all going, and he wanted to make some changes. To be able to make some changes, you need to be updated by some of the players, which is we sit down in Dubai and we suggested him to make a little bit create something different. Because look's what happening, because the tennis is so even right now. For example, if you go to a tournament and you have like you bring Federer, you bring Roddick, Blake, or somebody else, you never know what's gonna happen, if they gonna arrive to the final or not. Not like before if you were bringing McEnroe and Borg, for example, it's gonna be for sure the final. Right now, you never know. So to be able to sell tickets and to be able to be successful, the tournaments to have success and have a great finals, they need to have a Round Robin. Because the good players, they always qualify to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and to the finals basically. So already Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they will have the good players playing for the championship. And Round Robin, I think it's a great thing. You play the same amount of matches as a normal tournament and you have a chance, even if Agassi is losing for example, if I'm losing the first round in the Round Robin, I still have a chance to qualify to the quarterfinals. So I think it's great for the good players. When they're unlucky and lose to somebody, they still have a chance, you know. Also for the tournament directors I think it's great. It's much better to sell the tickets.
Q. You're not worried about playing more matches? MARAT SAFIN: I don't care. I can play you know, like we have to support a little bit the tournaments and make sure that they are also the spectators, they get what they want. They don't want to see same finals. That's ridiculous. Like Casablanca, nobody's watching the finals. So it pays to have good players in the draw and make sure their good tennis players are in the final.
Q. Back in 2000 I think a lot of people thought you were going to be dominant for a long time. What do you think happened over the last six years? Is it injuries? Anything you can point to? MARAT SAFIN: The people, they were wrong (smiling). No, but then came Federer. I think it's difficult to compete against him. His tennis is too good. I been injured a couple of times and I missed a couple of years, so it's also kind of difficult when you drop out, and then to come back is quite it's very difficult. Then some new guys that are coming hungry, playing well, and they're not scared anymore, so that's how it happened.
Q. Your wrist injuries, your backhand wrist, what actually was that injury? MARAT SAFIN: I broke my ligaments.
Q. The TFC? MARAT SAFIN: I don't know how it's called. Here (indicating his wrist. ) Broke everything.
Q. On one shot? MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, one shot.
Q. Cincinnati could have the next Super Bowl team. Is it really that bad a city? MARAT SAFIN: It's not Cincinnati, it's Mason. It's not even Cincinnati. It's Mason.
Q. Close to Cincinnati? MARAT SAFIN: No, it's not. It's only 25 miles away. I think it's not close.
Q. The bar was pretty lively at the Marriott, no? MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, you guys enjoyed it, for sure.
Q. What do you think about the replay challenge system, and how does it change your emotional reactions to a shaky call? MARAT SAFIN: Well, they have to improve a little bit because some of the you have the mark on the court, and then you show it on the HawkEye and it's completely different thing. Like the ball, for example, Vik, he challenged one ball. I knew it was wide, my serve. And wide by two centimeters. Then they showed on the HawkEye and it was in. It's kind of I don't understand how it works. I guess they have to improve a little bit to make sure that the calls are right because can change still can change a lot of matches this way.
Q. You're saying it's not accurate? MARAT SAFIN: I don't think it's hundred percent sure.
Q. Is it a mark or are you looking at a piece of yellow MARAT SAFIN: No, because mark is a mark. Mark, you cannot it's a fact. When they show replay, it's completely different way, it's touching the line. It was wide like that, and I saw the mark.
ММмммм....глупые вопросы какие то были,но очень мне понравились ответы Марата,даже не на вопросы такое чувство он отвечал,а философствовал на вечные темы...
Марат Сафин: я устал от неудач Наш специальный корреспондент Елена Шпиз передает с US Open-2006
— Наконец-то... — удовлетворенно выдохнул доктор Ясницкий, приехавший на US Open с Сафиным. — Потому что больше выносить все эти неудачи уже просто невозможно! Марат действительно порадовал болельщиков, заполонивших гигантскую воронку главного корта “Флэшинг Медоуз”, когда непринужденно, в своем стиле, обыграл в первом круге чеха Робина Вика со счетом 6:1, 6:1, 3:6, 6:3. А Вик-то, между прочим, во время Australian Open-2006 чуть не отправил домой Ллейтона Хьюитта…
Организаторы со своей стороны тоже всячески выражали Марату почтение. Уже один тот факт, что их нисколько не волновал его нынешний, 104-й номер мирового рейтинга о многом говорит. Сафина все равно поставили на главный корт — в то время, как “сеяных” игроков отправили на “периферию”. — Признайся, приятно почувствовать такое отношение? — говорю Марату. — Ведь и твоя послематчевая пресс-конференция тоже проходила в главной аудитории — с вместимостью современного кинозала... — Конечно, приятно. Тем более — зрителей было много, несмотря на ранний час и ужасную погоду. Для меня очень важно, что люди болеют за меня всегда — играю ли я здорово или ужасно. — Грустно, когда на такого талантливого человека, как ты, столько времени сыплются неудачи. Хотя твой бывший тренер Петер Лундгрен говорит, что ты много работаешь, выкладываешься — только вот отдачи нет и нет. В чем же все-таки дело, как ты сам все это можешь объяснить? — Если бы я знал… Талантливых ведь сейчас много… — Однако не таких, как ты. — Спасибо, конечно, — и все-таки конкуренция высока. Я и сам хочу разобраться — в первую очередь в себе самом. И вернуться на прежний уровень. Только не так это просто — снова найти себя. — Ты, наверное, помнишь свои ощущения от победы в Америке в 2000 году? — Как же это было давно! Великое лето: я играл в финале в Индианаполисе, выиграл в Торонто, отлично выступил в Цинциннати... Тогда у меня был другой менталитет. Все было новым, я чувствовал: могу выиграть у любого. Теперь я вижу других молодых теннисистов, которые точно так же, как я когда-то, хотят выиграть у меня. — Скажи, а в ту аварию после поражения на нынешнем турнире серии “Мастерс” в Цинциннати ты, вероятно, от депрессии попал? Говорят, машину разбил вдребезги — так, что не восстановишь... И сам мог серьезно пострадать — только подушка безопасности спасла… — Да какая там авария, Господи! Накрутили в газетах чего-то невообразимого, а на самом-то деле ничего не случилось. Столкнулись-то совсем несильно. И с машиной все в порядке, и я не пострадал. Ерунда какая-то, честное слово… — Но неудачи тебя достали — это вряд ли стоит отрицать. И в такой сложной ситуации ты решил расстаться с тренером, которого в свое время так долго искал. Говорят, Лундгрен не только специалист, но и человек очень неплохой… — Просто когда с одним и тем же человеком работаешь, а результатов нет, невольно задумаешься: а надо ли продолжать с ним работать? — Ты считаешь, во всем виноват Лундгрен? — Я этого не говорил. Да мы и не расстались еще окончательно. Просто взяли перерыв, чтобы подумать, друг от друга отдохнуть... После US Open надо будет вместе сесть и все как следует обсудить. — Кстати, Лундгрен во всех интервью говорит, что ты выкладываешься на тренировках, только отдачи нет. Если не секрет, по скольку часов в день ты тренируешься? — По два, по три. — Выглядишь, если честно, очень измотанным: как здоровье, как злополучная коленка? — Да вроде получше — почти не болит. Играть могу — это главное. — Вика-то ты в одну калитку высадил… — Да, это был довольно успешный матч. Побольше бы таких. — Такое ощущение, что ты жутко похудел, — это все от переживаний? — Да нет, все из-за этой коленки. Потому что чем больше вес, тем больше на нее нагрузка. И пришлось интенсивно худеть — хотя это очень неприятно. Но иначе невозможно было бы играть. — А с кем ты прилетел в Америку сейчас — в отсутствие Лундгрена? — С мамой, с доктором Ясницким, с Сашей Волковым, которого попросил помочь… И сестра Динара, конечно, тоже здесь. (Кстати, она столь же успешно, как и брат, прошла во второй круг. — Е.Ш.)
мне вот интересно, сколько раз ему задавали, задают и еще будут задавать вопрос про лето 2000,я имеею ввиду его победу на US OPEN? Меня уже достал этот вопрос, представляю, как его
А что делать...просто нынешние журналисты чего-нибудь пооригинальней придумать не могут!!!А вообще он молодчина!!!!Я на седьмом небе от счастья!правда не одной игры не видела,но надеюсь он до пятницы дотянет=)))))))
Q. A long and exhausting match. Do you feel like you left everything out there? MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, well, I had my opportunities unfortunately, that's why I'm a little bit disappointed with the way I played today. It should have been even fourth sets. In the fourth set, we made to each other twice a break. The guy everything was on my side. Suddenly, it just slipped away. Also in the tiebreak, two balls that I missed that cost me basically the match. So I played pretty well, but in important moments I didn't do anything special and make I missed them, opportunities.
Q. Tommy is a player that a few years ago he was part of that New Balls, Please campaign, a lot of people were expecting big things of Tommy. He encountered some injuries, years he wasn't able to play at all. Do you think he may be coming into his best? MARAT SAFIN: Well, he been injured for three years I think with his shoulder. It just is difficult to come back straightaway. Then it took him a while. Right now he's more mature. He has more experience, 28 years old. He knows how to play. Basically, he has complete game. He can volley. He can play from the baseline. Good serve. Pretty solid player. So that's why he put everything together. He's focused. Good coach. That's why the results are coming right now. It looks like that step by step he knows what he's doing. Unfortunately, the injuries I think got him a little bit in a bad position when he was 24, 25. Took away from him his game. He was No. 2 in the world back then.
Q. Obviously, you lose, you feel disappointed. That goes without saying. Considering you have gone as far as you did, to go to a fifth set, play it out like that, can you be satisfied with your performance here? MARAT SAFIN: Well, if you look in the big picture, the way I played during last six months, right now I'm playing one of my best tennis actually. Just here was in a tiebreak one, two points that made the difference basically. Like I said, it's a lottery. Luck was on his side. I'm playing much better. I mean, I couldn't think that I would beat anybody coming here, coming to US Open. The way I played the whole summer was terrible. Couldn't beat basically anybody. It was something here, I beat Nalbandian, I beat Rochus that I never like to play against him. I was just a few points away against Tommy. So, overall, it's pretty good.
Q. Can you talk about, when you go out to compete, how much of how you perform is mental, how you're thinking, where your head is. Or, is it a matter of training and how you've been doing and how you wake up that day? MARAT SAFIN: No, is just not like that. We already in a at a high performance. Professionals, we basically dedicate ourselves, all our lives, to become what we are right now. So everything, it becomes mental after a while. Once you become pro and you become a pretty good pro, it just is not anymore the technique. It's not anymore the serve. It's not anymore the forehand, backhand, or serve and volley, something like that. It's just a mental thing to keep yourself cool sometimes, and sometimes to push yourself to risk it at important moments, or try to stay back and make the right decisions at the right moment. Because everybody can play backhand and forehand. There's no problem. I think who is tougher mentally is winning basically. So this is just it's already who is better mentally prepared is basically top 10 players. It's unbelievable. They just focused throughout the match. No ups and downs. They know exactly what to do in important moments. That's why it makes such a big difference. Because tennis, everybody has.
Q. While you were on the court, were you aware at all of what was going on in your sister's match? MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, they showed a couple of times a few shots from her court, and I was following her.
Q. Can you just talk about the emotions. If she would have won, that would have cheered you up a little bit. It's kind of a double whammy in that sense. MARAT SAFIN: No, it's okay. She's doing much better than me. She's No. 12 in the world. She made the quarterfinals. She's basically on her way to become a top 10 player in a couple of weeks. So I'm not worried about her. I should worry about a little bit more myself.
Q. Speaking about yourself, how is the knee? Is it a factor still? MARAT SAFIN: No. Everything's perfect. I'm moving around without any problems, no pain. Just if I continue this way, physically and mentally, I think I can pull it through. But physically, I'm perfect.
Q. I wanted to ask you a little bit about the development of men's and women's tennis in Russia. In China right now, the question is will they ever have a men's player that's so great because the women are going so well. You and your sister have a pretty interesting history as far as experiencing the development of men's and women's tennis in Russia. Are men and women in Russia riding the same wave? Is there a difference in the way the sports have developed for men and women? MARAT SAFIN: With all due respect, you cannot compare the men to the women. Why is simple. Because the tennis, women's tennis, is a little bit more simple than the men's, unfortunately, you know, with all the respect to the women. It's a little bit easier to become a pro, to become a top hundred player. Right now we have I don't know how many girls, maybe 20, 30 girls, who have their that make it. It's unbelievable. From the guys, it takes a little bit longer because the competition is a little bit harder. Satellites, futures, challengers, you have to somehow be more stable in the head because a lot of temptations are around. It's difficult to find a sponsor for the guys. Also, you know, like when they young, they want to fool around. That's why a lot of talents, they never became anything. We have great players in Russia, Juniors, but somehow nobody knows how to explain to them what to do, they should do. All the time I speak to anybody, they come with excuses, I'm not going here, I'm not going there, this one hurts, my wrist, I have another week in Moscow. All of a sudden, you don't see them do anything in a year, they quit. That's just disappointing a little bit. I think somebody has to put them in the right direction, guide them a little bit, because they don't have much experience. It's disappointing for us because we have really a lot of talents. The women are more consistent. They work much harder. They dedicate them self fully to tennis and they can stay on the court forever. The guys, it's just way too many temptations.
Q. Is that universal across all the men everywhere, or do you feel that's a specific thing for Russia?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, I'm not gonna talk for other countries, but for Russia right now, what I saw, basically what I saw in Moscow, it's just the way it is. All the time they come with excuse. Everything is just, This week, no, because I'm injured, and then I'm injured again, and then I don't know, maybe, I have no Visa. All the time, the excuses. Nobody will stop them and explain them what they should do. It's just one year, two years, and then everything the train is gone and you can't jump on it unfortunately.
Q. Dinara was in here when you were out there in the fifth set. She was talking just a little bit about the advice you had given her over the years, and specifically about the MARAT SAFIN: I hope the good advices (smiling).
Q. Well, what have you told her? She was talking about the racquet throwing, how you would tell her to calm down a little bit. Is that advice that you have imparted to her?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, not exactly. She just put it in a different way. But I had some issues with her that doesn't I'm not gonna go into details. But some things I didn't really like, and I really told her, you know, because it's just it's unacceptable from her side to do some things on the court what she was doing before. Right now, she stopped doing that, looks like that. Look at her right now. She was top 50, 50, 60, 40, 30, jumping all around. Right now, she's basically cracking top 10. So it really worked. So it was pretty good advice, I guess (smiling).
Q. Is it advice you would follow for yourself? MARAT SAFIN: No, when you're 26, it's difficult to change. You can't teach the old dog to sit, huh?
Q. Does Dinara ever actually attempt to give you advice in any way since she's gotten successful, or is it always older brother/younger sister? MARAT SAFIN: I'm really not interfering with her tennis at all. She has a coach, and I respect everything. The guy is doing pretty good job. Just I have nothing to do with that, you know. Some things, just outside of tennis, she can come and ask me anything. Inside of tennis, I trust fully Glenn and I think he's the right guy for her. I don't want to mess around and just make him feel uncomfortable and make speak about something which is it's not my job. He's getting paid for this, and he knows what he's doing, and he's doing really good job.
Q. Has she ever given you advice and say, Hey, Marat, you might want to try this? Is that something that would never happen, you're the older brother?MARAT SAFIN: It would never happen (smiling).
You could say that Marat Safin is at a crossroads.
The expressive Russian is no longer in the running at the US Open after barely losing an epic five-set battle to Tommy Haas Wednesday, but his performance here showcased some of Safin’s best tennis in a long while. And for the first time in what seems like ages, he’s injury-free.
On top of that, in August, Safin and his coach of two years Peter Lundgren decided on a trial separation of sorts, signaling perhaps a new era in the 26-year-old’s career.
“I didn't know where I was going, and I found myself in a really tough position,” Safin explained. “So, I decided myself to go into the States alone and just to see what's going on and make a decision. We agreed to speak after the US Open and see what's happening.”
Safin admits he’s had a few offers from potential coaches, but he won’t reveal whether any possibilities may be in the works.
Safin came in to the Open after a less than stellar season. After losing in the first rounds of US Open Series events at Cincinnati and Toronto, the former world No. 1’s ranking had plummeted to 104, his lowest since 1998. So, the 6’4” Russian arrived on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center early to get in some practice time and remind himself how to have fun on the court again.
Apparently it paid off.
“If you look at the big picture, with the way I played during the last six months, right now I'm playing some of my best tennis actually,” said Safin. “I couldn't think that I would beat anybody coming to the US Open. The way I played the whole summer was terrible…Here, I beat (David) Nalbandian, I beat (Olivier) Rochus ... I was just a few points away against Tommy (Haas). So, overall, it's pretty good.”
In a way, the Safin we saw over the past week is worlds away from the cocky 20-year-old who won this tournament in 2000. Then, he beat Pete Sampras in straight sets and it seemed that nothing could stand in his way. But now that six years have passed, an entirely new crop of young talent has arrived, including the formidable Roger Federer. And that has forced Safin to look at things from a different angle.
“I found myself in a position where I'm not the youngest player in the draw (who) everybody wants to beat,” said Safin. “Nobody's scared of (me) anymore. It's not the same situation it used to be before.”
Many of Safin’s struggles over the years have come about as a result of injuries that sidelined the Russian for significant chunks of time. He missed the 2003 US Open with torn ligaments in his left wrist, and a left knee injury took him out of the 2005 US Open and the Australian Open at the start of this year.
With each recovery, Safin said it was like starting from square one again.
“I really am a little bit tired of making comebacks,” he explained. “A lot of people don't understand that once you've been (in the Top 10), you slip out, and…to come back again, it's really very, very difficult.”
At, 26, he may not be as young as he once was, but Safin has an edge thanks to his newfound health and his tenacity. He also has a legion of loyal fans who have stuck with him through the ups and downs. That’s due in no small part to Safin's roguish good looks and notorious antics on the court, which include everything from pulling down his shorts after winning a point to some good old-fashioned racket slamming.
No matter what direction his career goes in next, Safin is sure to keep up the exhilarating pace both on and off the court.
“I'm not retiring yet,” said Safin. “I have another four years. Let's see what's gonna happen there. Maybe I can win one or two Grand Slams."
No doubt, Safin's fans will be crossing their fingers for just that.
Бывшая первая ракетка мира Марат Сафин просит своих поклонников не ожидать от него в этом сезоне чудес.
Россиянин поведал в интервью о том, что вряд ли готов демонстрировать выдающиеся результаты. И это несмотря на явный подъем, наметившийся в его карьере после серьезного спада, длиной в год.
Двукратный победитель турниров «Большого шлема» вынужден был всякий раз возвращаться в ряды сильнейших после травм колена. Марат даже оказывался за пределами первой сотни рейтинга АТР, и только сейчас игра талантливого россиянина стабилизировалась. Однако сам он считает преждевременными все разговоры о завоевании титулов.
«Я доволен тем, чем я занимаюсь в данный момент, - начал Сафин. -Не задумываюсь о завоевании кубков и верхних ступеней рейтинга, я иду от матча к матчу. Моя цель - победа в каждом следующем поединке. Но самое главное - я «изголодался» по большому теннису, я хочу играть!».
Сейчас Сафин находится на 72-й строчке рейтинга АТР. Марат не выигрывал турниров с января 2005 года, когда он в финале Открытого чемпионата Австралии разобрался с хозяином кортов и фаворитом соревнований Ллейтоном Хьюиттом (1:6, 6:3, 6:4, 6:4).
После 6 месяцев лечения больного колена Марат настроился на возвращение в спорт в феврале этого года. Он изо всех сил пытался вернуть былую форму, однако россиянина преследовали одни разочарования. Одна из главных неудач - поражение на турнире в Индианаполисе от 512-й(!) ракетки мира южноафриканца Уэсли Уайтхауса.
Однако нашего теннисиста не заботят критические стрелы в свой адрес. Он говорит, что не ощущает никакого давления, которое помешало бы ему вернуться в элиту мирового тенниса.
«Так бывает в теннисе: у тебя идет победная серия, а потом наступает время неудач, рассуждает Марат. - Белые полосы сменяются черными. Иногда ты демонстрируешь великолепную игру, а потом что-то ломается».
«Я не слишком разочаровываюсь после поражений, - говорит чемпион US Open-2000 и Australian Open-2005, - так как довольно долгое время находился в низах рейтинга. Однако это не говорит о том, что я смиряюсь с проигрышами, привыкаю к ним».
«Мне все равно, что говорят люди, не воспринимаю внешнего давления. Главное, что я рад вернуться на корт. Готов конкурировать с лучшими теннисистами мира».
26-летний спортсмен в данный момент обходится без тренера. Швед Питер Лундгрен, в свое время приведший Роджера Федерера к чемпионству на Уимблдоне в 2003 году, на неопределенный срок по взаимному согласию расстался с Сафиным. Марат отказался говорить, планирует ли он воссоединение со скандинавским специалистом.
«Да, сейчас я работаю без тренера, - сказал Сафин. - Но давайте не будем на эту тему».
На этой неделе Сафин выступает на турнире в Бангкоке, где он уже пробился во второй раунд.
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