The day the great Pete Sampras was outplayed, outguned, outrun by a 20 years old from Russia.

Sampras had just won his 13th Grand Slam title, his record 7th Wimbledon title 2 months earlier, and everybody expected an easy win over this young Russian who had became the first player ever fined for lack of effort at the Oz Open that year. But Marat being Marat, the match ended up completely different…

It’s the first time I watch this match in fact, and what a skills exhibition from Marat. Returns, passing shots, quick footwork, power, he had it all.
Sampras was only broken 4 times during the championships before the final, but was broken 4 times by Marat. Sampras had to wait the very last game of the match to have his first two break points on Marat’s serve (and all that despite a 49% first serve percentage). Safin kept passing and passing Sampras with his two-handed backhand. Marat defeats Sampras in straight sets 6-4 6-3 6-3.

I’ve never seen such a focused Marat. Yep, no racket smashing, can you imagine that?

Marat does the show during the trophy presentation:

The future was bright for Marat, but what a waste of talent!

Part 2:
7 – Toronto 2004: Marat the hippo
6 – Hopman Cup 2009: Marat kisses the net cord lady
5 – Australian Open 2002: Marat and the Safinettes
4 – Davis Cup 2002: Davis Cup hero
3 – French Open 2004: the pants
2 – Australian Open 2005: the relief
1 – US Open 2000: the future of tennis?
Note: it’s not a ranking of Marat’s achievements, these are just 15 moments of Marat’s career which reflect “Marat being Marat”.
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Remember when Ivanisevic used to say every game he played, there were three players that could surface anytime: Good Goran, Bad Goran, Crazy Goran. The same could be said about Marat Safin.

A larger than life persona and one of the most charismatic tennis player ever, Marat is a man capable of blowing away any opponent or blowing up himself. A man capable of overwhelming the great Pete Sampras to win the US Open at only 20. A man capable of pulling down his shorts to celebrate a point. A man capable of showing up for a tournament with two black eyes.

I’ve always been a big fan of Marat: sometimes I loved him, sometimes I hated him but now I really miss his game, his humor and his crazyness.

Part 1: 15 to 8
15 – Shanghai 2009: Just shut the fuck up and play
14 – US Open 2009: Everybody is an underachiever
13 – Hamburg 2000: a beer with Guga
12 – Hopman Cup 2009: black eyes
11 – US Open 2008: foot fault
10 – Wimbledon 2007: the spaghetti
9 – French Open 1998
8 – Wimbledon 2008: worst challenge ever?

Note: it’s not a ranking of Marat’s achievements, these are just 15 moments of Marat’s career which reflect “Marat being Marat”.
Read the rest of this entry →