4-1 Karlovic first set

Safin holds

4-2 Karlovic

Karlovic holds to 30

Karlovic 5

Safin 2

Safin Holds

Karlovic 5

Safin 3

Oh Marat. :(

Even before the match, I felt that Karlovic is probably the worst-possible opponent for Safin. All it takes is for Marat to have a lapse in one service game, go a break down ... and then it's difficult to come back from there.

Still, I'm not writing him off yet. Go Marat! :pray:

After 24 minutes, Karlovic has won the first set 6-3. :(

Karlovic holds to love and takes the first set


Set 1
Karlovic 6

Safin 3

Safin goes long with a backhand

15-40 Karlovic

Safin nets a forhena d and Karlovic breaks to 15

1-0 set 2

Karlovic 6 1

Safin 3 0

Karlovic nets a backhand so Safin holds to 15 but still trails by a break



Karlovic 6 2*

Safin 3 1

Marat down an early break in the second as well. :( :( :(

Come on, pull yourself together!!!!!

that's a bloody common phrase when it comes to Marat's matches :(

Karlovic holds to 30 with an ace

Karlovic 6 3

Safin 3 1*

Karlovic goes wide with a volley Safin holds to love

Karlovic 6 3*
Safin 3 2

Karlovic holds to 30 with an ace from 15-30 down

Karlovic 6 4*
Safin 3 2

Karlovic 6 4* 0
Safin 3 3 30

Safin nets a short forehand

15-30

backhand return winner up the line from safin 15-40

ureturnable serve 30-40

Safin floats a forehand long in a rally he was dominating he throws his racket


Deuce

Safin goes wide with an attempted backhand pass

Karlovic 6 5
Safin 3 3*

Safin saves matchpoint with an amazing backhand lunge volley


Deuce

Karlovic hits a backhand one handed slice winner down the line

Match point

Deuce

Volley winner adv safin

Game safin

Karlovic 6 5*

Safin 3 4

Karlovic holds to love

and wins 6-3 6-4

Was a superb display by Karlovic but from the moment Safin dropped his first service game he was always chasing the match which proved to be so much against someone with such a monster serve like Karlovic.

Safin just lost :(

bugger. :cry:

oooh - i'm liking the new feature on the live scores from the atp site. As well as giving match stats you can see the players' bios and head to head, without having to go searching on the atp website :ok:

:yahoo: Clement has just taken the first set of Nalbandian 7-5 :party:

disappointing, yet not surprising Safin :(

and speaking of has-beens, what's up with Nalbandian??

:giggle:

well, he broke Clement in the first game of that set so - maybe nothing..... :shrug:

Safin :rolleyes: :doh: :(

I really thought this could've been a good year for Safin, but he's just flopped miserably. A load of points coming off here and probably Paris now. Safin will probably be unseeded for the Aussie next year now...................

And here's me thinking he could've returned to the top 10 this year :rolleyes:

I know *exactly* what you mean dl.

Tbh, I think Safin's mind is slowly moving away from tennis - his little jaunt up a mountain appeared to prove that. Considering he'd decided before his expedition that his season was over, I suspect he's not really in the right mindset to be playing at the moment. I think he would quite honestly be best to do what he originally intended to do and write this season off, go and work with his new coach over the winter, and then hopefully come back ready to actually play tennis next year.

No but he certainly could return to the top ....of the mountain. :shrug:

return to the top? he never made it in the first place :rolleyes:

It's such a shame, because in my mind Safin at his best is the number 2 player in the world and when he's on an incredible mood, he's right up there with Fed. It just seems unlikely he'll reach that level again, and as you say DJ, that random mountain journey confirms maybe his declining passion for the game :shrug:

I still wait in hope for one last Safin hurrah( :pray: ), but i fear his best days are over. He just needs to get commited for 2008, which will probably be the crossroads in his career.........

I agree - Safin at his best can be phenomenal. But I think this year has seriously dented his confidence - I can't remember when I read an interview with him, but I do remember him saying he has no confidence left in himself :( Plus, he's also been talking for the last year or so about his future after he gives up tennis - such as his business interests.

But I would love for him to come back next year rejuvenated after working with his new coach over the winter, and to kick some ass at the AO. :pray:

I still cant believe Marat lost to Roddick this year at the Aussie...........

Even at his poorest Safin is still better than Andy :rolleyes: roflmao

:ok:

Nalby won..... :(

But Tursunov won the first set against Calleri - and in a tie-break in the second. Come on Tursy!!! :yahoo: