Battle of Greatness
I've just finished watching one of the most memorable tennis matches ever. Drama, comedy, suspense, thriller, horror, this match has it all.
Brain of Roger Federer, arguably the most talented tennis player with the coolest heads around, versus brawn of Marat Safin, power tennis defined and the closest thing the current crop has to John McEnroe, in the first semi final of the Australian Open '05. Surprisingly, Safin was extremely calm throughout the match (for his standard), only letting out shouts and frustrated screams at himself instead of regularly smashing racquets from start to finish, although he did smash one in the third set.
Never had Federer been pushed to such a physical and emotional match throughout this tournament, never has he lost to a top 10 player since October 03, and his winning streak dates back to Athens Olympics '04. He was the reigning Australian Open champion out to defend his title. His opponent had been to the Australian Open final twice before but lost all in part due his lack of emotional and mental control. Last year Federer bundled him out in the final and this was pretty much a grudge match for Safin who has only won one of their eight matches.
Safin became the first person to win a set from Federer this year when he won the second set 6-4. Behind two sets to one, Safin was also behind five games to two on the fourth set yet he clawed and clawed back and took the set and won 7-6 after a grueling 50 minutes and surviving a match point. The previous sets lasted 46, 37, and 56 minutes respectively, and they still had one more set to play out. The 5th set turned out to be the longest of all with both players trading shot after shot and shout after shout in extended rallies and seemingly never ending deuce games. Safin's been to five five set matches in Melbourne Park and won them all whereas Federer had never won a five set match in Melbourne.
Leading 5 games to 2, Safin had match point but somehow Federer managed to return the favor and tied the set at 5 games all, forcing an extended set as the tie break system was not used. Midnight went by with the 60 minute mark already passed at 5-4. The remaining games became a war of attrition as both players struggled to battle fatigue, sweat, bad shots, bad calls, and frustration, in addition to battling each other. Looking despondent and resigned, Federer lost his cool almost every time he lost a point but he kept saving himself from 6 match points until Safin got the better of him and took the set 8-6 after 80 minutes. With that, ends the 26 game winning streak that Federer had.
Safin will have 2 days of very much needed rest before the final match against either Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt on Sunday night. The two rivals, who have spent more time on court in this tournament than Safin, will meet Friday night.
Those who went to Rod Laver Arena truly got their money's worth today. Earlier in the day, Serena Williams had a similar battle with Maria Sharapova that lasted 2.5 hours with the last two sets lasting over 60 minutes each. Williams will face Davenport in the women's final on Saturday.
Brain of Roger Federer, arguably the most talented tennis player with the coolest heads around, versus brawn of Marat Safin, power tennis defined and the closest thing the current crop has to John McEnroe, in the first semi final of the Australian Open '05. Surprisingly, Safin was extremely calm throughout the match (for his standard), only letting out shouts and frustrated screams at himself instead of regularly smashing racquets from start to finish, although he did smash one in the third set.
Never had Federer been pushed to such a physical and emotional match throughout this tournament, never has he lost to a top 10 player since October 03, and his winning streak dates back to Athens Olympics '04. He was the reigning Australian Open champion out to defend his title. His opponent had been to the Australian Open final twice before but lost all in part due his lack of emotional and mental control. Last year Federer bundled him out in the final and this was pretty much a grudge match for Safin who has only won one of their eight matches.
Safin became the first person to win a set from Federer this year when he won the second set 6-4. Behind two sets to one, Safin was also behind five games to two on the fourth set yet he clawed and clawed back and took the set and won 7-6 after a grueling 50 minutes and surviving a match point. The previous sets lasted 46, 37, and 56 minutes respectively, and they still had one more set to play out. The 5th set turned out to be the longest of all with both players trading shot after shot and shout after shout in extended rallies and seemingly never ending deuce games. Safin's been to five five set matches in Melbourne Park and won them all whereas Federer had never won a five set match in Melbourne.
Leading 5 games to 2, Safin had match point but somehow Federer managed to return the favor and tied the set at 5 games all, forcing an extended set as the tie break system was not used. Midnight went by with the 60 minute mark already passed at 5-4. The remaining games became a war of attrition as both players struggled to battle fatigue, sweat, bad shots, bad calls, and frustration, in addition to battling each other. Looking despondent and resigned, Federer lost his cool almost every time he lost a point but he kept saving himself from 6 match points until Safin got the better of him and took the set 8-6 after 80 minutes. With that, ends the 26 game winning streak that Federer had.
Safin will have 2 days of very much needed rest before the final match against either Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt on Sunday night. The two rivals, who have spent more time on court in this tournament than Safin, will meet Friday night.
Those who went to Rod Laver Arena truly got their money's worth today. Earlier in the day, Serena Williams had a similar battle with Maria Sharapova that lasted 2.5 hours with the last two sets lasting over 60 minutes each. Williams will face Davenport in the women's final on Saturday.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, January 27, 2005 at 9:40 PM.
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