Yardbarker: Marat Safin

Marat Safin pulls out of Russian Davis Cup team

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:40:55 -0500

Safin will instead travel to the Thailand Open early next week in an attempt to climb the ATP rankings. The Russian was reported to have been put off the Davis Cup by the prospect of having to travel from Buenos Aires to Thailand within hours of completing his Davis Cup rubbers.

Marat Safin on US Open ref job : "Complete bulls**t"

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:16:47 -0500

This dude cracks me up. Check out Marat Safin's post-match interview after his Day 2 win over Vincent Spadea in the US Open.

HOT VIDEO : US Open Highlights - Marat Safin vs. Vincent Spadea (Day 2)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:16:33 -0500

Double-fault controversy and all, Marat Safin still got the hard-fought win over Vincent Spadea 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6.

Federer cruises through 1st round of US Open

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:42:11 -0500

The fact that Federer managed to win each of the final 10 games should give him confidence going into the next round of the 2008 US Open.

Oooooh...Gossip!

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:45:14 -0500

Great site for juicy gossip! "Here is part one, of my exclusive interview, with a trusted member of the Cincy staff. In exchange for me paying the tab, as we chatted in the hotel bar of the Marriott Northeast, as well as a promise to keep the conversation "off the record," my source was eager to tell me what he has experienced, during his tenure as part of the Western & Southern Financial tournament elite. DdV= Dani DeVine CSI= Cincy Staff Insider DdV: Which tour player is the easiest to work with? CSI: Many of them are a pleasure to work with, like James Blake and Roger Federer. Andy Murray has always been low maintenance, despite his public persona. The best, in terms of sheer friendliness, and a total absence of that "I'm-a-huge-star," attitude, is Rafael Nadal. We all really like the guy, from the top tournament organizers, all the way down to the ballkids. No acting for the cameras with him; he is a genuine person. DdV: You know I have to ask- who is the most difficult to work with? CSI: (Laughing) Getting me into trouble early, here. Only a few players are a real pain in the **** to deal with. Haas and Clement are not the nicest guys around, and Safin can drive a sane person crazy. If I have to answer, I go with Nicolas Kiefer. He is the Big Three: unfriendly, uncooperative, and difficult. DdV: Best sense of humour? CSI: On a good day, Marat Safin can be a lot of fun. If we are talking about someone who is naturally funny, as a general rule, then it has to be Novak Djokovic. He's a good guy. (smiles) DdV: Which player is the most likely to hook up with a groupie, or a fan? CSI: (Laughing) How did I know this question would be on your list? I will not admit to knowing anything, but if I had to guess, it would be Safin. I have heard stories about Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Haas, and Mario Ancic as well. If the walls of the rooms in this hotel could talk.... DdV: Who do your female coworkers like the most? CSI: You mean looks-wise? DdV: Yes. That question was intended to be shallow. ;) CSI: Roddick, on the American side. Verdasco, on the Euro side. I hear about that guy a lot. Roddick doesn't bother me, though. I'm better looking than he is, right? If I were insecure, Verdasco might make me feel a little bit bad about myself. (laughs) Stay tuned for Part two! Until next time..." THERE'S MUCH MORE AT THE LINK!

"Safin Beats Federer"

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:06:28 -0500

Wouldn't that be a great headline to see on Friday afternoon?! We all wish we could get into Marat's head. Hernan Gumy needs to spill all, tell us what in the world he says to his pupil, #75 in the world, each morning and all throughout, how he motivates Safin--Marat Safin--to be playing the best tennis he's played since Jan '05 when he won the Aussie. He's actually, dare I say, an inspiration now. We know Federer's been thrown for a loop this year so far and I think Friday's match is going to be fascinating and quite telling of whether Marat's here to stay. Head-to-head, Feds has 40 more titles and is 8-2 over Marat.

LADIES, GET READY: SAFIN vs. LOPEZ

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:57:19 -0500

Marat's next opponent is the GORGEOUS Spaniard Felciano Lopez, often partnered with Rafa Nadal in doubles. Marat Safin's back, with the help of his 8th coach, Hernan Gumy-formerly Gustavo Kuerten's coach. Just defeating "the second Swissman," Stanislas Wawrinka 64 63 57 61, the stable Marat actually showed up at this year's Wimby. Federer's old coach, Peter Lundgren and fellow countryman and former player Alexander Volkov tried, but none of them were able to get into Marat's head the way Gumy has. Yes, Marat won the Aussie and US Opens but it's more impressive to bring him back out of a hole. I wanna see Safin beat Federer...possible?

At Least You Got a Make Out Session Afterwards

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:09:22 -0500

Novak Djokovic got bounced in straight sets by the always awesome Marat Safin today and it looks as if the two celebrated the tough match with a make out session. Man on Man love, Yippy.

Marat looks a bit more into it than Novak.

Djokovic is the Vulnerable One

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:12:46 -0500

Just a couple days after calling the mighty Federer vulnerable, Novak Djokovic was upset in the second round at Wimbledon! Maybe Novak spent too much time practicing his imitations of other players, and too little on his serve.

Wait, MARAT SAFIN BEAT NoDjo????

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:53:00 -0500

Besides the fact that I had NoDjo losing to Rafa in the Finals, I definitely only had Safin goin to the 2nd round. I'm speechless. With a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 beating, Djokovic came close in the 2nd, but had no chance in the 3rd. Safin's new coach, Hernan Gumi, seems to be transforming his life. Marat's been training hard, and even gets angry during practice sessions, which means he CARES. You think he cares enough to make it deep into the draw or is this still erratic Marat?

Always Close and No Surprise

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:53:26 -0500

Hewitt nearly Blewitt again-why does he always get himself into these situations? He's not supposed to lose til he meets Feds in the 4R, but he loves them 5-setters as Bec sits there with her flawless makeup and fake pouty lips. Today's SHOCKERS, were (a) David "Social Body" Nalbandian committing suicide in straight sets to Canada's Dancevic-eh, he's gotta be of Serbian or Croatian descent anyway, with a name like that, (b) Ivo Karlovic losing in 4, and (c) Marat Safin showing up to win, though when he goes to a tiebreak, it usually *doesn't* go his way. As for American players, they're made for the fast grass, but Kevin Kim, "Spadea I Ain't Afraida Ya," Querry, and Ginepri fell today in style. Vince always goes the distance and fights hard. We all know Ginepri's a great player who never quite made Patty Mac's roster, other than as an alternate. Querry's a solid alternate and gave the Mosquito a pretty good fight today. Bobby Reynolds is the only American who has made the 2R so far, but only b/c Volandri retired. Blake, ARod, and Fish are the ones to watch now, but we also got the adorable Donald "DY" Young, Jesse Levine, and giant John Isner. U-S-A! U-S-A! Eager to watch what happens!

Russian Mob Has Infiltrated Professional Tennis

Wed, 21 May 2008 09:05:21 -0500

Severed hand holding dead cod in semi-Western grip tumbles from player's locker; latest indication that Russian Mob has infiltrated professional tennis.