Safin born jan 1980, Hewitt feb 1981, Hass April 1978, Roddick Aug 1982, Ferrer April 1982, Nalbandian jan 1982 were few gifted players of the era after Sampras-Rafter-Courier-Moya generation. Now Hewitt, Ferrer and Safin peaked early , 2000-2002. As Federer began winning GS 2003-04 onwards, these players were out of steam. Only Safin defeated Federer in AO 2005. And after 2005 Federer played Nadal, Berdych, Djokovic, Zverev, Murray, etc - those at least 5,6 years junior to him ...
Every Federer versus Safin match has 99.9% of chances of being amazing. Marat's style of play so powerful and sometimes with a crasp of elegance, and Federer...my god. Most of the shots he seems to do without sweating, are just wonderful, makes you gasp all the way, and he has at least 1 or 2 of those at every game you watch of him. Few players can match the pure talent of tennis this man posess
That ladyboy shouting "s?ck it up princess" to Marat. Bet he looks like a girl standing next to Marat. Jealous of Marat. Not even half a percent the man Marat is. Wish I can have him with my bear hands.
Qué bello tenis hacían ambos. Tan limpio, ajustado, brillante... Cada cual jugaba con su "espejo". Dos caballeros del deporte. Y... sin gemidos. [What beautiful tennis they both played. So clean, tight, shiny... Both played with the "mirror" of him. Two gentlemen of sport. And... no moaning].
Federer's incredulity toward Shot Spot in the early days is hilarious. Go watch Federer nearly losing his sanity during the Wimbledon 2008 final at all the close calls that went in Nadal's favor. He sounds like he's going to cry (see: "It's KILLING me". Nowadays, players don't think twice, but in 2008-2009, Federer and other players weren't quite willing to believe the tech over their own eyes. Funny how far we've come. Now, majors are getting rid of line judges, altogether.
This is the greatest level of tennis ever played or seen, durnning 2004-2008 man was in his own universe, crazy angles, impossible shots, flawless movement, there was nothing you could do against him, only Nadal on clay was putting resistance.
I remember watching this match in the middle of the night live, Federer seemed like he was four or five steps ahead of Roddick for most of the match. He seemed like he knew what Roddick was going to do before Roddick knew. I think after the match they said Roddick only won six points in the entire second set, in a Grand Slam Semi-Final, amazing.
Maybe Marat SAFIN never put a lot of effort in his Tennis Career after winning his US open title that was a bit premature for him beating a prime Sampras in the Final . He won australian open 2005 maybe because he was good enough against everyone in draw except for RF who nearly won it. Though the most talented player ever and a humble human being for sure.
Veo el partido y es para verlo montones de veces. Rodick no jugo mall, lo que pasa es que Federer estaba muy impredecible, y estaba joven y diría que muy en forma. Me gusta mucho la versión de Federer 2007, el monstruo suizo.
Federer should have never abondened this forehand. It was perfection. So much depth pace and control. And his movement here: it was really deceptive, so quick at every ball.
I was there. A complete tennis clinic was served-up by Federer. Certainly among the best matches he's ever played. Federer, during this period was better than any other player in their best period. We forget just how imperious he was.
