AO Final: Safin v. Federer

Federer holds to start.

Egg: Is BBC playing this live?

:wavey: Hi guys! Golly Gee, I wondered where you were!


Go Marat!! Go Roger!!

Marat gets the first break! :bounce:

Can he hold? No! :sad: Back on serve...

Roger-Marat 3-2 on serve

Roger put a lot of pressure on Marat's serve. He breaks for 4-2! Roger starts his service game with a DF. Marat error 15-15. Marat slams a cc fh winner with a cracked raquet 15-30. Roger fh long 15-40. Roger fh winner 30-40. Roger fh in the net. Marat breaks! 4-3 Marat to serve...

come on Marat :)
got break back 3-4 now

Easy hold for Marat. He needed that 4-4. Federer holds 5-4.

Egg?

Marat needs a hold here! Nice net play by both, Roger's winner is sweet, 15-15. Marat comes in, Roger passes 15-30. Big point, Roger bh long 30-30. They pushed each other hard with fhs! Roger scrambled and hit long, game point! Game Marat!!! 5-5...

Another hold for Roger 6-5

Egg?

what ??

6-6 tiebreaker :D

Marat holds from 15-40 :)

go Marat :)

This is getting good... :) 6-6

Egg: I can't seem to get the BBC Live link. Can you post it, thanks.

BTW: Marat from 15/40 :woohoo: Now to the tiebreak

Marat having problems with his serve??

Marat lost set 3-7 on TB :mad: :(

Marat's not getting many pts or any free pts on serve :(

Marat: 6 W, 15 UFEs

Double break/set point Roger 15-40. Long rally, Roger approaches beautifully and misses the volley, 30-40 Is Roger hurt? Roger bh in the net, another long rally DEUCE! Marat approaches, nice put away, Roger gets the raquet on it and hits it long, game point. Nice volley, Roger returns long, Game Marat! Phew!! 6-6

TB

Mini break Marat! 0-1

Roger bh dtl 1-1

Roger quick cc winner 2-1 DARN!

Roger bh in the net 2-2

Marat silly cc fh long 3-2

Marat serves...

Marat approaches looks long Roger cc volley winner 4-2

Roger bh long 4-3

Roger serves...

Marat slams fh in the net 5-3

Marat fh floats waaay long 6-3 He perturbed 3 set points Roger

Marat serves... talking to himself in Russian

Marat error

1st set Roger!

Rough, nervous 1st set!

Thanks for the commentary.

Are you watching the match, Tennis Fool?

2nd set Marat-Roger 1-1

Marat is not serving well... Kept missing 1st serves/

tennis fool, if u cant see its on BBC Radio
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/

So far, everything is routine on serve with rough serving. Roger serves two aces in a row. Marat returns a great bh angle. Roger misses an easy overhead! Wipes away the two aces, 30-30. Marat is too eager on a cc winner. It goes wide, game point - Game Roger. 2-2

Marat got broke :mad: :fiery: 2-3* :(

Marat's serving terribly :(

Oh dear!
Have to break back now Marat!

Marat commits his 1st DF, then loses the next point, break point Roger. Roger breaks! Roger looks like he's finding his form. Marat looks tight and tentative! Marat-Roger 2-3 Roger to serve...

Marat still one ACE :o :(

Marat is disheartened. But, he's not dead, yet. COME ON MARAT! YOU CAN GET IN THIS MATCH!!!

Marat saves BP and holds with an ACE :eek: :)
3-4*

Another Marat DF Another break point for Roger Marat DEMOLISHES his raquet and gets a warning Roger misses a fh dtl sitter Roger hits a return long Marat ACE HOLDS!! 3-4

Marat's not playing too well. Federer isn't extraordinary or anything, it's just that Safin keeps missing.

Easy hold for Roger. Marat DFs twice In between Roger WHALES on a Marat 2nd serve 2 break/set points Marat gets them back, game point, Marat cc fh wide, deuce, missed volley, break/set point, deuce, Roger is retrieving some great shots!, Roger bh dtl wide, game point Marat, ACE!

4-5

This match is really uninspiring lol

why are Slam finals always letdowns?

oh my god, Marat even tried to serve on the wrong side... :sad:

Safin getting blitzed :(

JMP, I don't have cable, therefore am listening to BBC. I am going to hit someone up for Safin's matches since Todd Martin after this event :)

2nd set Roger! AWFUL, NONEXISTENT return game from Marat. COME ON MARAT! FIND THE MAGIC!

Gotcha, Tennis Fool.

Go Marat!!

JMP, BBC commentators blame Safin's visit to the bar and being hungover, late for practice and interviews the next day...

:sad: :sad:
Come on Safin, forget the 1st two sets and start focusing on the third.

This reminds me of AO 2002, should Marat continue to play like this the only thing that makes it bearable is that Roger is on the other side of the net....and the title will be not be going to someone I don't like. :p

A fan yells, "Come on, Marat!" He yells back, "I'm trying! I'm trying!" and takes the next two points to win his first game! Great heart from Marat! COME ON!!

Marat is being VERY aggressive on Roger's serve. Roger just passes him with ease. Sublime Roger!

Tennis Fool, do you believe what the BBC is saying? It's hard for me to believe he'd jeopardize this opportunity.

now its all over :sad: :sad:

Ouch:

BBC "Safin needs a sports psychologist to unlock the Safin mind, but the psychologist may come out worse."

Roger is killing Marat! I thought he'd pull out the hold. But, Roger breaks! Roger-Marat 2-1 with the break. Great first point from Marat on Roger's serve!!! 0-15

Jmp: Unfortanately, yes. Marat always talks about drinking. He needs a beer to relax, said he was going to have some after the Agassi match, said he had a few while fishing last summer and had wine on top of that...

Sometimes I think the worst of Safin in the drinking arena...

I knew Marat had to win 1st set, he looks increasingly tired and cant hurt Roger at all :( :sad:

This match is a stinker :o

Roger isn't even playing well but Marat seems to be too tired.

Bad sign: Communicating with the crowd. Although it's funny, it means your head is not on the next point.

It doesn't look like the BBC is in a forgiving mood for Marat's past trangressions. I'll have to take your word on the drinking and partying, Tennis Fool. I guess this is who he is. It doesn't really bother me that much.

Roger misses another overhead. Redeems himself with an exact overhead and handles the next point for the game! 3-1

Rough service game for Marat...Another break point for Roger...Good volleys from Marat!! Deuce, long rally, Marat cc fh long, break point, Roger's 2nd break!

Common guys, there is no need to take away credit from Federer. He may not be playing out of his mind, but he is executing well and Safin is trying real hard. Federer is just better.

Oh well. Federer you just have to say "Too good". Glad to see Safin back, and hope he keeps the momentum through the spring.

It's very sad that Marat is unable to bring his game out today... :sad:

He is mentally not in the match after losing the first set and his serve at the 2nd set

It's a pity to watch a match when one is playing well while the other comes out short. Credit to Federer who does most things great today but what's up with Safin's first serves today? He just can't get it in and that destroys much of his confidence and of course Federer is just playing with lots of variety and that deflated Safin even more.

Funny though when the crowd keeps cheering in on, and he screamed out "I'm trying, I'm trying..."

As I've written before, Marat's performance getting to this final made my year in tennis. He says he wants to be number one. I think he's just met his biggest obstacle to that goal. So, I just want him to work, work, work, and bring it next time.

I am soooo happy for Roger! :D

Congrats Roger :)

Congratulations Rogi! :)

Congratulations on a great come back, Marat! :D Time to go to work!



:bounce: Great win, Roger! :bounce:

Most mess made by Safin in this match were forced. Nothing more. Congrats to the best player in the world. Whether people like it or not, he is the best and head above the rest. He did not play his best today but showed some consistency. One other thing: Shame to the ESPN american network. No Agassi or Roddick and their shame cannot make them show the trophy presentation. That's nothing other than evil, when people cannot appreciate the talent of others. I guess they did not want to hear Safin say it loud and clear that Federer is just better. Human beings, the seeds of jealousy and stupidity constantly working. Pitiful. Anyways, Roger enjoy your stay at #1 and dominate.

Federer did enough to win and always raised his level to match Marat's, for example first set tb.

Congratulations Federer!! AO champion, and undisputed #1

Congratulations Roger!!! Well deserved No.1. Just too good. But, Safin welcome back, great to see.

Congratulations Rogi on your second slams! :worship:
And Maratski for your great come back! :worship:

#1 AND Australian Open Champion, 2004. Congrats Roger

welcome back, Marat!

:banana: :banana: :banana:

*munches Basler Leckerli*

Congrats Rogi, that was great! Well done!!!

Congrats to Marat too for that great week!

GO FED!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):)!!!

CONGRATS to FED and Marat! It was a really tough match to sit through with Marat missing so many servers and looking exhausted.. but in the end, the better man won. I'm proud of both players.

Yay, Rogi won his 2nd slam!! Woo hoo! COngratulations, Rogi!! Not the best final but he won it without playing his best tennis. Feel badly for Marat tho... but he s be proud of what he accomplished -- he is well and truly back!! Maratski, you have my permission to defeat Pandy and AA every time you meet them!! ;)

congrats to Roger. Great two weeks for him.

SIGH!

Well done Roger!! Concrats for a perfect start to the year!!

And welcome back Marat!!

Just wanted to say Safin needs to be really credited. Respect for him on the tour has always been there and will be increased. He dd not take credit away from Federer like most fans normally do. That's something to be respected.

Hopefully, he will have a good rivalry with Federer. Safin was definitely exhausted but became even more frustrated but there is no doubt that they will meet at other times this year and both will be more match tough and mentally set.

Safin definitely needs to be credited, he was the story of this tournament. We can't expect miracles from him all the time, and obviously there wasn't enough left in the tank. But after Agassi and Roddick, I understand & it's perfectly forgivable. Let's just hope he makes 2004 his year! :)

But nonetheless, congratulations to Roger for being the better player on the day & for the No.1 & for the crown.