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We've watched Marat Safin, triumph, in 5 sets over Roger Federer at the Australian Open and later give him a struggle, on his weakest and Roger's best surface. Grass. He took it to 3 sets, in Halle. Last year, Marat said, I hate the Grass and cannot play on it... funny ... he can give one of the best players of all-time on Grass a difficult time. We watched as Roger mangled Roddick in Wimbledon, the trophy ceremony, we watched as Roger won the U.S Open. One can't help but wonder, why Marat Safin isn't the one hoisting the winner's trophy or perhaps atleast the runner-up.
I mean, Marat has 50x the talent of Roddick and has proven he can beat Agassi (Australian Open Results from 2004). The guy has proven he can defeat anyone on his best day, but no, he loses to players like: Robredo, Lopez, Kiefer. Such wasted talent, Marat will show up 1 or 2 months, play great tennis and go home enjoying his earnings. His #1 is women it seems, which is the same for most Men.
I really do pity Marat, seriously, I am the #1 Federer fan, but the Australian Open is in the back of my head. It has been all year. It's eaten away at me. I couldn't even cheer against Marat in the final, he deserved that title. He took out Roger. After he took Fedex to 3 on Grass, honestly, I became somewhat intimidated by him.
He has all the physical attributes.
Height.
Muscle.
Speed.
He has the game / variety.
Finesse & Power
He's proven that he can exhibit absolute genius at times, but with him there is no in-between. It's the good and the bad. Either he stinks or he's playing out of his body tennis. I look at players like Roddick that have dedicated their lives to this sport and given their bodies, thinking Safin would only have to give 40% of that with the talent he has to be in the spots they are now. Would we even know who Nadal is if it weren't for the absence of Safin? Nobody will ever know.
I think this speaks volumes for the difference between a potential champ and a champion:
Roger Federer played Marat Safin in Rome, shortly after saw the match televised and noticed commentators joking around about who could throw their racquet better.
Federer decided from that point on to stop his on-court antics.
Marat, well, last time I checked his racquets are lucky to see the bag again once he plays a single bad point. Next stop: Garbage Can.
Federer matured.
Marat didn't.
Federer has the mental edge.
Marat doesn't.
Sadly, Marat possesses the one trait that can take Fedex out: Genius mixed with pure power and the sad part, only real tennis heads even know WHO Safin is. Tragic.
I mean, Marat has 50x the talent of Roddick and has proven he can beat Agassi (Australian Open Results from 2004). The guy has proven he can defeat anyone on his best day, but no, he loses to players like: Robredo, Lopez, Kiefer. Such wasted talent, Marat will show up 1 or 2 months, play great tennis and go home enjoying his earnings. His #1 is women it seems, which is the same for most Men.
I really do pity Marat, seriously, I am the #1 Federer fan, but the Australian Open is in the back of my head. It has been all year. It's eaten away at me. I couldn't even cheer against Marat in the final, he deserved that title. He took out Roger. After he took Fedex to 3 on Grass, honestly, I became somewhat intimidated by him.
He has all the physical attributes.
Height.
Muscle.
Speed.
He has the game / variety.
Finesse & Power
He's proven that he can exhibit absolute genius at times, but with him there is no in-between. It's the good and the bad. Either he stinks or he's playing out of his body tennis. I look at players like Roddick that have dedicated their lives to this sport and given their bodies, thinking Safin would only have to give 40% of that with the talent he has to be in the spots they are now. Would we even know who Nadal is if it weren't for the absence of Safin? Nobody will ever know.
I think this speaks volumes for the difference between a potential champ and a champion:
Roger Federer played Marat Safin in Rome, shortly after saw the match televised and noticed commentators joking around about who could throw their racquet better.
Federer decided from that point on to stop his on-court antics.
Marat, well, last time I checked his racquets are lucky to see the bag again once he plays a single bad point. Next stop: Garbage Can.
Federer matured.
Marat didn't.
Federer has the mental edge.
Marat doesn't.
Sadly, Marat possesses the one trait that can take Fedex out: Genius mixed with pure power and the sad part, only real tennis heads even know WHO Safin is. Tragic.
Sigh. 
