Marat Safin was knocked out of the Dubai Duty Free Championships today by Olivier Rochus 7-6 6-4, in a match which showed just how far the Russian is from his superlative best. Given that Safin had only ever lost once in six meetings (Wimbledon 2002) to the diminutive Belgian, he would normally have been confident about his chances going into the match, except for the fact that he has only played one competitive match in almost seven months. Nevertheless, it was the Russian who started off in dominant mood on his serve, serving his first three service games to love, while the Belgian was forced to work much harder to hold. However, that soon changed when Safin was foot faulted in his fourth service game which seemed to disrupt his concentration as three consecutive unforced errors followed to hand Rochus the game. That break was not conclusive as Safin managed to break back with the Belgian serving for the set at 5-3, with a well timed forehand winner down the line. In the tiebreak, Rochus proved to be the more secure off the ground and duly took it on his third set point when Safin attempting a backhand return winner down the line did not find the court. When Rochus broke the opening Safin service game of the second set, it looked like it was not to be his day, but a trademark backhand winner which the scampering Belgian tried to run down in vain, secured the immediate break back. He would break Rochus again to go 4-2 ahead when Rochus stretched to the limit on his forehand netted. Back came the Belgian taking four games in a row as Safin’s game disintegrated in the sweltering heat with a number of unforced errors. So frustrated was the Russian with his sudden loss of form at one stage, that he belted a ball high up into the stands earning himself an automatic code violation for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. Rochus served out the match to love as Safin’s backhand return went long. Safin’s assessment of his play was unequivocal; “Not enough matches. Making many mistakes, need to get the rhythm back. I have many things to work on. Hope it will come back.” He agreed that the foot fault in the first set had disrupted his concentration; “He called foot fault on my left leg which is very unusual, should be the right leg. That can make you lose momentum very quickly when you don’t have many matches behind your back.” Rochus is not the kind of player Safin enjoys playing at the best of times; “He plays slice, changes his game a lot. Makes things a little bit difficult.”
Rochus was relieved to have had some help from an erratic Safin; “He made a lot of unforced errors. I should have won the first set more easily 6-3, but I hit a double fault and played some bad shots. But I played a good tiebreak.” “A win is a win, even if he was not at his best. I know I have the game to disturb him with my slice, making him play a lot of balls. Today, he helped me. This is good for my confidence. You only get confidence when you play matches and win.”

Not rusty. an AOF. :sigh: Or i dunno. His movement was not there today. Just wasn't there. Like at all. I dunno what it was, bending the knees, or what. Timing... Everything went to hell because of that, imo. he didn't have a single comfortbale shot.

I don't know why, but i'm sad he lost. Maybe because i want to see him longer in Dubai. Today was the last time i saw him in my life, probably. I'll have no access to the club next year. Last time i talked to him... Well it wasn't a conversation acyually. I was just taking an autograph for one girl from college. For that i had to wait half an hour outside the trainer's room, where Marat was either having a massage or maybe something else, which i wouldn't mention because i'm superstitious.  Anyway, when he came out i called him loudly "Marat!" and he stopped walking, turned around and said "А?" in Russian, which basically means "yes?"
"Can you sign this for a friend?"
:scribbles:  :looks at me when he's done:
"Thanks" i say and i walk off smiling.

Too bad the autograph wasn't for me...  I have a few, but this is probably the last time i saw him...

Fuck. I regret i didn't hug him.   

What else can i say? Oh! After the match Peter spent quite some time talking with Marat in the dressing room. He always does that, as i see... This time it was about half an hour. Amazing.