Tennis: Marat Safin Plays Last Australian Open
January 19th 2009 13:42
Melbourne Park favourite Marat Safin said he was hoping for one last great run at the Australian Open after storming into the second round. Above all, though, 28-year-old Safin was hoping for a stress-free farewell season on tour before retiring at the end of 2009.
“Of course I'm looking forward to do something great here, but it's not easy,'' the mercurial Russian said after dispatching Ivan Navarro 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to book a second-round date with another Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
“It's getting tougher and tougher after each round.''
A three-time Open finalist and victor over Lleyton Hewitt in the 2005 title match, Safin said his injury-ravaged career had taught him to have no real expectations for his last year on tour.
“I don't want to get stressed. I don't want to plan anything. I want to play and be relaxed, no stress,'' he said.
“Whatever comes, comes. It's great for me. Just try to be in shape, be able to run around the court.
“Like this, it's much easier to play tennis. At least I want to enjoy it. I don't want to suffer anymore ... I don't want to feel bad on the court anymore.
“No expectation. No stress. No drama. Just play, enjoy.''
Safin, who was forced to withdraw from last week's Kooyong Classic with a shoulder problem, said tennis was a young man's game these days.
“It's getting tougher and tougher with the age, especially with the injuries I've had throughout the years,'' the former world No.1 said.
“It's not an easy game, let's put it this way, especially if half of the time you've been injured.
“When you are young, 20 years old, 19 years old, you're coming, everything is new. It's exciting come and play the big matches.
“With the years, you start to feel the pressure. A little bit you start to be unsure in certain moments of the match, hit it down the line or play a little bit cross-court.
“So you start to feel a little bit uncomfortable on the court, and this is what makes you have doubts.
“Eventually it comes to the errors. The young boys are not scared anymore. They will eventually be scared with the years, but it's tough to play against them in such conditions.''
AAP
“Of course I'm looking forward to do something great here, but it's not easy,'' the mercurial Russian said after dispatching Ivan Navarro 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to book a second-round date with another Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
“It's getting tougher and tougher after each round.''
A three-time Open finalist and victor over Lleyton Hewitt in the 2005 title match, Safin said his injury-ravaged career had taught him to have no real expectations for his last year on tour.
“I don't want to get stressed. I don't want to plan anything. I want to play and be relaxed, no stress,'' he said.
“Whatever comes, comes. It's great for me. Just try to be in shape, be able to run around the court.
“Like this, it's much easier to play tennis. At least I want to enjoy it. I don't want to suffer anymore ... I don't want to feel bad on the court anymore.
“No expectation. No stress. No drama. Just play, enjoy.''
Safin, who was forced to withdraw from last week's Kooyong Classic with a shoulder problem, said tennis was a young man's game these days.
“It's getting tougher and tougher with the age, especially with the injuries I've had throughout the years,'' the former world No.1 said.
“It's not an easy game, let's put it this way, especially if half of the time you've been injured.
“When you are young, 20 years old, 19 years old, you're coming, everything is new. It's exciting come and play the big matches.
“With the years, you start to feel the pressure. A little bit you start to be unsure in certain moments of the match, hit it down the line or play a little bit cross-court.
“So you start to feel a little bit uncomfortable on the court, and this is what makes you have doubts.
“Eventually it comes to the errors. The young boys are not scared anymore. They will eventually be scared with the years, but it's tough to play against them in such conditions.''
AAP
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