Historically Important Major: 2005 Aussie Open

[triforce defender]

The 2005 Australian Open is mainly remembered for one thing: Marat Safin's epic five-set win over Roger Federer in the semifinals.

But beyond that, the 2005 AO is one of the most important majors in terms of historical importance. First, there was one final glory for Safin's underachieving career. There was Federer's aura of invincibility in its prime (he hadn't lost to a top 10 player in 2004). There was Andre Agassi's last QF appearance at his best major. There was also Lleyton Hewitt's best run at his home major. In fact, Safin's epic win overshadowed Hewitt's epic win over David Nalbandian in the QF (10-8 fifth set). Finally, there was the 4th round match between Hewitt and Rafael Nadal in which Hewitt rallied from 2 sets to 1 down. That match showed Nadal's victory over Federer in 2004 was no fluke and that he would indeed be a force to be reckoned with.

So the 2005 AO was a great crossroads of past, present, and future. It signified the dawn of the Sampras/Agassi era, the prime dominance of Federer, the final hurrah for Safin, the most inspired run by Hewitt to bring the trophy back home, and the emergence of Nadal. Do you agree how historical this major was?

 

[Jeffrey573639]

Didn't Agassi make the USO final that year...

 

[Anaconda]

Didn't Agassi make the USO final that year...

Safin also didn't underachieve; 2 slams, 2 DC's 5 MS titles, 2 horrific injuries and he had fun outside the court and is one of the few tennis players who can claimed actually lived in his 20's.

 

[dominikk1985]

Safin also didn't underachieve; 2 slams, 2 DC's 5 MS titles, 2 horrific injuries and he had fun outside the court and is one of the few tennis players who can claimed actually lived in his 20's.

I also don't think he underachieved. he used most of his chances very well and beat two ATGs for his slam wins.

he was a bit of an all or nothing guy. not really consistent and even in his prime had a lot of early losses. but if he was really doing well he was often going all the way. certainly not a mentally weak player at all.

 

[Anaconda]

I also don't think he underachieved. he used most of his chances very well and beat two ATGs for his slam wins.

he was a bit of an all or nothing guy. not really consistent and even in his prime had a lot of early losses. but if he was really doing well he was often going all the way. certainly not a mentally weak player at all.

He never had a prime, he had niggling injuries in 2001, at times was bored of tennis in 2002 (and even nearly quit in 2000) as well as missing every major in 2003 and most of the year, blisters in 2004 and motivation problems to boot, after AO 2005 he got inured and 2006+ he was in pain playing awful. Given his injuries, his love for life outside tennis and motivation problems, he had a brilliant career. Could he have done better? of course, given that he could beat, almost dismantle some legends of the game at times and make it look easy, but he could have done a lot worse considering everything.

 

[triforce defender]

Ok, fine. Safin didn't underachieve. Let's please get off that topic. Can we back to the original topic? Do you agree that '05 AO was historically significant for the reasons I listed?

 

[Rhino]

I remember it above all for Federer's match point against Safin in the semifinal. He decided to showboat it and try a tweener on what would be his only match point, squandering his chance to make the final. He would have destroyed Hewitt.

Had he played that point more seriously it would be 18 majors right now instead of 17.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

The Australian Open in 2012 was another turning point as all of the Big 4 (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) made it to the semifinals and fought hard against each other, eventually overshadowing the rivaly that was to come and that was between Djokovic and Nadal, as they fought in the final.

 

[Who Am I?]

If Federer had won that SF with Safin, he probably would have beat Hewitt and would have had 4 consecutive AOs and not only that, he would also be the sole holder of most AO titles.

 

[RunDatGame]

"Historically Important Major: 2005 Aussie Open"

Another thing: At Australian Open 2005 Djokovic made his first Grand Slam appearance where he lost in the first round to the eventual champion, Marat Safin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0vAKePWLJg

 

[papertank]

AO is always a very exciting major that tends to set historical precedents. It's my favorite tournament to watch after Wimbledon.

 

[triforce defender]

"Historically Important Major: 2005 Aussie Open"

Another thing: At Australian Open 2005 Djokovic made his first Grand Slam appearance where he lost in the first round to the eventual champion, Marat Safin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0vAKePWLJg

True. And Djokovic never beat Safin during his career.

 

[Chico]

True. And Djokovic never beat Safin during his career.

Novak was 17 years old in AO 2005. Also they played only two matches total.
AO 2005 and W 2008. That is all.

 

[Anaconda]

Novak was 17 years old in AO 2005. Also they played only two matches total.
AO 2005 and W 2008. That is all.

But he is right, Djokovic never beat Safin. Not even the washed up Safin in 2008.

 

[monfed]

I remember it above all for Federer's match point against Safin in the semifinal. He decided to showboat it and try a tweener on what would be his only match point, squandering his chance to make the final. He would have destroyed Hewitt.

Had he played that point more seriously it would be 18 majors right now instead of 17.

Just reading your post breaks my heart. It was there for the taking isn't it, this is my biggest gripe with Fed's career.

 

[triforce defender]

Just reading your post breaks my heart. It was there for the taking isn't it, this is my biggest gripe with Fed's career.

Safin was a man of destiny that tournament :twisted:

 

[Anaconda]

Just reading your post breaks my heart. It was there for the taking isn't it, this is my biggest gripe with Fed's career.

And Federer was lucky he played a very, very tired Safin at the AO 2004 final. No way does Federer, or anyone else beat a 100% energetic Safin at AO 2004. He could barely play tennis in that final. Federer has got lucky on many occasions in slams, Wimbledon 2004 and 2007, got very lucky at FO 2009 for multiple reasons. No shame in losing to Safin before his knee injury in 2005. No shame in losing to a fully focused Safin who was clearly the best player in the world at that period.

 

[bigred1910]

And Federer was lucky he played a very, very tired Safin at the AO 2004 final. No way does Federer, or anyone else beat a 100% energetic Safin at AO 2004. He could barely play tennis in that final. Federer has got lucky on many occasions in slams, Wimbledon 2004 and 2007, got very lucky at FO 2009 for multiple reasons. No shame in losing to Safin before his knee injury in 2005. No shame in losing to a fully focused Safin who was clearly the best player in the world at that period.

man i miss safin. never got to see him play unfortunately. i would have done anything in the world to see him play in 05

 

[monfed]

And Federer was lucky he played a very, very tired Safin at the AO 2004 final. No way does Federer, or anyone else beat a 100% energetic Safin at AO 2004. He could barely play tennis in that final. Federer has got lucky on many occasions in slams, Wimbledon 2004 and 2007, got very lucky at FO 2009 for multiple reasons. No shame in losing to Safin before his knee injury in 2005. No shame in losing to a fully focused Safin who was clearly the best player in the world at that period.

Sorry but that is complete horseshit and you know it. Point is Fed had the SF on HIS racquet as his MP in the 4th set clearly indicates and FEDERER messed it up NOT Safin, the proof is in the pudding pal, you're in denial.

How the heck can you have MPs if you've been supposedly outplayed as some Safin worshippers/anti-Fed fans seem to indicate? Boggles the mind.

 

[edk1512]

It was the first time a grand slam final start at night too.

 

[edk1512]

Sorry but that is complete horseshit and you know it. Point is Fed had the SF on HIS racquet as his MP in the 4th set clearly indicates and FEDERER messed it up NOT Safin, the proof is in the pudding pal, you're in denial.

How the heck can you have MPs if you've been supposedly outplayed as some Safin worshippers/anti-Fed fans seem to indicate? Boggles the mind.

Except that the MP was on Federer's serve, Safin was in control of the rally since the return of serve.

And really it was a MP in the tie-break. It's not like he broke serve and served for the match. In a close match like this, you'd expect both players to have chances to win the tie-break. Point is, it was not on anyone's racket. It was a toss-up.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

I dont see any historic significance to AO 2005 above and beyond any other major.

 

[MTF07]

And Federer was lucky he played a very, very tired Safin at the AO 2004 final. No way does Federer, or anyone else beat a 100% energetic Safin at AO 2004. He could barely play tennis in that final. Federer has got lucky on many occasions in slams, Wimbledon 2004 and 2007, got very lucky at FO 2009 for multiple reasons. No shame in losing to Safin before his knee injury in 2005. No shame in losing to a fully focused Safin who was clearly the best player in the world at that period.

LMAO at those excuses

Safin was never close to Federer, at any point in their careers. Sure, when he played his very best tennis, he could hang, but even then, he loses to Federer more often than not. 2-10 lifetime. Safin got lucky Federer decided that match point was the time to play a tweener, or it would be 1-11 and he'd have one less major.

 

[Chanwan]

Had Federer beaten Safin in that match (and Hewitt subsequently), would the FO 2005 have been any different? Federer would have been gunning for 4 slams in a row against a Nadal, who hadn't won a slam yet.

 

[Roddick85]

If anything, I think Safin is overrated on these boards. He's comparable to Agassi in some regards, both had the talent and the shots to be top guys for an extended amount of time, but both also lacked the mental side of the game. Agassi didn't really believe in himself for the first half of his career. Safin couldn't deal with his own frustration. While some say he's one of the only player to have "lived in his 20's", I'm pretty sure that his lifestyle didn't help him on court. I'm also not too sure that drinking % partying qualifies as "living" but that's another debate. While Agassi redeemed himself in the later part of this career, Safin vanished into oblivion when the Federer/Nadal rivalry started to be interesting.

 

[TennisLovaLova]

I remember it above all for Federer's match point against Safin in the semifinal. He decided to showboat it and try a tweener on what would be his only match point, squandering his chance to make the final. He would have destroyed Hewitt.

Had he played that point more seriously it would be 18 majors right now instead of 17.

19 if he kept his cool in 09 vs Delpo

 

[Sander001]

It signified the dawn of the Sampras/Agassi era,

"Historically Important Major: 2005 Aussie Open"

Another thing: At Australian Open 2005 Djokovic made his first Grand Slam appearance where he lost in the first round to the eventual champion, Marat Safin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0vAKePWLJg

Heh, Djokovic is still wearing the exact same shoes.