The Ultimate Safin Performance?

[Xenakis]

Somewhat inspired by the Safinisms thread....

Those of you who are Safin fans, if you had to recommend one match where Safin played his best tennis which one would it be?

It's not important if he won or lost, just that he did his thing really well (his famous 2hbh has to be on fire etc.)

Want to DL a decent match or two but not sure where to start (I have his AO win but that's it so far.)

Cheers/Ta

[Don't Let It Bounce]

I don't know his resume well enough to say it's his ultimate performance, but I do remember his U.S. Open 2000 Finals win over Sampras being damned impressive.

[abmk]

USO Open final 2000 vs sampras - simply blew sampras away in a breathtaking performance

Aussie Open 2005 SF vs federer - beating federer at his best in an amazing 5-setter ( the best match of all time IMO )

2002 paris final vs hewitt - dominant performance (hewitt was no1 that time )

[vsbabolat]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Those are the top three. Like to add the 1998 French Open 2nd round match against Gustavo Kuerten. Safin who had to qualify that year, beat Kuerten who was the defending champion 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

[Xenakis]

Thanks for the links. Dl'ing the 2005 AO SF now. Will look for the others too.

[britbox]

Originally Posted by abmk

USO Open final 2000 vs sampras - simply blew sampras away in a breathtaking performance

Aussie Open 2005 SF vs federer - beating federer at his best in an amazing 5-setter ( the best match of all time IMO )

2002 paris final vs hewitt - dominant performance (hewitt was no1 that time )

Agreed - I'd have them in that order too.

[vive le beau jeu !]

i (surprisingly) didn't like so much the 2000 USO final, maybe because sampras didn't play really well... looked a bit pale to me on that day. i expected a reaction from pete, but it never came...

some of my favorite safin matches:
- his five sets thrillers at the FO 1998 (1st round vs agassi, 2nd round vs kuerten, and 4th round vs pioline, even if he lost it)
- his five sets thrillers at the AO 2004 (QF vs roddick, SF vs agassi, didn't see the match vs martin)

of course, those are not "dominating" performances... but hey, if you want to enjoy some real safinity, you need a bit of drama, don't you ?

[Yaz]

Originally Posted by Don't Let It Bounce

I don't know his resume well enough to say it's his ultimate performance, but I do remember his U.S. Open 2000 Finals win over Sampras being damned impressive.

That was an unbelievable match. Never thought I'd see Sampras blown off the court like that. I remember thinking Safin was going to dominate tennis for a loooong time...lol

[abmk]

I haven't seen the kuerten match in 98, but I did see the agassi match at AO in 2004, that was great as well

[Xenakis]

Got the Paris 2002 final, nice quality copy too, I'll watch it later. Still downloading the AO 2005 SF (Spanish commentary unfortunately though, never mind.)

[yellowoctopus]

My vote goes to the five-setters in the 2005 Australian Open Semi-final against Mr. Federer. I think it was also his birthday.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Those are the top three. Like to add the 1998 French Open 2nd round match against Gustavo Kuerten. Safin who had to qualify that year, beat Kuerten who was the defending champion 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Oh yeah! That was a great match. I forgot that Safin had to qualify for the event.