Federer v Safin Australian Open Semi Final 2005 - 10 Years Ago!

[Jezza94]

I know this is a random thread but I just felt the need to quickly reminisce and remember what I consider to be one of the greatest tennis matches I've ever witnessed in any competition let alone the Australian Open and the fact that it marks the 10th anniversary yesterday since it occurred.

Roger Federer was at the time an unbeatable juggernaut and came up against an in-form Marat Safin who's talent and potential was massive but he had somewhat underachieved in Grand Slams and lost twice in the Australian Open Final in 2002 and 2004. To see someone actually take on Roger in his prime and actually beat him was something of a rarity in those days so this game was massive in so many ways.

I've found a great 47-minute highlights reel on YouTube that I think is worth watching and demonstrates how great this game was from the shots that both players demonstrated, to Safin's powerful backhand which caused Roger loads of problems and of course the dramatic 4th set moment when Roger was on match point and nearly had the match won then and there. Also some of the rallies seen in this game are unbelievable and should be cherised for those who watch the highlights reel.

What are people's memories of this match and where do you rate it alongside other great matches you've seen over the years?

By the way this match also happened to occur on Marat's 25th Birthday so that's a birthday present he won't ever forget in a hurry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-...layer_embedded&v=EoYaSlbPHig&x-yt-cl=84838260

 

[westside]

10 years already? My god.

Still my favourite match ever. Quality is insane from both of them.

 

[Jezza94]

Yes the quality of this game was amazing no doubt. Also notice how fast the court seemed in those days in contrast to now.

Safin played out of his skin that night. It's probably his greatest performance ever but some would say his US Open performance against Sampras in 2000 was arguably his best match he's played.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Phenomenal hitting. Have the DVD and watch it at least once a year.

Still bothers me that PMac goes crazy because Fed tried the tweener on the match point - he wasn't going to win the point regardless - Safin's overhead was always money.

 

[galain]

I tend to agree with PMac about Fed's brain fart on match point. Why go for a tweener with Safin on top of the net when he had the time to throw up a high lob?

Sure - it may not have worked, but at that stage of the match, at least try and play the odds...

 

[Capulin Zurdo]

Mind boggling to think this was a decade ago! Safin played one of the highest levels of tennis in that match/tournament. Just absolute incredulous ball striking and playing.

 

[Anti-Fedal]

LOL at Federer playing a tweener on match point.

 

[dgold44]

Funny I just re-watched the 5th set a few days ago. Utterly superb tennis. Safin was crushing the ball and Federer looked like a god.

The level of play was outstanding and this was one of the greatest sets in Aussie open history, by far.
I would say this match was one of my favorites in Aussie open.

 

[RacquetAbuse101]

And the 2005 Jerzy Janowicz Shot Selection Award goes to... Roger Federer!

No, seriously, this is one of my all-time favs. The level of play was insane.

All hail Safin, the Sultan of Swagger!

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls41]

I bought this match from tennis-dvd a few weeks ago. Full match and decent quality. Enough to see a yellow tennis ball fly back and forth on a lighter shade of green AO court anyway. Full 4 hours. Watched it beginning to end the other day. Was fantastic and brought back some good memories of watching Safin. He was one of my favorite players hence my picture and playing style now.

 

[metsman]

best match ever...First 4 sets aren't clearly the best ever (09 AO F first 4 sets are better) but the greatest 5th set ever by far in my book and that puts it over the top. That 5th set will never be matched with the drama and amazing clutch play. People don't, and can't, play like that anymore. Maybe the two most talented players of all time near their bests going at it for 5 sets...doesn't get any better.

 

[metsman]

I tend to agree with PMac about Fed's brain fart on match point. Why go for a tweener with Safin on top of the net when he had the time to throw up a high lob?

Sure - it may not have worked, but at that stage of the match, at least try and play the odds...

fed slowed down just before he hit the tweener. If he had kept running I think he would have time to play some sort of competitive shot. Oh well...Fed was up 5-2 in that TB with two serves so he made his own bed before that MP anyways.

 

[Roddick85]

Looking back at these old matches just shows how pathetic things have become on the tour right now. Courts were much faster then, and the shot making was spectacular from both sides. Nothing like the grind fest of today.

 

[wings56]

I hate thinking about this match... that could have been another trophy in Roger's cabinet.