If only Safin had Djoker's 'mental' toughness

[Druss]

Safin would have done the right training, conditioning and preparation for tournaments (instead of partying with Moya and Scud), which would mean avoiding getting certain injuries, in conjunction with less on-court meltdowns, resulting in more consistent results and rankings. He would have pocketed a few slams by the time Federer starts winning multiple majors in 2004, and over the course of the next 5 years we'd be witnessing several battles similar to the AO SF '05. A rivalry that would make Fedal pale in comparison.

With Djoker's mentality and training etiquette I could see Safin and Federer going 50/50 at major tournaments, with Safin taking more HC wins and Federer grass and clay.

2004-09 would have looked something like this:

2004
AO Safin
RG Gaudio
Wm Federer
US Safin

2005
AO Safin
RG Nadal
Wm Federer
US Safin

2006
AO Safin
RG Nadal
Wm Federer
US Federer

2007
AO Federer
RG Nadal
Wm Federer
US Federer

2008
AO Djokovic
RG Nadal
Wm Safin
US Federer

2009
AO Safin
RG Federer
Wm Federer
US Del Potro

Total slams Safin = 7 during peak Federer years and 5 pre 2004 = 12
Federer = 15
Nadal = 12

 

[DreddyTennis45]

2009
AO Safin

 

[KINGROGER]

Overall Federer is still the better player than Safin and I think would learn from that 05 close SF defeat. Can't see him winning vs Fed at USO, and he actually lost to him at AO 04 so nothing changes there.

 

[SinjinCooper]

A mentally tough Safin would have been a real bear, and probably an ATG instead of a "mere" HOF'er. Impossible to guess where else he might have won, but his game (when it was on) translated well to all surfaces.

A little mental toughness wouldn't have hurt his H2H against Santoro, either.

 

[Meles]

..... he would still suck.

 

[TheAssassin]

..... he would still suck.

 

[lud]

If,if,if.. There is no IF in tennis.. To be perfectly precise,there is no IF in life in general.

 

[90's Clay]

Safin should have been a 7-8 time slam winner. No question about that

 

[Rafa the King]

Yes and if Rafa had Rogers serve he'd be on about 20 slams, just doesn't work that way

 

[vladisimo]

yeah this is poitless..if only wawrinka had djokovics mentality he would have won even more than he did already,if only fognini dolgopolov etc. would have had that mental toughness,they would have won important titles maybe.BuT it doesn t work like that.

 

[SinjinCooper]

If,if,if.. There is no IF in tennis.. To be perfectly precise,there is no IF in life in general.

There are tons of ifs in life. Problem for guys like Safin is they tend to be more helpful if used predictively, rather than reflectively. Although even in the second case, they can have value if you learn something useful from them.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Yes and if Rafa had Rogers serve he'd be on about 20 slams, just doesn't work that way

And if Federer had Nadal's mentality, he'd have 25+ majors...

 

[Druss]

Overall Federer is still the better player than Safin and I think would learn from that 05 close SF defeat. Can't see him winning vs Fed at USO, and he actually lost to him at AO 04 so nothing changes there.

Remember though at AO '04 Safin was unseeded and had some really tough battles getting to the final, reason why he was gassed. A consistent Safin with a high seeding would have avoided all that, then it would have been 50/50 just like '05 imo. 2004-05 would have been Safin's peak.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Safin is the greatest raw talent in tennis.

 

[Druss]

yeah this is poitless..if only wawrinka had djokovics mentality he would have won even more than he did already,if only fognini dolgopolov etc. would have had that mental toughness,they would have won important titles maybe.BuT it doesn t work like that.

Safin was a better player than Wawa, he got him covered in every department, better: serve, BH, volleys, OH, power on ground strokes, perhaps equal FH and movement. Overall though no comparison! The others you mentioned are not even worthy of shining his shoes.

 

[metsman]

And if Federer had Nadal's mentality, he'd have 25+ majors...

not a chance.

 

[-NN-]

not a chance.

Probably be retired by now.

 

[vladisimo]

Safin was a better player than Wawa, he got him covered in every department, better: serve, BH, volleys, OH, power on ground strokes, perhaps equal FH and movement. Overall though no comparison! The others you mentioned are not even worthy of shining his shoes.

Yeah I diasgree with the no comparision between stan and safin.I think safin was a better player,but not by far.Also I doubt safins bh is much better than stans anyway and same goes for his power .

 

[Stretchy Man]

If only Djokovic had Safin's charisma

 

[KINGROGER]

Remember though at AO '04 Safin was unseeded and had some really tough battles getting to the final, reason why he was gassed. A consistent Safin with a high seeding would have avoided all that, then it would have been 50/50 just like '05 imo. 2004-05 would have been Safin's peak.

He's definitely putting a dent in fed's total and maybe Rafa's too but imo not to the extent where he's winning vs Fed at the USO or taking 3 AO in a row. Fed would bounce back from that 05 match imo.

Shame we never saw it happen though.

 

[Druss]

If only Djokovic had Safin's charisma

He'd be the most popular sportsman in history!

 

[Feather]

And if Federer had Nadal's mentality, he'd have 25+ majors...

No way!

Rafa is mentally stronger than Roger but Roger is not weak as some people make out to be.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

No way!

Rafa is mentally stronger than Roger but Roger is not weak as some people make out to be.

Small margins indeed. A little bit more strength, and all those disappointing close losses, the lot of those, turn into awesome tight wins.

 

[lud]

There are tons of ifs in life. Problem for guys like Safin is they tend to be more helpful if used predictively, rather than reflectively. Although even in the second case, they can have value if you learn something useful from them.

IF exists only if you talking about FUTURE. if you talking about past times,than if is totally irrelevant.