What should we expect from Safin next year?

[federerhoogenbandfan]

After a wonderful beginning to the 2005 of Marat Safin, things crumbled somewhat. He did not follow up doing anything noteable on the spring hard court circuit or clay court lead ups to the French. His play at the French Open, and leading into Wimbledon looked promising to many, but he suffered dissapointing losses, to Tommy Robredo in the 4th round(French), and Feliciano Lopez in the 3rd round(Wimbledon) respectively. He dealt with injuries in the enusing weeks, and eventualy called it a year before the U.S Open even got underway. What on earth will we see from this maddeningly talented but wildy unpredictable player in 2006?

 

[8PAQ]

No slams. Maybe a couple of indoor titles. He will keep plummeting in rankings after 2006 AO. I don't know what is the status of his recovery from injury but I doubt he will do much at the beginning of the year.

 

[Mr Topspin]

After a wonderful beginning to the 2005 of Marat Safin, things crumbled somewhat. He did not follow up doing anything noteable on the spring hard court circuit or clay court lead ups to the French. His play at the French Open, and leading into Wimbledon looked promising to many, but he suffered dissapointing losses, to Tommy Robredo in the 4th round(French), and Feliciano Lopez in the 3rd round(Wimbledon) respectively. He dealt with injuries in the enusing weeks, and eventualy called it a year before the U.S Open even got underway. What on earth will we see from this maddeningly talented but wildy unpredictable player in 2006?

To be fair to Safin he has been struggling with his knee injury just after winning the OZ open and explains his minimal impact post Australia.

He explains in an interview that he has had problems with his knee and avoided treating it as he did not want to lose court time. The interview was posted on this site a week ago.

I don't think we (his fans) should expect too much from him next year as he has not played for months and will most likely drop out of the top 10 unless he gets a favourable draw for defence of his title. I expect him to hover in the top 20 to 30 next year and may have a strong end to the season in his favourite european indoor season.

 

[AAAA]

the unexpected

 

[pham4313]

I think Safin is great talent... but he is not up to his expectations yet...he is just lazy...surgery and all...well just work it out, hit the gym, that will speed up the recovery. I expect to see him more and more in the finals especially AO, a rematch with Federer and see what happens from there.

 

[Grimjack]

Brief, shining bouts of otherworldly brilliance surrounded by oceans of disappointment and curiosity. Which is to say, pretty much what he gives us every year.

Just be thankful for those shining moments, during which the tennis is always top-notch. Not many players can offer us even that, so I'm willing to forgive a lot of disappointment.

 

[Turning Pro]

We should expect Fed to be crippled by Safin's genius

 

[vantagepoint]

What Grimjack said, except that Safin does disappoint himself, most likely. At the end of his strange career he may wonder why he wasted so much of it...or not.

 

[AkutsuJin]

I'm hoping for the best in 06', he's one of the few that can beat federer and probrably on any surface too.

 

[@wright]

Not a whole lot - maybe a Masters Series title and a final. We have 4 more years until he wins another slam.

 

[AJK1]

He will retire.

 

[DashaandSafin]

Expect nothing. Expect everything. Who the hell knows? When this guy is on he can beat anybody. When he is off he cant be anybody.
Roll the dice.

 

[legolas]

i expect him to retain his AO title

 

[Matthew]

i expect him to retain his AO title

After not playing for months? I douuuubt it.

Its obviously hard to say what you should expect from because as we all know he is so unpredictable. What we really should be predicting is his health. Will he be 100% by the AO? Will he ever be 100% again?

 

[FEDEXP]

Wildcard.....

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

If he is not healthy for the Australian Open and does not do well his ranking will take a sharp nosedive.

 

[DashaandSafin]

How the hell can Safin lose 2 slams worth of rankings (assuming he pulls out of the AO) and still be ranked within the top 50??? (indesit entry rankings).

 

[Virtuous]

Hopefully a haircut

 

[dmastous]

Perhaps a months worth of solid, even dominating play, followed by further dissappointments and baffling play. Some partying. Some swooning. Some pouting.
In short more of the same.

 

[Aeropro joe]

more racket smashing as he struggles to hobble around the court in his wheelchair and just misses returning a passing shot

 

[snoflewis]

i'll be an optimist, and say assuming that he's healthy the entire season, he will win all slams except wimbledon. :mrgreen:

 

[Hops]

How the hell can Safin lose 2 slams worth of rankings (assuming he pulls out of the AO) and still be ranked within the top 50??? (indesit entry rankings).

because Safin is talentwise two slams above Alberto Martin?

 

[156MPHserve]

I hope he can do well, but realistically it'll be extremely hard.

I feel so bad for him. His first slam was more luck and talent, but he really worked for the OZ, then he is crippled again for the rest of the year and maybe his life. Poor guy.

 

[Noelle]

Hopefully a haircut

LOL! :lol:

I think I'm expecting Safin's 2006 to be somewhat like his 2003.
http://www.atptennis.com/en/players...ty/default.asp?year=2003&player=S741&x=17&y=3

 

[booster75]

simple as that nothing

 

[bertrevert]

His career has always run hot and cold and he won't cope well with playing below the level he knows he can - he hates playing badly in a match, even a bad shot sends him off - my prediction is that he won't put up with his poor form and he won't regain the lost ground, so he'll sneak off (but not retire) and open a nightclub in Spain, selling these drinks:

Safin-slammer
ATPTour-Tequila (w/ Lemon)
Prestige Pure Vodka

 

[dr4hand]

I think he will rest his knee, will miss tennis and that will drive a wonderfull spurt in 2006.

He will come our relaxed and will flow on the tennis court like only he can, blasting off and making opponents look inadequate.

Then he will face Federer and will beat him again leaving the court with that respectful look on his face.

dr4hand

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

His career has always run hot and cold and he won't cope well with playing below the level he knows he can - he hates playing badly in a match, even a bad shot sends him off

I get that sense watching him as well. You would think he would have clued in by now that tennis is not a game of total perfection ever for the very best. You have to miss some shots, and battle your own timing on a shot at some point, in any match.

 

[DashaandSafin]

Well he is still a genius on the court. A ball banging genius, one of the purest ballstrikers ever. Ask Mr. Sampras how he felt against Marat that fateful day in New York. Its a display of tennis like that, that makes us all want so much from Mr. Safin.

 

[AJK1]

Let's keep things in perspective, i'm not sure how long after that US Open, but i remember Sampras came back and gave Safin a tennis lesson as well. It just depends on whose on, on the day i feel.

 

[Zverev]

We shouldn't expect much from him, I think.
It sounds like that knee will never be 100% percent without operation,
and with operation it will take 2 years for rehabilitation and returning on the tour, by that time he is 28 and as good as done for pro tennis.

You can beat Federer but you can't beat time, Marat...only Agassi can.