What's wrong with Safin's forehand?

Mikael

Professional
Anyone?

I'm watching his match vs Stepanek and his forehand is all over the place, it seems he can't hit two aggressive forehands in a row without making an UE.

I've been noticing this in his game since last year. His forehand used to be a real weapon and a consistent one, even though his backhand has always been his stronger side.

What's gone wrong with his forehand?
 

Mikael

Professional
Well his backhand doesn't seem too bad... He's making few UEs with it and winning some points.

His forehand OTOH is a complete nightmare... Oh god he just shanked one into the stands.
 

Mikael

Professional
Safin has always had an inconsistant forehand, nothing new.

I agree his backhand has always been his more consistent side... even in his best years.

But there's a clear difference between his 2009 forehand and his 2000 forehand. The rest of his game, except his movement for obvious reasons, hasn't declined as much as his FH.
 
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TheMagicianOfPrecision

Guest
I think him playing is totally meaningless, welcome to Russian chokefest, im here to collect my appearance-money sp i can spend it on women and vodka, grow up Marat.
 

GameSampras

Banned
I think him playing is totally meaningless, welcome to Russian chokefest, im here to collect my appearance-money sp i can spend it on women and vodka, grow up Marat.

And Sadly thats been the underlying theme of his career. Its a shame really. I dont think he had anywhere near a true HOF career, yet if he showed up Focused on the game and ready to play, he would probably would have had an easy HOF career maybe one of the best careers in the last 10-15 years. It was very possible. And I think he could have possibly been a big threat everywheres. Not just Hardcourts. He had that much talent..

What a waste
 

darthpwner

Banned
Safin's forehand breaks down on junk and low balls. Stephanek is crafty with the slice and the like which is safins nightmare. Look at his crappy h2h against santoro
 
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TheMagicianOfPrecision

Guest
And Sadly thats been the underlying theme of his career. Its a shame really. I dont think he had anywhere near a true HOF career, yet if he showed up Focused on the game and ready to play, he would probably would have had an easy HOF career maybe one of the best careers in the last 10-15 years. It was very possible. And I think he could have possibly been a big threat everywheres. Not just Hardcourts. He had that much talent..

What a waste
Absolutely, and i wanna add that i think he got fame and fortune to early, after that he was not hungry anymore (at least not to win matches)
 

MasturB

Legend
And Sadly thats been the underlying theme of his career. Its a shame really. I dont think he had anywhere near a true HOF career, yet if he showed up Focused on the game and ready to play, he would probably would have had an easy HOF career maybe one of the best careers in the last 10-15 years. It was very possible. And I think he could have possibly been a big threat everywheres. Not just Hardcourts. He had that much talent..

What a waste

I think if you look at his resume that he's in the HoF...
 

fps

Legend
an analysis by one of the sky commentators was that his right hip comes through too early, so the balance isn't there. makes sense.

but fundamentally he's just not moving to the ball well enough on either side, but on the backhand when it's out of reach he can slice, whereas on the forehand taking pace off when out of position in the modern game means more defending and, usually, point over.
 

Mikael

Professional
an analysis by one of the sky commentators was that his right hip comes through too early, so the balance isn't there. makes sense.

but fundamentally he's just not moving to the ball well enough on either side, but on the backhand when it's out of reach he can slice, whereas on the forehand taking pace off when out of position in the modern game means more defending and, usually, point over.

That's quite interesting about the right hip.

I also have the impression that he used to hit with more topspin early on in his career. In recent years he has started hitting everything flatter - strangely this seems to be a pattern with many pros - and his forehand appears not to have adapted as well as his backhand.
 

fps

Legend
That's quite interesting about the right hip.

I also have the impression that he used to hit with more topspin early on in his career. In recent years he has started hitting everything flatter - strangely this seems to be a pattern with many pros - and his forehand appears not to have adapted as well as his backhand.

interesting. this may be to do with a lack of knee bend, a movement issue again? it's strange that tennis is such a technique game, but only when instinct takes over can you play your best. safin thinks too much out there. he's so quick on the forehand sometimes too that he pulls it wide on the deuce side crosscourt. too keen to pull the trigger/
 

Seany

Banned
Safins tale is sad, yet unusual....he has always insisted he was forced to play and never really enjoyed playing.....yet he wins 2 slams, beating some of the best players in history..

One way or another, he will be remembered for a long time to come.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
the better question is:

what is wrong with safin's head?






ps: i expect Daddyhillbilly to comment on this post too since i'm criticising one of my favourite players...
 
the better question is:

what is wrong with safin's head?

ps: i expect Daddyhillbilly to comment on this post too since i'm criticising one of my favourite players...

It is perfectly OK to give constructive criticism of a player. It's maliciousness that's unbecoming. And Safin is too old for either of these.

The last time Safin was on... we know what happened ;) :evil:
 

VivalaVida

Banned
LOL. Nothing new here. Safin is a talented player but he has always been inconsistent. Also his attitude sucks! I dont even think I like Safin anymore. :lol:
 
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Deleted member 25923

Guest
After his injury (dunno which one), he altered his technique in his strokes to compensate. Since then, the forehand has really gone down the toilet.
 

GameSampras

Banned
I think if you look at his resume that he's in the HoF...

Sure.. Since they have lowered the standards.. If they were legit real standards Safin wouldnt sniff a HOF candidacy.


2 slams, not a whole lot of titles and spending your career more outside of the top than even in it, and underachieving and not taking the game seriously, automatically should whipe you out of any HOF induction. I dont care how much talent u have
 

tkramer15

Semi-Pro
I watched the Stepanek match today in Cincy

I was there on the grandstand court today in Cincy to witness what has become an all too frequent and predictable scenario -- a Safin choke and meltdown.

Safin came on court looking relaxed and confident. He started strongly and secured an early break. Stepanek was way off with his serve and forehand. Marat really attacked Step's forehand and drew a number of feeble errors. Safin's forehand, through the first set, was fine, as was his serve.

Serving for the set at 5-4, however, Safin clearly began to think about the moment. All year, he has choked and suffered major collapses while ahead in matches. In the 5-4 game he double faulted twice to fall behind 15-40 before rallying to hold and win the set with some clutch aces. I watched him closely as he returned to his bench and he was shaking his head and muttering the entire way. Sure, he had nearly blown it, but he actually showed a glimmer of the Safin of old in coming up with some big serves under pressure.

Still, Marat clearly took no confidence or momentum with him into the second set. I said early in the year that Safin had developed a severe mental block when it comes to closing out matches. He seems to have no belief that he can or should be beating higher ranked players or really almost anyone for that matter.

As soon as Safin fell behind a break in the second set the match was over. You could see him thinking, "Here we go again. I'm going to lose it." I'm sure Stepanek sensed it too. All of the other players know that all they have to do is stay somewhat competitive and Safin will fall apart.

Safin held easily to start the third, but was broken in the third game of the final set after making several terrible errors. From then on it was a classic Safin tank fest. He double faulted four times and all but intentionally made unforced errors from the baseline as Stepanek cruised through the final four games in about fifteen minutes.

I watched Marat's collapses earlier this year in Miami against Monfils, in Monte Carlo vs. Lapentti and in Rome vs. Robredo, but seeing this one in person was really tough. Technically, Safin doesn't move nearly as well as he did years ago and there could be something to the theory about a glitch with his forehand technique, but in my opinion, his demise is virtually all mental. Safin has somehow lost nearly total confidence in himself to close out sets and matches. He's way too hard on himself, and he just doesn't have any belief. It's sad. In hindsight, the worst thing Safin could've done was announce that he was retiring at the end of the year. If anything, he put more pressure on himself by doing so.
 

Golden Retriever

Hall of Fame
It could be just me but it seems to me that Safin is never comfortable with his forehand after his wrist injury. He should just run around his forehand and hit a backhand as much as possible. If he can't avoid hitting one just slice it. That might do the trick but it is probably too late anyway.
 
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Deleted member 21996

Guest
It is perfectly OK to give constructive criticism of a player. It's maliciousness that's unbecoming. And Safin is too old for either of these.

The last time Safin was on... we know what happened ;) :evil:

yeah.. what happened is that he won over one of the best players on tour right now, and back then too, who was pretty much a pansie pampared by his maniac dad and mom at the time...

much has changed from back then in regard to Mr. Djokovic.. for the better!

but anyway, you avatar change is a low move and i lost most of my respect for you, so i rather that you dont talk to me...

ps: please note the bolded part!
 
yeah.. what happened is that he won over one of the best players on tour right now, and back then too, who was pretty much a pansie pampared by his maniac dad and mom at the time...

much has changed from back then in regard to Mr. Djokovic.. for the better!

but anyway, you avatar change is a low move and i lost most of my respect for you, so i rather that you dont talk to me...

ps: please note the bolded part!

You started it first.

Yeah, Id say a lot if things have changed with my brat. Let's see how it goes with you know who. ;)
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
Not a very competitive guy this marat:

http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-08-19/i-dont-like-any.html

His forehand isn't really built for fast surfaces. I have seen it breakdown many times.



His forehand went down the toilet after his knee injury. Before that thing was a weapon, although slightly inconsistent, no where near as bad as it is now.



Also, he won Paris Indoors and Madrid multiple times during his career (when they were played on ultra fast carpet also), and the USO. So I'd say his forehand was pretty good.



Plus, if you think Safin can't handle pace with his forehand you've obviously never watched him during his best years. What beats Marat is when you junk his forehand with no pace.
 
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Deleted member 21996

Guest
You started it first.

Yeah, Id say a lot if things have changed with my brat. Let's see how it goes with you know who. ;)

sorry? are you skiping your brain pills?

you the one who adressed me the first in the murray thread ad i'm the one who started!

besides i could give a rats arse if "you know who" changes anything to your content..

as far as i know i much rather have you hating her (and Gil and Machado as well) with all your passion... that would only make me happy, to see your enfuriated new fake avatar posting thread after thread taking jabs at her! bring it on!

you have come a long way to... but not for the better!
 
sorry? are you skiping your brain pills?

you the one who adressed me the first in the murray thread ad i'm the one who started!

besides i could give a rats arse if "you know who" changes anything to your content..

as far as i know i much rather have you hating her (and Gil and Machado as well) with all your passion... that would only make me happy, to see your enfuriated new fake avatar posting thread after thread taking jabs at her! bring it on!

you have come a long way to... but not for the better!

????? When have I bashed Brito (or Gil) ???

If you have a problem with my avatar, Ill change it to Amalia Rodriguez :)
 
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Deleted member 21996

Guest
????? When have I bashed Brito (or Gil) ???

for all i know, never... not the point!

this is not a contest for moral standards or personal preferences imutability...

i am very proud that i changed my mind towards Novak, because i stated here (do a search daddy) that i would if he dumped the potty mouth and the trashy familly...

and even if it was, at least i never changed avatar!

ps: Rodigues with a "s"... this is not Spain...
 
for all i know, never... not the point!

this is not a contest for moral standards or personal preferences imutability...

i am very proud that i changed my mind towards Novak, because i stated here (do a search daddy) that i would if he dumped the potty mouth and the trashy familly...

and even if it was, at least i never changed avatar!

ps: Rodigues with a "s"... this is not Spain...

OK, I was wrong. You changed your mind. I'm very proud of you.

btw it seems you were right. Didnt you say something like we'll talk in 2 years after Novak won AO ("fluke slam")? Its been almost 2 years and it seems that he really is a 1 slam wonder.
 

SAFINATORZ

Hall of Fame
His footwork has a lot to do with his forehand being awful as of late. Since his knee injury, he has changed the positioning of his shots esp on thiis forehad side, somedays he gets away with it however within the last few years, he seems have gotten lazy with his feet, he's not confident hitting it and tends to shank it more often than not.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
OK, I was wrong. You changed your mind. I'm very proud of you.

btw it seems you were right. Didnt you say something like we'll talk in 2 years after Novak won AO ("fluke slam")? Its been almost 2 years and it seems that he really is a 1 slam wonder.

well...i certainly dont feel the same way about him now with the changes i "asked" have been done...

if anything i am quite sad about that slump he is in!...

in fact, nowadays, i wish he would pull out of that and prove the older me wrong!

a free spirit like i think i am, works like this... not afraid of assuming bad moves or opinions...
 
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