Roland Garros

法網

Dates: 27 MAY–10 JUNE 2007 (SUNDAY START)
Prize Money: €6,947,960
128 DRAW

SITE: STADE ROLAND GARROS
2 AVENUE GORDON BENNETT
75016 PARIS
SURFACE: RED CLAY
BALL: ROLAND GARROS – FRENCH OPEN
WEB SITE: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html

DRAW

Marat will face a qualifier at the 1st round!!

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RESULTS:

2nd Round : Marat lost to Janko Tipsarevic(SRB)

Janko Tipsarevic	6	6	7
Marat Safin	4	4	5

The official pressconference after the match..
第二輪賽後記者會

In text: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2007-05-30/200705301180536554875.html

Q. What would you say to your fans, you have lots of fans who might be disappointed today.
MARAT SAFIN: Well, life goes on, and unfortunately they wasn't really the matches that I should have lost. It's in second round only. I guess there will be another chance and I'll play better. The luck will be on my side.
But unfortunately right now, I feel like something doesn't come together, and that's why it's a lot of sad losses for the past, from beginning of the year.

Q你要跟球迷說什麼呢﹐今天你廣大的球迷們應該會很失望
MS 嗯﹐日子還是要過下去阿﹐很不幸﹐今天這比賽實在不該輸的﹐才第二輪而已。我想以後還有機會能表現好一點吧。總有一天﹐幸運之神會眷顧的。
現在真的很糟﹐我覺得不知道怎麼回事整個狀況都無法改善﹐所以從年初至今﹐一直在面對一堆殘酷難堪的失敗。

Q. Did you get some trouble with the conditions, the rain and everything, or it's not a matter?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, it doesn't really matter, because I think it's ‑‑ we are professionals and been playing in such conditions really for many years, different tournaments. To complain about the weather doesn't really make any sense.
Q 是否是現場情況不適應﹐下雨或其他因素﹐還是那都不是原因
MS 那都不是藉口﹐因為我們都是職業球員﹐多年來早已習慣各種情況變化了﹐抱怨天氣沒什麼意義

Q. Have you ever attended in a theater Hamlet?
MARAT SAFIN: No.
Q 你有沒有去看過哈姆雷特
MS 沒有

Q. The play Hamlet?
MARAT SAFIN: No, no, no.
Q 哈姆雷特劇?
MS NO NO NO

Q. Because there is a lot of interesting monologues and he's asking himself to be or not to be.
MARAT SAFIN: It's for me or ‑‑ this question?
Q 因為在劇本中有許多有趣的獨白﹐他在質疑自己要成功還是不要
MS 這是問我的問題嗎﹐還是?

Q. Could be, because I listen to many monologues of you today and it remind me of Hamlet.
MARAT SAFIN: Well, I'm 27 years old, and I'm already downhill on my career. So it's not really a question to be or not to be. This kind of question will be at age of 22, without winning a Grand Slam, and being somewhere up close, but never actually achieve anything, like Rios, for example. That's a question for him.
Q 算是吧﹐今天在場上聽到你自己喃喃自語﹐讓我想起哈姆雷特。
MS 我已經27歲了﹐職業生涯在走下坡中﹐所以應該不是我想不想成功的問題吧。這種質疑在22歲仍未贏過大滿貫﹐但已經慢慢在起飛卻還沒有實際成就的人﹐好比 RIOS (前智利名將)。那是他應該問自己的問題。

Q. You seem very frustrated on the court. Is it because of your game or because of Tipsarevic?
MARAT SAFIN: No, well, everything, altogether. It really made me disappointed because I was very close to win the first set 3‑1, Love‑30. And he serve, slipped away, the set. And of course, he started to play much better, even though that I made a break the first game of second set.
And I was just a little bit sad that nothing came together. Like I said, nothing, it didn't click. And then I start to be a little bit scared and had a little bit of pressure. He started to play much better and he was feeling that I'm not playing my best tennis.
And altogether, I could analyze the situation, but I couldn't do anything against it. And that's why it was really frustrating for me.
Q 你在場上顯得很低潮沮喪﹐是因為自己狀態不好﹐還是對手的威脅
MS 不是﹐嗯﹐應該說是整個發展情況。第一盤我3-1領先﹐還 0-30﹐而且是他發球﹐結果整盤竟然掉了﹐我真是失望透頂。之後他越打越順﹐即便第二盤一開始我又先破他發球局。
我難過因為狀態就是調整不好﹐就像我說的﹐沒有突破﹐像熄火一般。之後我開始緊張感受壓力﹐他跟著打得更好﹐當然也查覺我不在最佳狀態。
整個來說﹐我能清楚分析為何如此﹐但卻對逆轉情勢無能為力。這也是我為什麼如此難受的緣故。

Q. Do you really feel that you're on the way down?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, I don't know how many years you want me to play?
Q 你覺得自己狀態下滑中
MS WELL﹐我不曉得你還期望我再打幾年

Q. Five more.
Q 五年吧

MARAT SAFIN: Well, let's see the first, another couple of years, how it goes also. It also depends what the situation is going to be. Because I'm not really into playing between being around 50 in the world. It doesn't really motivate me to play good tennis and travel around the year. And the max we can make, second round, third round, and the position in the top 50. I make one semifinal somewhere in a small tournament and that's it. So it doesn't give me enough motivation to continue.
MS 嗯﹐我們先看看之後幾年怎麼樣吧﹐當然也取決於進步的情形。因為﹐我可不想排名50還在網壇掙扎﹐那樣的話我就毫無到處巡迴打出好球的熱情了--如果最多都只能打到第二輪﹐第三輪﹐在50名左右徘徊。今年以來我只有在一個小比賽打進四強而已﹐實在沒什麼動力繼續下去...

But if it doesn't really click and it doesn't really make any radical changes and nothing comes up, then I will see. Of course, there is a hope. Of course I want to play tennis, and it would be a sad situation to leave with being a struggling player. So I really hope that that can change and play another three, four years. Why not?
MS 如果我還是找不到節奏﹐也沒有重大突破﹐那麼我們就看著辦吧。當然﹐總是有希望的﹐我當然想打網球﹐如果因為狀態不好而黯然離開網壇是多傷感的事呢。所以﹐我真的祈盼有轉機﹐然後再打三﹑四年? 有何不可?

But those are ‑‑ depends on the mood. Maybe I don't want to play anymore next year, maybe in two years. I don't really know. But really, of course I wish to continue being not 24 in the world, being a little bit, at least, closer to the top 10.
MS 但那些都隨著心情而改變。也許明年我就不想打了﹐也許兩年後.....我真的不知道。但﹐真的﹐我真的想繼續打下去﹐而且不是停在世界第24﹐而是﹐至少接近前十。

Q. You had all the injury problems. Now you're healthy.
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah.
Q 你之前有種種傷勢問題﹐現在健康嗎
MS 是的

Q. So isn't it disappointing that you're healthy, no excuses, nothing and then ‑‑
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, but it's tough, you know, because every time I get injured I was playing great tennis. I was 3 in the world; I got injured in the wrist. I was 3 in the world and I got injured with the knee after winning the Australian Open. So maybe that's the situation. But what can we do? Move on.
Q 這樣不是更令人失望﹐你很健康﹐沒有藉口﹐卻.....
MS 是阿﹐很困難的瓶頸﹐而且每當我打得好時就開始受傷。曾經世界第三﹐就傷了手腕。之後又重返第三﹐結果在贏得澳網後膝蓋又受傷。可能情況就是這樣吧﹐然而我們能怎麼辦呢? 只有往前走。

Q. Just a last question. You seem the last year or two maybe you have figured out grass a little bit.
MARAT SAFIN: That's one of the last hopes.
Q 最後一個小疑問。最近兩年你似乎對草地球場有些開竅了
MS 那大概是最後的希望了

Q. Do you think maybe now, maybe Wimbledon could be almost the best place for you because you have such a big game?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, I don't want to really put everything on all the pressure, because I have enough already on grass. Because also, I don't know what they gonna do with the seedings. They have own way of doing the seeding. So I don't know what's gonna happen there. Also I think I can play well there, and I will have good draw, I think I can manage.
Q 你會不會認為因為你的強大火力﹐也許溫網會是你的最佳福地
MS 嗯﹐我真的不想再自增壓力了﹐草地經驗也受夠了。還有﹐我不曉得他們怎麼決定種子球員。溫網有自己排種子的方式﹐不知道他們會如何處理。我想我能發揮不錯的﹐如果有個好簽﹐應該也有可為。

Last year I was close to beating Gonzalez, but I lost five sets. I don't feel anymore so uncomfortable like the years before. But looking right now in the situation that I am right now, I'm not really in the perfect conditions to make any big results. But maybe step by step, and if something gonna change on grass.
去年我差點打敗GONZALEZ﹐但卻五盤敗北﹐所以不像以前那麼討厭草地了。但看看現在的我﹐狀態不佳﹐無法打出好成績。也許﹐一步一步地﹐我能在草地找到轉機。

For the video-interview: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multimedia/console/mflash.html?targetLink=/media/video/INT.safin.marat.30052007_EN_480 x360_400kbps.flv〈=en_FR&localisIE=true
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1st Round: Marat bt Fernando Vicente (ESP) 6.1 6.3 6.1

Fernando Vicente	1	3	1
Marat Safin	6	6	6

Interview with Marat at EuroSport !! He looks so jolly and cute !!!!!!!

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2007-05-27/200705271180293434765.html

Day 1 - An interview with Marat Safin - Sunday, May 27, 2007

Transcribed Interview

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English or French first. First question.

Q. Some 51 percent on the first serve, not a very high percent, but you were pretty heavy 217, 219. Is that something you're quite satisfied about to be very consistent with your ‑‑ for your service?

MARAT SAFIN: I'd rather change a little bit to make it a little bit higher percentage, a little bit lower on the speed. But was a little bit difficult, was a little bit windy. And of course the first match is kind of a little bit nervous. So it's not physical to do something very good because you want to win, you want to pass the first round. It's not easy.

Q. Your form on clay and the build‑up to the French Open has been sort of up and down. How easy is it for you to turn it on when it comes to a Grand Slam?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, it wasn't even ups and downs, it was just downhill. I didn't do anything special on the clay court. I lost a difficult match in the Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg. But here is a little bit different story because it's five sets, big tournament. I'm not ‑‑ a lot of things actually changes, because it gives me the opportunity, it gives me more confidence to play five sets, because even though you feel you're not playing well, you have enough time to catch up and start to play better and better. You have always a chance.

Q. How did winning the U.S. Open change your career in terms of confidence you just talked about?

MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, well, it's been such long time ago, so I even forgot about how it feels. And it's a really different stage of my career. I'm not 20 ‑‑ I'm not 20 years old, I'm already 27. I've been through a lot of ups and downs, difficult moments. I've been twice injured already afterwards.

Q. But does it change how people look at you?

MARAT SAFIN: Well, it's much better to win a Grand Slam at the age of 20 than not to win at all. So it's kind of half of the job is done because here everybody who is playing tennis wants to win a Grand Slam for their own confidence, for their own success. At least I did something, you know, and I won a major.

So I think it makes a huge difference. It's a huge relief. And then it's a little bit easier to play, and you don't have so much pressure on you to do something, you need to do something well and you need to win a Grand Slam. And, kind of, matches better this way, that's for sure.

Q. Is there a year when you look back here that you maybe should have won or had a good chance to win? Any particular year you sort of are disappointed about?

MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, actually two years. The first one was in 2000, when I lost in quarterfinal when I lost against Norman, four sets, tough one. But I was a little bit burned out. I've been playing really well, Barcelona, Mallorca, a final of Hamburg. I made the final of Dusseldorf, came here only could make quarterfinals. I was playing really great tennis. That year, I think Kuerten beat Norman in the finals, something like that.

I was playing well. I was a little bit unlucky in the quarterfinals. But that was one of the opportunities of the year, I should have won it, the semifinal against Ferrero. I was not playing well throughout the two weeks here, but I managed somehow to get into the quarter ‑‑ or to the semifinals, but it was a terrible match. I was not ‑‑ I didn't have enough support for my ‑‑ I had no basically a coach or somebody to ‑‑ a little bit to guide me and support me a little bit more, because I was really on the way to win here.

Q. The weather is pretty dreadful at the moment. How did that affect the way you approached things today?

MARAT SAFIN: It's tough to play with this weather because it's raining, it's not raining, it's windy, and then it's very rough conditions because everything depends on the weather. Playing, you're playing, but also in the back of your mind, it's still the thing that now we're gonna stop, now we're gonna stop, and you need to wait for maybe for many hours and maybe even till tomorrow. You don't want to do that. So I was lucky to finish it straight away.

Q. You may be waiting a little longer to play your second round match. I think this is due to continue most of the week. How will you entertain yourself in Paris if that's the case?

MARAT SAFIN: That is easy. I know that once you pass the first round, you can wait as much as you want for a second one. You need to finish the match. It's gonna be a tough one, so the advantage is on my side.

So I'll have to entertain myself somehow. I don't know how, but I will.

Q. Is this a Grand Slam where you feel the most comfortable because you sort of grew up a little bit on the clay in Spain?

MARAT SAFIN: It's still my favorite surface, I think. I really love to play on clay even though I didn't get good results for the last couple of years. But still very comfortable.

I love to come here, great courts, good bounces, good people. Even though it was raining, it was pretty lot of people coming. So it's ‑‑ it's my place.

Q. And everybody when they talk about you these days it's if you can play your best, you're sort of a wild card, a bit dangerous, you know, if you play your best, like anybody is afraid of you. How much do you know about whether you can play your best?

MARAT SAFIN: I can, but I don't know when it's coming, so I need to stick around and get through the couple of rounds to get the groove. For me, it was always a problem to play the first rounds because I'm not ‑‑ I need to get the rhythm and I need to get the timing in order to play good tennis. And if I'm playing well the first rounds and the guys they see straightaway, then I have lot of problems. That's what happened for a lot of tournaments already. That I always lost in the first round. It's not like I lost quarterfinals, semifinal.

But I'm looking forward. Still I think I have ‑‑ I can manage to pass two rounds and then I'm gonna be dangerous or get a little bit of confidence and then I'll get my rhythm and timing.

Q. In your opinion do you consider that in this point, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have the bigger chances to make it to the final, and in this case, whom do you pick?

MARAT SAFIN: Obviously, of course, they're the favorites and they've been playing already for the last three years, I think. They've been winning the tennis and nobody even can come close to beat them on clay, especially here. It's gonna be a tough one. Also a tough call, who gonna win this year, Roger or Nadal. Because Roger beat him actually 6‑Love in the third in Hamburg. And it looks like he finally found how to play against Rafa. But I'm pretty sure that Rafa will be playing for many tournaments already, and I think he's tired. So the final in Hamburg, I don't think it's a result who make a difference.

But still it's an advantage for Roger, and also for Nadal to be careful a little bit more. And it's gonna be tough one, 50/50 chances. It all than depends for both of them, how they are they gonna start, how it's gonna develop the match, and who gonna get scared first.

Q. When you're in Monte Carlo, you had that opening round and the match points that kept slipping away. How frustrating was that match for you? Did you need a bit of time to get over that?

MARAT SAFIN: No, just wasn't easy for me because was everything, I was playing great tennis, playing really well, slipped away the match, and to wanted to play against Rafa to try myself against him. I never play against him. It was kind of a challenge for me.

And then just it hurts, this kind of losses, and also for the confidence is not really good. And especially when I'm playing well and you're losing these kind of matches. It's very tough. So professionally, you have to get over it and move on and it's what I am doing.

THE MODERATOR: Last few English or French please.

Q. The next round is against Serbs, Vemic or Tipsarevic. What do you know about them?

MARAT SAFIN: I play against Tipsarevic in Moscow, and fast surface, tough match, three sets. He was up a break in the third one, and he been around for a long time, so he has a lot of experience, beat a lot of good guys. Been close to beat Roddick in Wimbledon last year and Nalbandian this year in the first round Open.

Vemic, we basically grew up together playing in challenger and satellites, so I know him pretty well. Big server. So let's see how it's gonna end up. It looks like it's pretty tight match.

Q. Vemic?

MARAT SAFIN: Vemic, I know him since maybe '97. So for ten years, we've been around. We play challenger together in doubles. So I know both of them pretty well.

Q. Have you been surprised by the relative nonfighting spirit of your Spanish opponent?

MARAT SAFIN: You have to understand also that he's 30 years old and he passed the qually and a lot of tough matches, of course, hard for the matches here. He was sore from playing all ‑‑ from qualifying, and it was difficult for him to play at good level in order to beat me. And, of course, it's a little bit normal and it's also tough for him because he's been injured for a long time. And it's a little bit different ‑‑ different ball game.

But you have to give him a credit, you know, to pass the quallies and to make sure and stick around when you are 30 years old and play the ‑‑ get back to a challenges and try to fight for it to get back to it. It's pretty tough.

THE MODERATOR: Last English question.

Q. When Roger lost twice to Canas in America and then to Volandri in Rome, was there much of a reaction amongst the players in terms of ‑‑ is there any thought that, you know, oh, now he's vulnerable, somebody who's been dominating for such a long time, things can change quickly?

MARAT SAFIN: If he lose three matches in the first part of the year, it doesn't mean he lost it completely. I think he's ‑‑ he has enough tennis and he has enough confidence and experience to get out of there. Everybody can slip, and the only players, they really thought the same way. He, of course not everybody is waiting who can surprise him and who can beat him.

But he's challenging and he's ‑‑ he deals real well with the pressure and it doesn't really matter if he lose twice to Canas, five times to Canas, and then he lose to Volandri all of a sudden in Rome. It doesn't matter. He comes and beats Nadal in the final of Hamburg, so it doesn't really matter. And he'll be No. 1 for a long time and nobody can do anything about it looks like that.
_________

"Why should we take all seriously?"
2005/05/25 Interview of Marat Safin - l'Equipe Magazine- Vincent Cognet.

E: When we look at your career at Roland Garros, we see that there are a lot of matches, emotions but also lot of ups and downs...

M: I have been in a lot of tournaments. But really, Roland Garros was my first "real" tournament where my career began. After RG 1998, I first stepped into the top 100. I came through qualifying, beat Agassi, Kuerten (defending champion) and then lost to Pioline in a match I could have won. Later, I went to the quarters (2000) and semi final (2002), I was not far from the victory. Unfortunately, that seems to be far today.
And it’s going to be even more difficult for me to win the tournament.

E: Is Roland Garros still your favorite tournament?

M: Absolutely. I love Paris, I like the crowd, the courts, the atmosphere…People have always been great with me, whether I play good or bad tennis, they still support me. I’m not that young anymore, I’ve got to enjoy these moments. I like going to Roland Garros. But it’s better to be there, having won matches and pass the first week. But now, it’s harder than years ago. When I went to the semi final in 2002, Federer didn’t play that well on clay, Nadal was not even here! And I don’t even talk about the new generation, Djokovic, Gasquet, Berdych, etc.

E: What’s the most difficult thing at Roland Garros?

M: A lot of things depend on the draw. With a good draw, you can hope to play the second week there. And then, everything is possible: you are more confident, you can play your best tennis and you start to be dangerous.

E: Your first stay here dates from 1997. You lost in the first round of the junior Roland Garros. What do you remember of that period?

M: It was tough for me at this stage. I didn’t have money. My sponsor left me. I stayed in Moscow for two months…I thought my career was finished before it started. I asked big companies like IMG or Octagon to help me and give me some money. The agents came to the first round to see how I played and they left saying “ this guy really has nothing special…”. Finally, IMG gave me $5000. And then it all started…

E: Did you immediately like it?

M: Of course! You meet all the great players, that gives you some motivation and you understand all the sacrifices you have to make to play at their level and be a pro tennis player.
One year later, I played the “real” tournament. For me, they’re as different as chalk and cheese. Can you imagine? In 1998, I beat Agassi on the Suzanne – Lenglen court and Kuerten on the centre court…What a change in one year! My priorities changed, I didn’t see life as I used to…

E: How was Marat Safin at this time?

M: (He smiles) Young. I had no worries. I didn’t know anything…But it was a fantastic period: I only had to care about my tennis. Life was cool. I did a lot of mistakes…Today, I still wonder how I could act this way and do such things…When I think about it, I blush! (laugh) But I had fun, I had a beautiful life…At this time, all I wanted was to buy a car and an apartment. Obviously, I first bought a car…It was a Volkswagen, I remember I bought it for $1500. But it was nice to be young, and to start to earn money…

E: Do you regret this period?

M: Yes, I miss this life because I know it won’t happen again. When you grow up, you start to care about your future. But life it’s also the present! True or not, good or bad, it doesn’t matter. It is experience.
Some say that only the fools do not learn from their errors. That’s stupid: life is too short, there is enough time to make mistakes! We spend your life making mistakes! But it’s cool! At least, you enjoy life and have good times! Why should we take it all seriously?

E: Let’s go back to Roland Garros. What did you miss in 2000 and 2002 to win the title?

M: In 2000, in the quarters against Magnus Norman, I had a chance but lost it at the end of the fourth set. He was tired, he started to be nervous, the match was slipping through his fingers. But I missed two break points…This year, I played great tennis. I won Barcelona, Mallorca, reached Hamburg and World Team Cup’s finals. I was probably a bit too tired to go further. Great moment, anyway…In 2002, it was awful. I reached the semis without playing good tennis, I had no coach, I felt lonely. I didn’t enjoy my tennis. All kinds of things could put me into a bad mood…The worse thing is that if I had beaten Ferrero, I would have played Costa in the final and his game didn’t give me any problems. This is the big regret of my career.

E: For the French crowd, one of your unforgettable matches at Roland Garros is your defeat against Fabrice Santoro in 2001…

M: (he grimaces a bit) I couldn’t play against Fabrice. It was a mental problem. It all started when I first played him (defeated 6/0 6/4 in Washington in 1999). I still don’t know what happened. Then, I lost some matches against him, simply because I could never beat him. It wasn’t because of his game but - he knew he was mentally stronger. That is what happened that day; since the first game, he understood I wasn’t at ease. He is a clever man, he started to play his game. It drove me crazy but it was my fault not his.

E: Three years later, in a match against Mantilla, you dropped your pants down…

M: Yes, but it wasn’t hysteria! On the contrary! This match was incredible; we both played super tennis. In the fifth set, we played a hard and fantastic point when I suddenly hit a perfect drop shot. I ran without much belief in it and I succeeded with a passing shot with a nice angle. This point was so amazing that I just dropped my pants down! Like that, without thinking! I grew up in Spain and there, it was a tradition: when we played a great point, we dropped down our pants. At Roland Garros, some people didn’t understand but it I didn’t mind. I paid a $2000 fine but it was worth it!(laugh).

E: This is surely not the only fine you have had to pay in Paris: three times you refused to go to the press conferences…

M: Yes, after my defeats against Hrbaty(1999), Santoro and Gonzales (last year). Every time it was stupid defeats in which I played stupid tennis. I know how it goes: they always ask this stupid question: “Marat, what happened today?” I refuse to answer those questions. This is typical from some journalists: “And why that? Why this?” They push you until you say foolish comments. I don’t regret my quotes but when I’m in a bad mood, it is better to stay quiet.

E: When you lost to Pioline in 1998, you couldn’t avoid the French crowd’s pressure. Did you progressively start to like the Parisian crowd?

M: It’s a great crowd. You know, there are places where people don’t understand tennis. In France, they respect players and understand the game. They don’t push you down even if you play badly. In fact, they let you play your game and do what you want on court. I have played in Bercy, Lyon, Pau , etc…and it’s always the same. The big quality of the French crowd is that they respect the players.

E: Some players don’t like the centre court. Is it the same for you?

M: No, the only court I don’t like, is the Suzanne-Lenglen. It is too narrow. In contrast to this court, the centre court is perfect for me. But what I like the most on court, is that people are interested in the game. They are quiet and then involved when its needed. We really feel that the people are with you when you are playing, that they really are a part of the game.

E: What do you do in Paris during your days off?

M: I don’t stay in the hotel. There is a “must” for me: I go to the Café de l’Homme, owned by my friend Arnaud Casagrande (former coach of Nicolas Escudé). I usually go there on the first evening. I also go to l’Avenue, avenue Montaigne, Chez André at the hotel Costes…These are classics. I like eating and I like good food. I also like to sit on a “terrasse” outside of a café and observe people’s behaviour. How they walk, what they wear, how they behave…there are so many different personalities.

E: You stay at the hotel during the tournament. Did you never think about renting a flat here?

M: Years ago, I wanted to buy one. But French taxes…it’s a joke! And renting one…the advantage at the hotel is that someone cleans the room. If I rent an apartment with friends, it would become like a big garbage…three or four guys in a flat, can you imagine? (laughs)

E: Does something surprise you in the French mentality?

M: Some French are arrogant but I mostly find them cool and relaxed.
They live a bohemian life. They like to sit down and talk for hours…We can recognize a French person from a 100 metres just because of his clothes or haircut. Me, that’s how I see them: sitting down at a “terrasse”, drinking tea or coffee and smoking a cigarette. The French enjoy life and I like that!

Translation from the French done by Elisabeth.

________

Picture taken by a fan while Marat was praciticing for RG

Hamburg Open
漢堡大師賽

Place : Hamburg, Germany
Where : Rothenbaum Tennis Centre
Centre Court Capacity : 13.300
Date : 12-20 May
Draw size : 56
Surface : Claycourt
Price money : €1.870.000
Defending Champion : Tommy Robredo (ESP) (def. Stephanek)
Tournament Director : Walter Knapper
Ticket Hotline : +49 40 411 78 411
Website : http://www.dtb-tennis.de/AmRothenbaum_en/ar.php
_____________
Marat is naturally disappointed with this loss but he remains positive that he will make the break through. He will keep on fighting to get the confidence back and play his game. He wants to play tennis.Marat is going back to Moscow to get more practice and then to Paris for Roland Garros on Friday 25th May.
可以想像MARAT 對於輸球極為失望﹐不過仍對突破現況保持樂觀。他會繼續奮戰直到恢復信心﹐打出應有的狀態。他愛網球不願放棄。他打算先飛回莫斯科訓練之後在5月25日前往巴黎參加法網。


2nd RD: Marat

Juan Carlos Ferrero	6	7
Marat Safin	3	6(15)

1ST RD

Marat Safin	7	6
Nicolas Massu	6	4

Hamburg, 14 May 2007

Press Conference with MARAT SAFIN

Safin - Massu 7:6 (7), 6:4

Q: Well done. Good to get that win, but it was an up and down match. First the long lead… What was the reason for these changes?

SAFIN: I started pretty well. I guess he was a little cold. He was pretty nervous, so he could not play his game. He took advantage at 4:0. He just had nothing to lose. I made a couple of mistakes. I did nothing wrong but he just went for it. And it went his way. He just came up to 5:4. The second break was tough for me because I was getting a bit nervous. I did not want to lose this opportunity. I wanted to close the set. Basically in all the games I had deuce or advantage. It was very close and I could not make it. In the tiebreak I was very disappointed because I had my chances an was playing the right game. Finally it went my way. Unfortunately sometimes the luck is not on my side. Sometimes I miss by a little bit.

Q: It is nice to win a match that had so many challenges in it for you, isn't it?

SAFIN: Very nice. Also for the confidence. I am not really in a great position right now. These kind of matches give me a lot of opportunity and confidence. Eventually my game has to come back because I am playing well, moving around really well, my fitness is great, doing the right things. Sometimes I just make some mistakes and everything goes the other way round. Especially now against Ferrero. I just have to take it match by match and make sure I take it point by point. Work, work, work and wait for opportunities.

Q: You brought your ranking right back from somewhere outside the Top 100 to somewhere in the 20ies. Does that mean your confidence is going up with it?

SAFIN: I finished the year 24. From middle of August until end of the season, I lost a lot of matches 7:6 in the third, 7:6 in the fifth against Haas in the US Open, Nalbandian, Madrid, then 7:6 in the semifinal to Blake in Bankog. Then 7:6, 7:6 to Clement in semi finals in Washington. If I would win 2 of these matches I would be Top 20. This year I was also very close to beating Davydenko. I had four match points against Vliegen in Monte Carlo. I was close to beat Roddick in Australia. So it's just something that did not go my way. I am also disappointed because I am stuck between 30 and 20 and don't move up. I need to defend the points in the second part of the season. So luck better starts to be on my side. Hopefully it will come my way.

Q: The tennis is there so is it a mental breakthrough you have to make?

SAFIN: It's just one, two points. I never lost one easy match. I'm running around, I want to play, I'm fighting. Just the last chance slips away.

Q: Is the knee 100%?

SAFIN: Yes, I'm moving around okay. I'm not getting tired. I'm perfect. I work a lot on the physical condition which is very important for me. Now it's a different part that is missing.

Q: The conditions can be slow and heavy here, but you've done well here before. Do you mind the conditions here?

SAFIN: Sometimes it's a bit slow. It depends on the weather. The balls can get heavy. But for the past few years, the balls have changed. Dunlop is a bit heavier than Head. It's okay. It's a little slower than Rome, but it's definitely not too slow. Today I had some bad bounces and mishits. I was a bit tough for me today.

Q: The ATP have been planning a lot of changes to the Tour. Do you have an opinion on that?

SAFIN: I think the people, who are in the positions to make the choices, I hope they know what they are doing. I don't want to get involved. We have to let it be and let the people at the top make their choices. We can play tennis but we can't change and make everybody happy. I'm sure that whoever is taking care of it knows what he is doing. Once we have him, let's give him a chance for 4, 5 years to see how it goes. It can't be worse than it used to be. When Mark Miles left, we had no chances. It was going bankrupt, no money. At least we have a lot of sponsors. It is getting better. It's picking up, but we have to believe in our people and make sure to support them, even though they make mistakes. Unfortunately, you want progress without any mistakes. People or tennis players should understand this, not to criticize if somebody makes a small mistake. They should not be shouting. We just have to let it be.
_______

DRAW

(1)FEDERER, Roger SUI/BYE
QUALIFIER v HRBATY, Dominik SVK
QUALIFIER v SAFIN, Marat RUS
WAWRINKA, Stanislas SUI v (15) FERRERO, Juan Carlos ESP
(12) FERRER, David ESP v BJORKMAN, Jonas SWE
SODERLING, Robin SWE v GINEPRI, Robby USA
QUALIFIER v QUALIFIER
BYE/(7) LJUBICIC, Ivan CRO

(4) DJOKOVIC, Novak SRB/BYE
BENNETEAU, Julien FRA v (WC) SCHUETTLER, Rainer GER
(WC) SUMMERER, Tobias GER v NIEMINEN, Jarkko FIN
MAYER, Florian GER v (13) YOUZHNY, Mikhail RUS
(10) BERDYCH, Tomas CZE v VERDASCO, Fernando ESP
MOYA, Carlos ESP v FISH, Mardy USA
CLEMENT, Arnaud FRA v STEPANEK, Radek CZE
BYE/(8) BLAKE, James USA

(6) ROBREDO, Tommy/BYE
VERKERK, Martin v ALMAGRO, Nicolas
ACASUSO, Jose v QUALIFIER
(SE) VOLANDRI, Filippo v (9) MURRAY, Andy
(16) HEWITT, Lleyton v CALLERI, Agustin
CHELA, Juan Ignacio v CANAS, Guillermo
GICQUEL, Marc v SIMON, Gilles
BYE/(3) DAVYDENKO, Nikolay

(5) GONZALEZ, Fernando/BYE
ROCHUS, Olivier v QUALIFIER
(WC) WASKE, Alexander v MELZER, Jurgen
GAUDIO, Gaston v (11) GASQUET, Richard
(14) BAGHDATIS, Marcos v (WC) KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp
TURSUNOV, Dmitry v ANDREEV, Igor
BECKER, Benjamin v QUALIFIER
BYE/(2) NADAL, Rafael

Rome Open
羅馬大師賽

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Place: Rome, Italy
Date: May 7-13, 2007
Draw Size: 56
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: ?2,082,500
Tournament Director: Sergio Palmieri
Ticket Hotline:
+39 06 3283 7240
Website: www.internazionaliditalia.it

Defending Champion looking for a hattrick : Rafael Nadal in singles and Knowles/Nestor in doubles
_________
2RD: Marat lost to Davydenko

Nikolay Davydenko	7	7	6
Marat Safin	6	5	4

1RD : Marat bt A. Delic

Marat Safin	2	6	6
Amer Delic	6	3	4

MAIN DRAW

Roger Federer vs BYE
Nicolas Almagro vs Tim Henman
Filippo Volandri vs Q
Fernando Verdasco vs Richard Gasquet

Tomas Berdych vs Jarkko Nieminen
Stanislav Wawrinka vs Q
Jose Acasuso vs Martin Verkerk
Ivan Ljubicic vs BYE

Andy Roddick vs BYE
Gaston Gaudio vs Mardy Fish
Juan Ignacio Chela vs Marc Gicquel
Igor Andreev vs David Ferrer

James Blake vs Gael Monfils
Simone Bolelli vs Q
Jonas Bjorkman vs Dmitry Tursunov
Fernando Gonzales vs BYE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommy Robredo vs BYE
Lleyton Hewitt vs Q
Jurgen Meltzer vs Q
Gilles Simon vs Andy Murray

Juan Carlos Ferrero vs Dominik Hrbaty
Potito Starace vs Augustin Calleri
Marat Safin vs Amer Delic
Nikolay Davydenko vs BYE

Novak Djokovic vs BYE
Benjamin Becker vs Robin Soderling
Marcos Baghdatis vs Carlos Moya
Radek Stepanek vs Tommy Haas

Mikhail Youzhny vs Julien Benneteau
Olivier Rochus vs Q
Robby Ginepri vs Daniele Bracciali
Rafael Nadal vs BYE

Kim Calls It A Career
克萊絲特宣告退休
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1316

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – One of the most popular players to have ever graced the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Kim Clijsters, announced her retirement on Sunday, May 6, effective immediately. Clijsters' last match was a 76(3) 63 loss to the Ukraine's Julia Vakulenko in the opening round of the J&S Cup in Warsaw, Poland on May 3, 2007.

WTA 女網最受觀迎球員的 CLIJSTERS 於五月6日宣布正式退休。CLIJSTERS 最後一次現身球場乃於波蘭華沙 五月3日 J&S 杯第一輪﹐輸給烏克蘭的 VAKULENKO。

"I'm extremely proud of what I've achieved in my career," Clijsters said in a message to her fans. "If someone told me nine years ago I would have accomplished all that I did, I would have said you were joking. Tennis has been an amazing journey for me all over the world and I'm very happy to have met the people I did. That's always been the most important to me; forget the trophies and material things, friends are truly the most important. I couldn't have done all I did without the support of my family and coaches who worked with me, and to them I'm truly grateful. I am also thankful to all the encouragement from the fans over the years and the media's support in following my career.

CLIJSTERS 對球迷表示 "對於自己在網壇的成就感到驕傲。如果九年前有人跟我說我將會如此大放異彩﹐我肯定會回說他根本在開玩笑。在世界巡迴比賽對我而言是奇妙的人生歷程﹐也很高興認識很多人。這是最重要的﹔撒開獎杯或獎金等東西﹐朋友是最珍貴的。假若沒有家人﹑教練的支持﹐我不肯能有任何作為﹐因此我十分感激。另外﹐對於世界各地的球迷及媒體朋友的關心﹐我也非常感謝。

"I couldn't have asked for a better farewell than I got in Antwerp; trying to play after that was proving more difficult. With injuries that wouldn't go away and life after tennis drawing nearer, it became harder to push myself to compete.

在ANTWERP﹐我得到此生難求的歡送﹔在那役之後﹐要繼續打好似乎更顯困難。揮之不去的傷病及網球生涯接近尾聲﹐我發現越來越難敦促自己去競爭。

"Tennis-wise, winning the US Open and season-ending Championships twice were obvious high points. The matches that I'll never forget were the 1999 US Open match with Serena, when I was 5-3 up in the third. I had such goose bumps it was incredible. I remember playing Amélie in Filderstadt one year, coming from match point down to win, but the tennis we both played that day was amazing.

就網球本身來說﹐拿到美網冠軍及兩度年終冠軍確實是職業生涯的高峰。最難忘的一場比賽是1999年美網對陣小威﹐第三盤當我以5-3領先之時。我全身起疙瘩非常緊張﹐那真的太不可思議了。另外﹐記得有一年於FILDERSTADT 跟MOMO比賽﹐從救了賽末點到反敗為勝﹐那天我們兩的表現都太棒了。

"I hope people won't be too sad now that I've decided to stop playing tennis. A new chapter in my life is about to begin and I hope I'll see everyone somewhere down the line. Remember, whatever you do, do it with a smile on your face."

希望大家不要因為我的退役而難過。我將開啟另一段人生﹐也祈盼有天能再跟大家重遇。請記得﹐不管做什麼﹐都要帶著微笑。

-----

"Kim Clijsters will be remembered as one of the most accomplished and loved players in the history of women's professional tennis," said Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott. "No player has been so unanimously popular with fans and fellow players alike. She has been a once-in-a-generation champion. Kim's contribution to popularizing the sport in her native Belgium, as well as globally, is well-known. Athletic and determined on court, Kim has also been a wonderful ambassador for the sport off it and she will be much missed by her legions of fans, fellow players and everyone connected with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour."

WTA 主席表示 "CLIJSTERS 在女網史上將會是最有成就且最令人喜愛的一位﹐沒有人像她一樣廣受球迷及同儕歡迎。她是一代霸主﹐對於網球在比利時及全球的發展的貢獻有目共睹。在場上總是充滿運動風範及求勝的意志﹐KIM 一直是女網最佳的推廣大使﹐而球迷跟其他球員勢將會非常想念她的。

Long-time compatriot and rival, world No.1 Justine Henin said, "I have a lot of respect for what she did in her career, as a player and as a person. We've almost grown up together and I think we've helped each other to reach another level because we always pushed each other to play better. I think it's been a good concurrence for us. She's been a great player and it's time for her now to turn the page and do something else in her life and everyone has to respect that. She did a lot for the game, for Belgian tennis for sure, and I think I will have great memories of her that I will keep. It's pretty emotional because we spent a lot of time together when we were younger and we grew up together on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. It's a very special day today."

長年的同胞及競爭對手﹐世界第一的 HENIN 表示"我對 她在職業裡的成就由衷敬佩﹐不管在場上或場下。我們是一起長大的﹐因為我們互相幫助﹐互相激勵﹐以將自己的球技提昇到另外一個層次﹐我認為那一直是良性的互助。她是位偉大的球員﹐而現在也是她開啟人生另一頁﹐做她想做的事﹐大家應該尊重她的決定。對於網球﹐她的貢獻無庸置疑﹐在比利時也是如此﹐而她的一切將會是我心中美好的回憶。這是令人激動的一刻﹐因為我們在年輕時常常一起切磋﹐在WTA 巡迴賽中一起成長。今天是個很特別的日子。

Close friend Amélie Mauresmo said, "I think she had been thinking about retiring for a while so I'm sure she is really convinced that it's the right decision for her. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and all the players are going to miss her a lot, not only because of the player she was, but the joy she brought everywhere. I wish her the very best in her new life. Personally I always enjoyed our rivalry because it brought the best out in both of us."

好友 MOMO 說"她考慮退役已經有好長一段時間了﹐所以我相信她覺得時間已到﹐作出最好的決定。WTA 所有的球員都會很想念她的﹐不只因為她的球員身份﹐還有她帶給大家的歡樂。我對於她的新生活給予最大的祝福。就個人而言﹐我一直很享受兩人的競爭﹐因為總是把兩人的潛力挖掘出來。

Serena Williams reflected, "I wish Kim the best in her life after tennis. She was a great player, a great competitor and an even better person. We had some great matches but I'll miss her more in the locker room than anything else."

小威則表示 "我祝她退役後幸福快樂。她是個很棒的球員﹐好的競爭對象﹐更是個善良可愛的人。我們曾有許多精彩的比賽﹐不過我會更想念私底下在更衣室裡的她"