Try the powerful search:
Selected WPSN searches:
Football Soccer Formula 1 Rugby Racing Golf Blogs Tennis
Will Novak Djokovic Follow in Marat Safin’s Underachieving Footsteps?
Published: May 21, 2011
Safin and Roger Federer were contemporaries and were both brilliant in their trade. They were born a year apart and turned pro in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Purely on skills, they were more or less evenly matched. In fact, I would personally give the edge to Safin purely on game, as he could do anything with a tennis racket.
But alas, therein comes that little thing called temperament or also called mental state. That's where Federer gobbled him up. Their head-to-head series in favor of Federer by a 10-2 margin tells you a lopsided story.
I still remember Safin winning that never-to-be-forgotten semifinal at the Australian Open in 2005 that had some of the most breathtaking shots that you would ever watch on a tennis court. And the best part was that it was coming from either side with amazing regularity. For me, Safin went to those encounters with Federer, believing he could never win those matches.
More than just temperament, there wasn't the will either. I also didn't like that he used to idolize Federer, at least more than he needed to. Ironical that it was Safin who went on to win his first Grand Slam in the 2000 US Open when he demolished Pete Sampras in the final. However, subsequent to that, Safin never really did justice to his talent, except for that 2005 Australian Open, and ended up with just two Slams—a massive disappointment.
In some ways, I find Novak Djokovic similar in that regard.
Here is a player with exceptional talent, but who just lost self-belief in matches against Federer and Rafael Nadal. He could have won them with a bit more self-belief, but actually lost those even before they started. Therefore sometimes, you would think Federer won matches that he had no business winning.
It ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis
Latest News
- Former England Manager Graham Taylor Dies at Age 72
- Bruce Arena Names USMNT January Camp Invitees
- Karamoko Dembele Makes England U15s Debut After Playing for Scotland in November
- USMNT Watch: Bobby Wood Nets 1st Bundesliga Goal Since September
- Rugby Player Bruno Andres Doglioli Banned 3 Years for Tackling Female Referee
Sponsors
Bruins Tickets
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.
Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.
San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.
Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.
NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!
Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.
New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.
Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.
Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!
Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.
Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.
San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.
Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.
NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!
Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.
New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.
Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.
Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!