| Former Champ Safin Upset in Straight Sets |
|
|
|
| Written by Clair Maciel | |
| Friday, 31 August 2007 | |
 It’s a sight tennis fans have seen quite often from Russian favorite Marat Safin. On any given day, Safin can either display phenomenal power and touch or lose focus (and often a match he should win) when his frustration and anger get the best of him.In Friday’s second-round match, it was the latter story on view. Young Swiss favorite Stanislas Wawrinka, currently ranked 49 in the world, took advantage of his opponent’s troubles and pulled off an early upset over Safin. The 22-year-old Swiss disposed of the 2000 US Open champ in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to equal his best Grand Slam result in the third round. Both men started out strong to hold serve easily until 3-2, when Wawrinka broke Safin on a netted approach shot for a 4-2 lead. By the end of the first set, Safin began committing errors and let his frustration get the better of him. He squandered three break points on the Swiss’ serve in the ninth game, which went to six deuce points before Wawrinka held on to secure the set. The Swiss then found his groove, playing a more consistent and cleaner game than his opponent. For the match, Safin committed 51 unforced errors versus Wawrinka’s 20. An early window of opportunity opened up for Wawrinka midway through the second set, when he converted on a double break point on a Safin unforced error. At 5-3, Wawrinka again earned a break of serve to put away the second set. Safin had the point all set up for the taking, with the Swiss far behind the baseline, but as the Russian moved toward the net and pulled his opponent out wide, Wawrinka fired a passing shot down the line for a two-set lead. Safin’s frustrated outbursts continued into the third set, and he received a warning at 0-3 for intentionally slamming a ball outside of Grandstand Stadium. He struggled with his service game and was nearly broken again at 1-4, but he saved two break points in seven deuce points to hold on. While Wawrinka breezed through his serve to hold at love, Safin fought off two match points to force the young Swiss to serve out the match. A Safin return of serve into the bottom of the net provided Wawrinka with his third consecutive third round appearance at the Open. Wawrinka will next face the winner of the match between Robby Ginepri and Teimuraz Gabashvili. - This was Safin's eighth US Open event. It is the third time he has lost in the second round. - This is Wawrinka's third US Open, and each time he has reached the third round. - Wawrinka hit 34 winners to Safin's 27. - Safin's fastest serve was 134 mph; Wawrinka's 131 http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/match_reports/2007-08-31/200708311188599646406.html |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Foundation Georgia
www.foundationgeorgia.com
Copyright © 2005 - 2009 Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research.
Designed by irakli.org
Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.
Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.
