Safin eats and spits young Serb
June 26th 2008 00:10
Marat Safin can still turn it on infront of the Wimbledon faithful
This match was keenly anticipated because it was one of those super-charismatic second round encounters that a Grand Slam draw can occasionally yield. These two had met only once before at Djokovic's maiden Grand Slam appearance, in Australia 2005, when Safin granted his opponent a miserly three games in total.
Hence it was widely anticipated that Djokovic would be hungry for revenge, to boost his momentum on the road to a possible semi-final against Roger Federer. But 28-year-old Safin is a man who likes a challenge – he spent last September climbing the sixth highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu in the Himalayas, and it seemed today he was in the same mood to conquer new peaks.
Like Mt Everest itself, the challenge was too much for Novak Djokovic, hailed by many as a serious contender for this year’s Wimbledon title. He was blown away in straight sets by Marat Safin, the former world number one.
Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, seeded three here, never looked comfortable and Safin despatched him 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
Djokovic played like someone the crowd had never seen before. He had a simply horrible day, and from the outset appeared unable to engage with the task in hand. The opening game alone saw last year's semi-finalist deliver two double faults to bring up 0-40. He saved his blushes, but it was a sign of things to come.
At 2-2, a Safin drop-shot forced an error from the Serb, who double faulted again to give Safin 3-2. Djokovic broke back next game and emitted a loud bellow as he did so, but it did not sound like a shout of celebration. His touch was still awry and Safin was returning beautifully. Galloping about the court, the Russian punched away a volley to break Djokovic to love again. The Serb looked like thunder.
Early in the second set, their mutual body language seemed a throwback to that first encounter from 2005 – Safin was strolling about the court with the easy confidence of the old hand, while 21-year-old Djokovic was scrambling like an ungainly new boy. The Serb's woes were many – his serve was poor, his error count was high, and his play was tentative.
At 1-1, Djokovic leaked another two break points. He got them back, and began to serve just a little better. But his errors were still cancelling out his winners. Meanwhile, Safin's touch was periodically a delight, and he was returning fearsomely well. Come the tie-break, Djokovic became frustrated by a crucial Hawk-Eye over-rule, and Safin ambled away with it 7-3.
At the start of the third set, Safin's momentum was established and it seemed that Djokovic knew it. He surrendered his serve immediately with a double fault for the second time in the match.
The crowd murmured in embarrassment. Whatever they had expected from this encounter, it was not this.
Djokovic was powerless. Safin, whose ranking has been in decline for the past three years, turned back the clock and played like the champion of old.
Djokovic rescued three match points but brought up a fourth, wouldn't you know it, with his ninth double fault. Horrendously, he delivered his 10th to surrender the match.
At the net, Djokovic embraced his conqueror, showing great grace at what must have been a moment of bitter defeat. Both men were cheered from the court, but this is a day Djokovic will long to forget.
As for Safin, the big Russian sends out a chilling warning. A cold shoulder perhaps. His playing days are far from over.
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