federermagic -- "The Future of Tennis": Safin Destroys Sampras USO2000

[cammpinno]

Worst thing about this video is that Marat was not handling HIS generation the same way at all. Federer, Hewitt, Roddick... SAD.

[sultanabran1]

shame safin never fulfilled his potential. could've been one of the greats. I'm glad the slams he didn't win went to fed though.

[thatmusikman]

@sultanabran1 If safin did, federer would have been like roddick, so marginalised.

[cammpinno]

Where did this Safin disappear? 

[Polarcupcheck]

@cammpinno You just have to ask, "what happened." He fearlessly bulldozed players. I remember him hammering Kuerten at RG in 98' in a very similar manner.

I'll always remember this day as the day someone finally stood up and whipped Sampras.

[thatmusikman]

@cammpinno He was afraid that he would dominate the whole tennis world too easily so he decided to go with 2 gs titles and let the rest gain some glory :)

[misterlonely1446]

Sampras sucks more at approaching the net than Roddick (at least here he was).

[thatmusikman]

@misterlonely1446 nope, it was the way safin was returning, giving sampras balls that were almost impossible to do anything with

[Oreoclan]

At 5:34, you can see Sampras is thinking, "Yeah... How DID you return my serve so well??? Cause I need to fix that!"

Safin is like the next Agassi. But they say he's like Sampras because he blew a legendary player off the court. They thought he'd go on to be like Sampras in his achievements, not in his play style (though it's much the same idea, blow the guy off the court hard and quick; just different execution). Safin had head and priority issues like Agassi did in his younger years.

[MaratSafinVideos]

The play at 3:43 is laughable.

[3timeMVPNash]

Sampras was an idiot in this match to always come up to the net. This is why he would have been killed by Federer and Nadal in their primes if he came to the net all the time.

[davd1986]

1:50-1:55, that has to be the get of the tournament, at least one of the gets of the tournament! I think during the 2004 Aus open, the ESPN commentators were saying how fit Safin was, he was doing 5 minute miles. That's pretty impressive to have the speed, endurance and power, on top of his strokes and service. Could have and should have been Federer's other main rival, next to Nadal. One of the biggest disappointments in tennis history, that's for sure!

[eclecticist0]

@davd1986 yup, if safin kept up his level of play until 2006-2007, he would definitely have been able to give nadal a few good beatings

[MegaBobsmith1]

there are certain times in a tennis player's career when he or she can hit any shot from anywhere on court and it will go in. those times don't come very often, obviously. safin had one of those experiences against sampras that day

[IvanDrago187]

sad to see him go. But its a testament to how grueling the tennis seasons are over the years. Amazing how Federer has managed to stay so consistent and injury free over the years.

[radioxxflyer]

probably the best match safin ever played, it is just a pity it came early in his career. this is always a stand out memory for me when i think of safin and pete individually, i always remember watching it as a 12 yr old thinking poor pete :( but was in awe of how safin handled sampras.

[asdfuogh]

Not sure if it's just in the highlights because I've not seen the whole match itself, but doesn't it more like a battle of styles? Sampras came to the net like every time here and Safin was just... abusing that predictable pattern. Safin is so awesome to watch when he plays well.

[boingDC]

This is a prime example why many people think Pete Sampras's game is very one dimensional--without his serve, he is pretty ordinary

[demondayzzz]

you can't say that. he still has his volleys, his movement/athleticism, his backhand was very good. also federer without his forehand wouldn't have won anything, even if he's well rounded, but it's still a ridiculous thing to conjecture.

[kusta345]

its 2 bad safin didnt have the potential. he cud have been the next sampras

[davd1986]

@kusta345 Didn't have the potential?

[kusta345]

he could have won a lot more slams in his career and stayed number 1 longer but dont get me wrong safin is one of the most talented players ever. He beat federer and sampras in grand slams and ended up winning them. If safin was stronger mentally, then he could of been the next sampras. That's what i meant

[demondayzzz]

how could he be the next sampras? he has nothing in common with him, he doesn't serve and volley, he hits much bigger and with less spin off the forehand, he has a double handed backhand, he's much more powerful, bigger, etc. if there's anyone who's the next sampras it's federer.

[demondayzzz]

next sampras? wtf is he smoking? he's the first safin.

[davd1986]

When you are hot you are hot....This match and the 2007 AO SF beatdown that Roger inflicted on Roddick are the two most dominating performances at slams that I have seen. I just wonder what Safin felt or thought of, during this match, if he was conscious of what sort of whooping he was giving Sampras. Another thing that was siginifcant in this match was that Marat was Federer-like in his demenour. He just stayed focused throughout, showed composure and it looked so effortless and wonderful!

[fmvgomes]

Safin was a very complete player! Had great wings and a killer serve and even better return erve.

He could beat any player if he was on a good day! This was one of those ocasions!

[davd1986]

It's a shame that Marat wasn't able to build on this performance, sure he won a decent number of tournaments, 2 slams, 2 davis cups, masters series events, got to #1, but I, like so many others expected him to get to at LEAST 5-6 majors. Injuries in the subsequent years and lack of interest and motivation led to his downfall, absolutely nothing wrong with is general play. His 2 hander was one of the best, his serve was lethal, he moved great for a big guy, solid volleyer, sad he's retired...

[demondayzzz]

lol u just listed a ridiculous resume, added that to injuries, and the fact that he did so well with such little interest/motivation means he made the most of his career. but he was definitely one of the all time great talents, but compare that to gasquet/nalbandian/gonzalez perhaps and he looks pretty good. and he was in the era of federer.

[bobomber]

Good time to play the match of your life...

[danii040]

it was a good match but i think his best one was against federer, aus open 2005...

[Federer4president]

absolutly! just out of this world! he just passed sampras on the net anyway! ill miss him on the tour!

[Klarote]

Great vid. Thanks