Marat Safin Forum

Just wanted to share this week's thoughts..

I watched both semifinals with both Russian girls - Nadya Petrova & Lena Vesnina. Against Wozniak (CAN) & Wozniacki (DEN)

Nadya Petrova against A.Wozniak - good match, Nadya seemed close to winning it, but was fighting herself on important points..
She needs more matches to regain confidence in herself..

Lena Vesnina did a great job by getting to semis, beating Cibulkova on a way..
She was serving for match, and failed, then had match points on Wozniacki's serve, and couldn't convert..
It was hard to watch - poor Lena was crying after each match point she could't convert - so emotional..
That was her inexperience of playing to get to the Final & winning big matches, I'm sure - when she gets to play more matches like that, she will win them !

Zhenya Korolev lost to Hewitt with the only break of serve coming in the 2nd set in last game when Zhenya was serving to stay in a match..

Monte Carlo

Misha Youzhny couldn't get to the main draw - he lost his 2nd qualif. match to Lapenti..

Charlston

We have Dementieva, Zvonareva, Petrova & other young girls playing there this week..

Good day for Russians!

Besides Marat, Dementieva, Zvonareva, Petrova & Vesnina won !

Only Igor Andreev lost having lost 3 MP serving for match - it's becoming a curse for him..

Nikolaj Davydenko just beat Nalbandian!
Since 3 matches has been posponed yesterday, Kolya, Nadal & Murray will be playing 2 matches today !

Kolya will take on Murray later on..I think he can beat him, especially since it's on clay!
The difference is Murray played 1 set today, and Kolya - 3..

On girls' side - Lena Dementieva & Lena Vesnina are through to the Qtr-Finals !

Nadya Petrova lost in 3 sets - was serving for match twice too! - geeze, when will the Russian curse end ?

Igor Andreev & Kolya Davydenko are in a 3rd round ! !

And, Misha Youzhny beat Troicki & will play Wawrinka today to get to the 3rd..

I hope to see at least one Russian standing this at the end of this week !

Rome, Italy

Our girls did very good today!!

Dinara, Sveta Kuznetsova, Nadya Petrova, Anya Chakvetadze all won today!
The only loser was E. Vesnina..

Sveta Kuznetsova won too - she served Pennetta a bagel in a 3rd set.

Anya Chakvetadze lost to Venus in 3-setter. She played well in a 2nd & 3rd, just lacked practice of playing big matches lately...

Sveta plays Jankovic tomorrow - good luck to her !

Davydenko beat J.C. Ferrero in 2 sets, and M. Youzhny beat Almagro in 2 sets !

Sveta beat Jankovic 6:1, 7:5 !!

I watched the match - Sveta played great ! So clean, so many winners !

Good luck to her in semis against Azarenka !

Except for the biggest upset in Madrid (Marat, of course), other Russians started well.

Lena Dementieva, Nadya Petrova & A. Chakvetadze are through to the next round!
Alisa Kleibanova just beat Venus Williams in 3 sets! Go girl !

As far as guys, only Kolya Davudenko is standing!
Andreev withdrew with injury, Youzhny could not play qualifies because he played in semis on Germany on a week-end..

Good luck to Dinara & Sveta tomorrow !

Youzhny actually was in the final in Munich which he lost narrowly to Berdych - it was very close and after a bad slump looks like Misha is getting back to winning ways.
Andreev has a rib injury which he got in Belgrade in his 1st round match and had to retire so under the rules he had to fly to Madrid and let the ATP doctor examine him and then he could withdraw.
Should be fine for RG.
webby

Thanks, Webby!

Sorry to ask here, but have you heard / read anything about Dima Tursunov?
I heard about his wrist injury long time ago...

I was wondering the same thing, Natasha. I haven't heard of him lately and obviously he is not in Madrid.
Some info anybody ?

ARAG World Team Cup

Russia: Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov, Evgeny Korolev

This this a team event that takes place in Dusseldorf, and last year our guys got to the Final, and had 1 M.P. in a deciding doubles match against Sweden..

Well, looks like both Dima & Igor are playing - hopefully, they both recovered from their injuries !

In Madrid, Kolya Davydenko withdrew because of right leg injury..
I hope he recovers soon to be in form for RG !!

Thanks, Natasha! Great Igor and Dima have recovered from their injuries.
But sorry for Kolya, I think he didn't even get on the court yesterday. Hope he gets better soon!

Think that Kolya probably withdrew as with RG coming up would prefer to make sure stays fit for that.
Good to see Dima back and sure that with Igor it was just minor but best to ensure didn't get any worse.
webby