Friday, January 28, 2005

The King Is Dead ... Long Live The New King !

Over the past 12 months Roger Federer had raised tennis to such supreme levels that it was quite essential for him to have a really bad day for anyone to have a chance against him. Or his opponent would have to be in a freakishly rich vein of form. The latter happened last night at the Australian Open.

If there is one player who has the ability to beat Federer at his best, it is Marat Safin. Not Roddick not Hewitt. Safin is an insanely talented player much like Federer but has a very different game in many respects. His problems have been fitness, consistency and more worryingly temperament. All 3 fell in place last night and he was able to edge out the Swiss King in an epic 5-set thriller.

This Australian Open has been a great one - the 2 great matches Hewitt played against Nadal and Nalbandian, Serena and Sharapova playing some fantastic tennis and it was all topped by what 2 of the game's most naturally gifted players produced last night. Will there be more to come ?? Or will the finals be an anti-climax ???

I say : "Go Safin !!!"

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