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6/25/08 11:12 PM | David Cox
Wimbledon 2008 is fast becoming a tournament to expect the unexpected. Nalbandian and Davydenko's losses on days 1 and 2 surprised a lot of people but today it went on step further with one of the biggest favourites for the title crashing out in round 2
Djokovic made the semis last year and a lot of people thought he could possibly end Federer's reign in the semi-finals this year. The Swiss would never admit it publically but after Safin's 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 triumph on Wednesday afternoon, Federer must surely be breathing a huge sigh of relief and his path to a 6th straight Wimbledon final now looks that much clearer.
This match-up was keenly anticipated given the tennis Safin can play. He's made no secret of his dislike for grass in the past but amazingly it was Djokovic who never looked at home in the blustery conditions and never really looked like winning
He played a horrible opening service game to go down 0-40 and although he clawed his way out of that hole it was a sign of things to come. An ill-timed double fault (one of an eventual tally of 10) gave Safin the break for 3-2. Djokovic broke back but his timing was still awry and he was far from the player who had swept into the Queens final. Safin broke to love with a clinical volley to go 4-3 up and his powerful serving secured the set
Djokovic picked up his level slightly in set 2, scrambling desperately to keep Safin at bay. The Russian had all the chances, returning quite brilliantly and the pressure told in the tiebreak. Djokovic's usual focus was not there and he let a Hawk-eye overule get on top of him. Safin breezed through it 7-3
Djokovic has never won from 2 sets to love down and he surrended fairly meekly in the 3rd. Safin was the man in control playing the brand of tennis you'd expect from a 2 time slam champion. The Serb relinquished serve at the start of the 3rd with another double fault and it was elementary from there
Djokovic had plenty of praise for his rival's tennis saying “He was making very few unforced errors from the back. But I wasn’t doing anything to hurt him. My serve, even when I made a high percentage of first serves, was going straight to his racquet. No angles, no precision whatsoever.”
It's going to be a long, hard month for Djokovic before he can redeem himself at the summer masters series and the Olympics. He came with the intention of wresting the Swiss' crown away but it was one of the Federer's former rivals who struck the telling blow
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go safin! keep it up!!
RafaNadalGirl20 , 6/26/08 12:50 AM
Did you know that... James Blake is good friends with John Mayer, an American singer who he attended high school with.
gordana, Dec 3, 2008 9:49 AM
gordana, Dec 3, 2008 9:29 AM
RickyDimon, Dec 3, 2008 5:21 AM
tennisgirl, Dec 1, 2008 11:48 PM
lendl, Dec 1, 2008 6:17 PM
Navratilovastillplay, Dec 3, 2008 1:32 AM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:02 PM
Novak Djokovic
Marat Safin
Wimbledon
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That is why Safin is still my favourite player.
Channel 9 in Australia should be burned down - they decided to air the Lleyton match - no one wants to watch Lleyton play. Free to air TV should stick with centre court - that is where the action is! Thank god for You Tube!
BernieEliza , 6/26/08 12:42 AM