Archives for November 2009

The first edition of the ATP World Tour Finals in London was a stunning success with the quality of the tennis providing an uplifting end to the 2009 season.

The crowds were unexpectedly huge, most sessions sold out a 17,500 capacity stadium for a total attendance of more than 250,000, the staging was brave and innovative and, most importantly, the players gave absolutely everything.

You couldn't fault a single one of them for effort (something which hasn't always been the case at this season-closer).

Fernando Verdasco may have lost the three matches he played in Group A but he was close to winning them all. One poor game against Roger Federer, one poor tie-break against Juan Martin del Potro, a deciding tie-break against Andy Murray. He finished 0-3, but it didn't feel like it.

Had Rafael Nadal not shown his customary professionalism, he could have turned up, collected the cheque and rushed to the Davis Cup final in Barcelona.

After a tough year, including a first defeat at the French Open, a serious knee injury and some off-court family issues, Nadal bravely battled through his matches, ultimately outplayed by fitter opponents.

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It was a gloomy Thursday evening in Paris, May 2004. The light was closing in and the second-round French Open match was locked at two sets all. The fans were jumping and the court was rocking.

And then Marat Safin pulled his shorts down.

For all his wonderful play, his major titles, his racquet abuse and his post-match hilarity, this schoolboy prank is the moment which will always remind me of Marat Safin.

Why did he pull his shorts down? Nobody really knows, but it was instinctive, it was crazy, it was Marat.

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