LONDON (AFP) - Marat Safin, one of the few current players to have tasted Grand Slam success, believes the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will go down as the greatest in the history of tennis.
The Russian's shock run to the Wimbledon semi-finals ended in a straight sets defeat to five-time champion Federer, but even that failed to dampen his enthusiasm for a sport many people believed had left him behind.
The 28-year-old, a former world number one and Australian and US Open winner, insists that the Federer-Nadal story is an intriguing blockbuster, more gripping even than the acclaimed rivalry between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
"It's interesting to see because everything depends on the tactics," said Safin.
"Clay courts are just too tough for Federer because Nadal is playing open stance, backhand and forehand, so he can't really make him stretch.
"He can't do anything. He can't go to the volley because Nadal is just too fast and he's using the open stance. But here he will try to push him, and maybe he has more chance. It's more fun than Sampras-Agassi."
In his time on tour, Safin has seen contenders come and go.
But Federer and Nadal, who will collide in a third successive Wimbledon final on Sunday and for the 18th time in their careers, have earned the respect of their peers, both inside and outside the locker room.
"I hope that this will be one of the greatest rivalries. They will be the greatest tennis players in the history," said Safin.
"Nadal didn't lose a match on clay since, I don't know, he was 10 maybe! And Federer, he's going for his sixth Wimbledon. He's going to pass the 14 Grand Slams (Sampras's record). I guess I can say to my kids that I played against him.
"They are just two great guys. Really down to earth. Federer is quite funny. Nadal is also. It's good to be with them in the same locker room."
Safin, whose ranking should improve from 75 to a place in the top 40 on Monday, wants to build on his performances here so that he can be one of the 32 seeded players by the time the US Open draw is made.
He certainly showed he's still a player to be fears as he reached his first Wimbledon semi-final, knocking out third seed Novak Djokovic along the way.
"I never lost my passion for the sport," said the Russian.
"We just love the game. We love to go on the court. We love to play great matches. We love to suffer and we love to win. After tennis you're going to miss that adrenaline."
Comment 4 - 23 of 23
Two champions almost,one great comeback by Fed,his amazing ability and strength was something which will be remembered for a long time.The match was a tribute to two really great players,one of the best finals ever,appreciated by the world of tennis,it does not get better than this.simply Brilliant!! Well done Rafa a hero of spain is crowned.
Borg is still the greatest nobody has ever won 4 french opens then go on to wimbledon and win that 5 times
I'm worried about Federer, but not about his talent. I still believe he's got the best we can see now. Everything - how he plays, wheather he'll loose or win - depends on his psychics. I believe he can be a bit tired now after many years of tremendous success. After loosing this years' Wimbledon to Nadal, Federer will also loose his number 1 position. But he'l never loose his talent and ability. I'd bet we'll see him next year in great form once again. Or - if we will not - he should consider taking one sabbatical for a year and then come back rested :)
VAMOS RAFA
THIS IS SPAINS YEAR!!!!!!!
FOOTBALL AND WIBLEDON, AFTER ROLAND GARROS?
CAN IT BE VETTER?
VAMONOS PRONTO
Im now a bit nervous looking these two guys who are now playing. Federer lost 2 sets point. hope he can recover the third set . So please Federer keep on going...I want u to win. Good luck
That's the fact. Absolutelly right.
I love both players, don't get me wrong, but Federer is way out of Nedal's league. While Nedal is clearly a class act, he releys on his athletisism more often than not. An athletasism that will surly burn out over the next four years. Roger Federer is the greatest finisher in tennis, he has all the shots to beat Nedal on grass, because unlike on clay, Rafa doesn't have those extra couple of yards to slide about. No doubt though, Federer isn't winning the french open as long as Rafa's got his health.
This can not be put to age, Hewitt for example was no 1 at age of 20 years, and Becker won three Wimbledon titles before the age of 20 but in the while picture they are far behind Federer, Kuerten also was the king of Clay as a teenager, meanwhile Sampras got all his successes between ages 22-28 like Federer, and the way Nadal plays, He is bound to get to a lesser level as time go not better, just like Coria and Ferrero and Hewitt did for that matter
Hi, where Fed as good as Nadal when he was just 22 yrs? I havenīt checked out, but I doubt FED had the same to show as THE MEDITERREN PIRAT have to show up with now! RAFA just turned 22 yrs, what did FED have at that age? FED have taken his titles now the last 3-4yrs, wich means, he was NOT above RAFAS level at that age, OR WHAT?
RAFA still got 4 more yrs to get close in on FED, when u look at the AGE DIFFERENCE here, and that is something VERY IMPORTANT! U will see RAFA higher up soon, he is still under development, wich FED isnīt,FED is at his TOP now, RAFA is still not as his TOP, as he now shows u all, by geting better on all surfaces! RAFAs WIN at Queens is what he needed to show that he is just on the ack of FED!
JUST WAIT AND SEE! Sunbeam from Spain
UM Nadal is only 22 lmao hes still improving and Federer cant touch him on clay and will never win the French, Nadal will win the final Federer wont be able to cope with the pace of his shots even with his great technique to hit the winners Nadal will still be there cause of his athletic ability. Nadal in 4/5 sets no doubt about it !!
Why u idiots(sorry for bad language) criticise Nadal. Both players are great and have a great mutual respect for each other. Yes Fedrer is the greatest player of all time but nadal is also a great player who has a potential to beat anyone chocker jokocic is an average player than fed nd nadal. do nt go crazy after one person i mean i am a Nadal fan but I also love Rodger Fedrer. So do not criticise any player. Just enjoy their rivalry which is making Tnnis eautiful and encourages us to watch this great sport more consistently.
Why u idiots(sorry for bad language) criticise Nadal. Both players are great and have a great mutual respect for each other. Yes Fedrer is the greatest player of all time but nadal is also a great player who has a potential to beat anyone chocker jokocic is an average player than fed nd nadal. do nt go crazy after one person i mean i am a Nadal fan but I also love Rodger Fedrer. So do not criticise any player. Just enjoy their rivalry which is making Tnnis eautiful and encourages us to watch this great sport more consistently.
if safin would have been more constant in his evolutions, more calm and a little bit more lucky he could have been federer's main rival instead of nadal. i still don't understand what happened after 2005 australian open semifinal he won against federer. that's got to be the greatest game i've ever seen (apart from the sampras agassi classics)
You guys keep comparing Nadal to Roger,Nadal is no were near Roger,go and look at his records,as in his Grand Slam Records,US Open,Australia Open he has never gotten to the Final on both tournaments.Nadal is all about Clay,finish,and that is were he will be.Forget Queens.Roger Federer is so good.This is a guy that has played 17 Grand Slam Finals in his Carrer.Thats a Pretty good record.Not Until Roger Federer Resignes from Tennis,Nadal can never get to the No 1.Find below the ATP Ranking points between Roger and Nadal.
Roger Federer 6900
Rafeal Nadal 5755.
Just imaging what it will take for Nadal to cover this magine.So you guys that always make noise about Rafeal becoming the No 1 in the world,wake up from you dreams.
World From Alaska
Marat Rules!!!
I agree with you Safin. There is something specifically I will be watching. Both of them possess the "swing back kill" tactics which they useoften deep in a rally to nail a point. It will be interestingly to see which one will perfect the tactics more than the other.
Roger Federer Is just the greates ever.Nothing compares to RF5.
One luv,Roger
what does this nadal boy have to do to be considered a great player? the man kicks everybody's a.. but still,he's an average player.who is better than rafa right now,except federer? oh,i guess the answer must be everybody's favorite djokovic.
it would be very unfair for history of tennis if rafa never managed to win a grand slam outside clay or if he never managed to be no.1.maybe that would make some people to shut up.
to football4life. what does "They will be the greatest tennis players in the history," said Safin. then mean???? thats quote unquote what eurosport reported in the article. he also uses the word will so with time u will have time to change your mind.
ralph marat didnt say they are the two greatest players ever he said its the greatest rivalry ever, there is a difference. federer maybe belongs as the greatest ever but i have a hard time placing nadal ahead of borg and sampres right now. maybe after he reaches 10+ grand slam titles but not right now.
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