Federporn Fridays: the Marat Safin Special.

Tis a love story for the ages I tell ya. Images after the jump.
 

Fare thee well, Hippo.

Here’s the deal, I’ve had years when I scoffed at this guy, got frustrated with his ups and downs. I’ve announced to the world many a times that he’s way too overrated for someone with only two slams. But how can you not have a soft spot for this guy? 
I’ve already written a shpill on [...]

Passing Thoughts: post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

Hello there! 
Excuse the intermittent blogging of late, I have 4 exams coming up in the next 6 days. Part of the deal with being a student is that you party, play, drink and procrastinate for the majority of the year, then comes every November, when life is a hell-hole and one that’s kicking your ass.
Never [...]

The Week In-Between: Seeing Doubles.

Marat lost to Baby-Marat. I’m sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have paid any attention to him. I’ll look away now. 
By the way, please tell me we still have Paris? 
Okay, looking away now. No peeking.
 
In better news, up your glitter supplies for Doha as JJ secures the final spot to make up the top [...]

Quotable Quotes: Had we but world enough, and time.

Was your 2000 U.S. Open victory over Pete Sampras a curse as much as a blessing?
MS: It was unexpected for me in the first place, because I didn’t think that I would get close to the finals, and to go to the finals and beat Sampras on his home ground—I don’t think so.
And then I [...]

Quotable Quotes: I thought bitchfests were for the WTA…

Over in the Orient, Marat Safin played one set of flawless tennis followed by two sets of headcasiness to lose to Berdych, 36 64 64, ending his last tournament in China. 
If anyone harbored wishful thoughts that Safin might “do an Henin“, he’s certainly left himself with no way back after calling out fellow players about [...]

Picspam: Things we love about tennis in China

1) Safin-worship.
 

 
2) MCs who just won’t take a hint. 
 

 
Mentioning MCs, is the Shanghai MC from last year back?
Because life wouldn’t be complete without his OTT “Logeeeerrrr Feduhlahhhhh!” intro. 
Not that Loger Feduhlah is even playing.
 
3) Tennis cheerleaders. 
 

 
4) Well-staged photo-ops to show off domestic infrastructure to the foreign media. 
 

 
Tsonga and Nando demonstrated their tennis skills [...]

Picket Fence Vid: Free tissues for all!

I gotta say, I didn’t cry. 
1) I was slightly freaked out by the non-Chinese host speaking much better Chinese than me. 2) It was so un-Marat, but sooooo “China Open”. 3) I had “Time to Say Goodbye” stuck in my head for hours after it.
 

 

 
Guys, he’s still [...]

Beijing/Tokyo: WHY?!

It is said that for every match Marat Safin plays to his potential, one case of cancer is miraculously cured in the world.
Pity he doesn’t do that more often. 
 

 
I just watched in shock as the Hippo serve out his match against Gonzo for a place in the Beijing quarterfinals.
Why?!
The dude served up 12 aces and [...]

Picspam: Practice makes perfect eyecandies.

All hail the photographers in Beijing, who are picspamming harder than me these days to provide a healthy stock of eyecandies to tennis followers worldwide. 
 
We have plenty of smiley, wrinkly Rafa …
 

 
… And of course, Safin.
Affectionally dubbed as “the Hippo” by Chinese fans, Marat practiced with Blake and flirted with the horde of Chinese fangirls who [...]