日批在线视频_内射毛片内射国产夫妻_亚洲三级小视频_在线观看亚洲大片短视频_女性向h片资源在线观看_亚洲最大网

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Safin ends Federer's 26-game win streak
By John Pye (Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-28 08:27

Roger Federer was on his hands and knees, his racket gone after he tumbled chasing a shot. All he could do was watch as Marat Safin tapped a gentle forehand into an open court to cap a thrilling 4 1/2-hour Australian Open semifinal and end the top-ranked Federer's 26-match winning streak.


Marat Safin of Russia, fourth seed, left, and Roger Federer of Switzerland, top seed, exchange words, after their mens singles semifinal match, at the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005. Safin won in five sets, 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7. [AP]

Safin fended off a match point in the fourth set, then needed seven match points of his own before pulling off a 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 9-7 upset of defending champion Federer and advancing to his third Australian Open final in four years.

"It's always going to hurt, no matter how great the match was," Federer said. "But at least you can leave the place feeling good about yourself, because I gave it all I had."

The fourth-seeded Safin next meets No. 2 Andy Roddick or No. 3 Lleyton Hewitt, whose semifinal is Friday.

The women's final is set, featuring past champions Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport. Williams' 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 victory over Maria Sharapova in a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final produced about as much drama as Federer-Safin.

Williams saved three match points, then leaped three times after ending it with a winner.

The top-ranked Davenport, who contemplated retiring in 2004, came back to beat No. 19 Nathalie Dechy of France 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Davenport also reached the doubles final, pairing with Corina Morariu to face Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alicia Molik for that title.

With Federer trailing 8-7 in the fifth set and serving on match point, he lunged to retrieve a deep shot wide to his forehand side. He swatted back a desperation shot, but slipped and dropped his racket. Safin converted the putaway.

"It's like a brain fight. ... It's more mental than physical against Roger," said Safin, who smashed his racket to the court two points before he lost the third set and later belted a ball into the stands.

The mercurial Russian, whose lone major title came at the 2000 U.S. Open, showed that it is possible to frustrate Federer. The Swiss star won four of the previous six Slams, including three in 2004 — the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win a trio in a single season.

While Safin kept his temper in check just enough, Federer had some rare moments of anger, yelling at himself, screaming after a missing an attempted shot between legs on his only match point and later spiking his racket.

Federer needed treatment on his shoulder and elbow at the end of the fourth set and during the fifth. He said he had a tender nerve running down his arm to his fingers, but it was more a nuisance than a problem.

"It's really unfortunate. I thought I played really well under the circumstances. A point here and there changed the match," he said. "It's a pity. At least I gave it a fight."

The 15,222 fans at Rod Laver Arena raised their arms as if saluting an emperor when Federer walked off the court with one arm aloft for a final wave. The semifinal started on Thursday — it was Safin's 25th birthday, and the crowd serenaded him — and ended at 12:25 a.m. Friday local time.

Peter Lundgren, who was Federer's coach until late 2003 and linked up with Safin last season, wiped away tears after the match. He'd helped bring down Federer, who looked close to invincible when he breezed past four-time Australian Open winner Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals.

Federer didn't drop a set in five previous matches and had only served six double-faults. He'd reached that number of double-faults by the third set against Safin and finished with eight.

Federer last lost in August at the Olympics. This defeat also ended streaks of 24 straight wins against top 10 opponents and 19 in a row at majors.

"I'm not playing against just a simple player. He's No. 1 in the world," said Safin, who lost Australian Open finals to Thomas Johansson in 2002 and to Federer last year.

"It was one of the toughest matches of my life. I need time to recover," he added. "Five sets is a kind of lottery. Anything can happen."

That was the case with Sharapova-Williams, too.

"It definitely lived up to expectations," said Williams, who won her 13th straight match at Melbourne Park.

She took the title in 2003, overcoming match points against Kim Clijsters in the semifinals, then wasn't able to defend it last year because of a slow recovery from left knee surgery.

Earlier in this tournament, Williams bristled when asked whether her skills and those of older sister Venus are in decline. After all, last season was the first since 1998 that neither won a major.

Serena Williams lost to Sharapova in a lopsided final at the All England Club in July, then again in the final at the season-ending tour championships.

And down a set — and later, down match points — in the Australian Open semifinals Thursday, Williams might have questioned herself. Instead, she came all the way back, even though Sharapova served for the match at 5-4 in each of the last two sets.

"I was battling Maria and myself," Williams said, noting her 53 unforced errors.

The intensity of Sharapova's shrieks and Williams' grunts increased with nearly every point down the stretch. Both players showed jitters at times, and both also hit some great shots under pressure.

"I played from my heart. I didn't take my chances," Sharapova said, adding: "There's nothing negative: I'm 17 years old and I've made it to the semifinals. I'm sad; it's a tough one to lose. But I've got a long way ahead of me."




Safin beats Federer at Australian Open
Tennis star: Serena Williams
Sharapova beats Kuznetsova
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

World leaders mark Auschwitz liberation

 

   
 

Lenovo: IMB deal on despite challenges

 

   
 

Blood bank for pandas on the way

 

   
 

List of bribers helps corruption battle

 

   
 

"Shocking" number of student TB positive

 

   
 

Financial woes greet released hostages

 

   
  Safin ends Federer's 26-game win streak
   
  Martins earns Inter 1-0 Cup win over Atalanta
   
  Rockets rally past Hornets 82-77
   
  Serena advances to Australian Open final
   
  Chelsea edge out Man Utd
   
  Shaq's 33 points lead Heat over Raptors
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 一本久道久久 | 欧美大片一区二区三区 | 欧美激情在线观看视频 | 欧美精品在线观看 | 精品国产一区二区在线观看 | 成人在线观看黄色 | 日本黄色激情视频 | 国产麻豆免费视频 | 日本男人的天堂 | 神马午夜888 | 国产一二三区在线 | 永久免费精品视频 | 久久6热| 日韩中文字幕免费视频 | 日韩av影片 | 日本欧美一区二区三区不卡视频 | 欧美性猛交bbbbb精品 | 精品国产欧美一区二区三区成人 | 日韩国产中文字幕 | 久久福利小视频 | 一区二区日韩精品 | 艹男人的日日夜夜 | 自拍偷拍精品视频 | 美女十八毛片 | 日韩欧美一二三区 | 中文字幕黄色片 | 日韩午夜影院 | 亚洲国产成人精品女人久久久 | 国产欧美日韩久久 | 五月天久久久久 | 日本中文字幕在线播放 | 国产成人三级一区二区在线观看一 | 国产专区视频 | avtt天堂在线 | 人人色视频 | 三级三级久久三级久久18 | 欧美亚洲网 | 草在线视频| 日韩av影片在线观看 | 亚洲乱码一区二区 | av中文在线|