by Blacky on 12 Sep 2008, 12:54
BlackyM - Safin 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Just thrilling match...after 40mins and almost no luck involved at all (little for me in second set)...fantastic points...I just enjoy playing against Safin...not because I defeated him now...he defeated me last 3-4 times...
So in first set...we both kept our serves...pretty secure...several stupid errors on both sides here and there...in tiebreak he made one minibreak
In second set at 1-1...he entered some black hole...two missed lobs and double fault...but I didn't broke him immediately...I had to really played some very tough points, and after one of his and two of mine advantages I broke him. And I kept my serve till the end.
Third set started with pretty secure serving from both of us...but at 3-3 i found my self with 0-40...and whole match in my hands...but in next 5 points...I received 3 aces (two for 30-40), and his two easy points for 4-3
So yes...that made me nervous and he almost punished that...game after that at 4-3 for him, he had 0-40, but then I won 5 points in a row and saved my self from the loss.
Till tiebreak I played little better, that kept going in tiebreak too...so I made two minibreaks and won the match.
End of 2008: Rank 5
End of 2009: Rank 16
results 2010 single/doubless:
26-12 / 32-11
Titles 2010: Zagreb, Eastbourne (doubles)
Titles: 2 (Los Angeles, Paris)
Finals: 5 + DC and Olympics runner Up