1 Response to halle05federer_safin

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 7, 2021 at 12:02 pm

   Points won by each set: | 33-26, 41-43, 27-24 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   43 % Federer – 42 of 97
   38 % Safin – 37 of 97

   Highly anticipated match because when Federer [1] established himself as the best player in the world, it seemed that in the 2nd half of the decade only two men would threaten him: Nadal on clay and Safin [5] on other surfaces (teenagers Djokovic & Murray were rather underestimated then). In 2004 the Russian had lost two tight two-setters to Federer, but early in 2005 he made a revenge winning an epic five-setter in Australia. In Halle, Federer was relatively close to get a straight set victory as he led 6:5* (30-all) in the 2nd set and 5:4* in the tie-break, but at 6-all Safin got the only mini-break in it thanks to a risky ground-stroke, and pushed the final to the decider which was decided by a break at 1-all. After the first change of ends, Safin was involved in an argue with the chair-umpire (Romano Grillotti) and perhaps it cost him a lapse of concentration. “It was still a great match,” Safin said. “I don’t know the last time I played such great tennis.” Unfortunately it was a swan song for the 25-year-old Russian. Soon afterwards he suffered a knee injury and never fully recovered, added only two more finals to his resume, and finished his career prematurely of 2009.

   Federer’s route to his 3rd of 10 Halle titles:
   W Marat Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4
   S Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-6(9)
   Q Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4
   2 Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-4
   1 Robin Soderling 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4

   Serve & volley: Federer 7/13, Safin 7/16

   # Comparison of Federer’s three finals with (almost) identical scorelines:
   1st title – Milan ’01: Federer d. Boutter 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-4… 2 hours 20 minutes… Total points: 115-101
   29th title – Halle ’05: Federer d. Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4… 2 hours 5 minutes… Total points: 101-93
   83rd title – Brisbane ’15: Federer d. Raonic 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4… 2 hours 13 minutes… Total points: 107-101

   Log in to Reply