Marat Safin bids farewell to tennis in Paris‎

Marat Safin calls it a career yesterday, receiving a huge ovation from the fans after a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in the second round of the Paris Masters.

It was the former world no.1's last match on the men's tour.

He may be famous for his furious, racket-throwing rants, but Safin would rather be remembered for the hard work he put in during a 12-year career.

“A lot of people there really thought that I’m not a really hard worker,” Safin, a two-time Grand Slam winner, said.

“But you can ask all my coaches how I dedicated myself to tennis. They will tell you it’s completely the opposite of what a lot of people think.”

During a modest ceremony where he received a special trophy, Safin said, “Today I will put all my memories, all my wins and losses in a small box."

“Today a door is closed, hopefully another one will open.”

Safin remained unclear about his projects for the future.

“Sportsmen are great when they are sportsmen,” Safin said.

“Afterwards, it’s a little bit tough for them. The transition from being a tennis player to do something else is difficult. And if time passes too much, you’re just an ex-tennis player.”

Here's a tribute video for Safin. You are one in millions and we will definitely miss you!

(Via AP)

Sake barrel cracking ceremony without the REAL Samurai

It only takes one player to complete this group.

The REAL Samurai, Sam Querrey!

However the rising son of America has been sidelined for four-to-six weeks after injuring his right forearm in a freak accident in Bangkok.

He could have joined Gael Monfils, Kimiko Date Krumm, Ayumi Morita, Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to crack the sake barrels during a welcome reception on Day 2 of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis tournament at Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba yesterday.


(Images by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

Juan Martin del Potro honoured in Bombonera

Juan Martin del Potro walked out from the tunnel of the Bombonera (the stadium's nickname) and received an ovation from his home crowd, minutes before an Argentinean league football match between his favourite team Boca Juniors and Godoy Cruz in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

He wore a Boca Juniors' shirt with an inscription on the back that said “Champion U.S. Open 09”.

The club made a special tribute to del Potro after his successful bid at the US Open.

Check out del Potro's puffy eyes. Isn't it time to catch up with some sleep. Delpo?

(Images via menstennisforums.com, eldia.com.ar)

Delpomania hit Tandil, newly-crowned US Open champ's homecoming

Every celebration should end with an explosive climax... and Tandil was the biggest, most close to heart venue to celebrate the victory of Juan Martin del Potro.

The newly-crowned US Open champion was greeted by 40,000 people in his hometown of Tandil yesterday!

The US Open champ was paraded through the streets on a fire engine and gave a speech thanking his fans for their support.


Here are some interesting facts about del Potro:

• He switched to tennis after growing up playing football, rugby union and basketball.
• He always wanted to play against others three or four years older—and he’d win.
• The 6-feet-6 Del Potro is known at home as the “Tower of Tandil.”
• Growing up, his friends called him “Midget” and described his long, thin legs as “little sticks.”
• The president of the club where he used to play tennis said del Potro is a great goalscorer in football. The president said, if del Potro had stayed with soccer, he’d be a Maradona or Pele."
• His father Daniel is a veterinarian and mother Patricia a literature teacher.
• He gave his 18-year-old sister Julieta a luxury car he won last year in a tournament in Stuttgart, Germany.

(Images by Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images)

Post-US Open: Juan Martin Del Potro from NYC and back to Argentina

A day after he dethroned Roger Federer in the US Open final, Juan Martin del Potro knew he would have a busy day meeting the press and fans.

He started the day posing at the top of the Empire State Building and appear on several TV shows including NBC's "The Today Show" and CBS's "The Early Show".

Meets with CBS anchors on "The Early Show"

An interview on the "Charlie Rose Show"

Meets with NBC anchors on "The Today Show"

Q & A with Johnny Mac

Then del Potro attended a promotional activity for his sponsor Nike. He was interviewed by John McEnroe on a Q & A session at Niketown NYC.

With fans upon his arriving at the international airport in Ezeiza, Argentina

Later that day del Potro was back in his homeland Argentina, a country who loves football more than tennis.

Del Potro was greeted at the Buenos Aries airport by chants of “Ole, Ole” and “Del Pooo, Del Pooo".

At a news conference in Buenos Aires

The champ is set to return to his hometown of Tandil where the city of 100,000 was expected to hold a parade in his honor.

He will be designated the official “sports ambassador” and receive a key to the city.

(Via AP, Images by Getty Images, Nike)

Meet Del Potro at Niketown NYC today

New US Open champ, Juan Martin del Potro will celebrate his victory by meeting fans in New York City today.

He'll be making an appearance at Niketown New York at 1:00PM.

John McEnroe will be on hand for a Q&A with del Potro, who is scheduled to appear for about one hour.

If you're a fan (or just jumped on the Del Potro bandwagon) and happen to be in NYC, go and support him!

WHO: 2009 US Open Champion, Juan Martin del Potro

WHAT: Q&A with John McEnroe

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm)

WHERE: Niketown New York, 6 E. 57th St, New York, NY 10022

(Image via Yahoo! Sports)

US Open Day 15 Wrap-up: Federer loses a grand slam final to somebody who isn't Nadal

I admit the title of this post isn't from me... I took it from ToniTennis via Menstennisforums.com.

It was an unexpected win by Juan Martin del Potro, no?

Even del Potro himself can't believe he had won, pouring cold water all over his head to ensure he wasn't dreaming.

The victory made him the first South American man to triumph in New York since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.

However, the match was spoiled by Federer's uncharacteristic display, after he launched a tirade at the American chair umpire during a changeover.

Federer complained that del Potro had been given too much time to challenge a line call.

"No, it's too late," an angry Federer said.

"I wasn't even able to challenge after two seconds and he takes 10 seconds every time. Do you have any rules in there?"

Federer then continued, "I don't give a shit what he said. Don't fucking tell me the rules."

Federer's nagging were picked up by CBS microphones and broadcasted live.

Earlier in the women's doubles final, Serena and Venus Williams won the US Open title, defeating top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2.

(Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Juan Martin Del Potro wins the US Open title

Juan Martin Del Potro dethroned Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 in a 5 set thriller to clinch the US Open title.

I'll be back with more updates later.

US Open Day 14 Wrap-up: Heartbroken... It Must Be Love

As always, it's demotivating to blog each time Rafael Nadal got defeated.

In a match that looks like his worst-ever defeat in a Grand Slam tournament, the Mallorcan Matador lost 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to Juan Martin del Potro, who had beat him twice this year (Indian Wells and Montreal).

Del Potro played flawless tennis and Nadal said the Argentine fully deserved his win, while admitting that he was way below his best and was not in prime physical condition.

In another semifinal match, Roger Federer topped Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 with the help of what he called the "greatest shot of his life", a between-the-legs, back-to-the-net, crosscourt winner from the baseline.



In the men's doubles final, Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes celebrated another major victory by beating the no. 3 seeds, Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Lots of love from Paes and Dlouhy

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

US Open Day 11 Wrap-up: Juan Martin del Potro cruises into the semifinals

I always believe in Juan Martin del Potro's consistency even though Marin Cilic took the first set in their quarterfinal match last night.

By the time del Potro levelled at 3-3 in the second set, I went to bed because I'm pretty confident about his chance to the semifinal.

As expected, Del Potro sealed it with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

The second quarterfinal match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez was suspended due to rain.

Here's Friday's order of play on day 12 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):

(Starts at 12:30 PM)
Kim Clijsters (Belgium) v 2-Serena Williams (USA)

(Not before 2:00 PM; match may be moved to Armstrong)
11-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) v 3-Rafael Nadal (Spain)

(Match may be moved to Armstrong)
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Nadal, Gonzalez match postponed as rain halts US Open

Juan Martin del Potro has to wait for another day to know who he's going to play in the semifinals.

This is because the quarterfinal match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez was postponed after a series of interruptions due to showers during the second set.

Nadal is currently leading 7-6, 6-6 and 3-2 in the tiebreak.

This break might be helpful to Nadal, who called for a trainer in earlier set due to stomach muscle problem that bothered him since earlier of the tournament.

Their match was scheduled to resume tomorrow (not before 2PM) — following the first women’s semifinal, between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, which was to begin at 12:30PM.

(Via AP, Image via Yahoo! Sports)

US Open Day 9 Wrap-up: Nadal gets the kiss, Murray gets the kick

More bizarre incident happened on Day 9.

Just when Rafael Nadal finished the match against Gael Monfils, a fan ran out of nowhere, approached the Spanish player and gave him a kiss before a woman security guard intervened.

Here's the video taken from Gototennisblog.

When asked about the incident, Nadal said, "For me, it wasn’t a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.” :D

By defeating Monfils 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to move on to the quarterfinals, Nadal will regain his no. 2 ranking from Andy Murray who was upset by Marin Cilic earlier.

Back to Nadal, he'll try to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the US Open.

He'll meet Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinal after the Chilean eliminated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

In another men's singles match, Juan Martin del Potro defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

In the women's singles, Kim Clijsters dispatched Li Na in straight sets with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The opponent waiting for her next in the semifinals is none other than Serena Williams who sent off Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-3.

Here's Wednesday’s order of play on day 10 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):

(Not before 1630GMT)
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukraine)
4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 10-Fernando Verdasco (Spain)

(Not before 2300GMT)
Melanie Oudin (U.S.) v 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 12-Robin Soderling (Sweden)

(Via AP, US Open website)