Hopman Cup

The duo of Marat Safin and sister Safina just could not finish it off, as Slovakia took the Hopman Cup again. Skills-wise, both of them could have defeated the winners anyday. Results merely show the difference in confluence of tactics, temperament and mental strength.

Dominica Cibulkova and Dominic Hrbaty had the better ingredients in the end, or atleast better luck, it has to be said. First, it was Safina who paid the price for over-trying to be aggressive and gain confidence in her play. With first set secured, she needed a calm head and a balanced approach to wrap up the match, but her forehand continued to betray her and she lost the set, and eventually the match. Cibulkova took strength from her frustration and defeated her without fuss, with least signs of nerves in a somewhat tense match. The match epitomised the importance of confidence. When 1-5 down in the third set, Safina did try to make a comeback, but it was far too late and Cibulkova wasn't going to be broken twice. It was all upto the big man Marat Safin to take revenge and ensure a mixed doubles match to decide the winner.

Personally, I am in awe of the attitude and style of Safin, and with exceptional tennis skills he possesses the
calibre to be among the best in the world for quite some years now. He was confidence personified in his match against Hrbaty, but never went for the kill. That was to be his undoing as Hrbaty continued to fight back and stay in the match, and most amazingly defeat him. At no point in the match except at the death did Hrbaty look better than him, but in the end only results matter. One felt Safin had numerous chances to bury the game, but that did not happen, and a third-set tiebreak decided the fate, in Hrbaty's favour. One could only shake one's head in disbelief and realise why the Russian is among the biggest underachievers of this game.

Marat Safin is unique and fascinating-a croud puller. He announced his arrival with a win against Pete Sampras in the US Open in 2000 with a stunning display of tennis. The dormant volcano erupted on another occasion-the Australian Open 2005, when, on his birthday, he fought off the Federer-at-peak in the semi-finals in a gruelling five-setter, and went on to win the tournament. The world expected a whole lot more than just two grand slams. The Australian Open is the platform-it is time he wakes up one more time.