Classy Safin throws off the loser tag
By Richard Hinds
January 31, 2005

 
One man's destiny denied, another man's destiny fulfilled. Marat Safin last night not only broke some local hearts, he proved he had one of his own by beating Lleyton Hewitt in a tense, see-sawing final that gave an enthralling centenary Australian Open a fitting climax.

Twice an abject loser in the final here, Safin seemed likely to walk from the Rod Laver Arena empty-handed yet again after a start to the match that was every bit as abject as his previous defeats by Thomas Johansson and Roger Federer. But rather than throw in the towel as he had in the past, the Russian responded to his opponent's customary examination with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 comeback that would have done Hewitt himself proud.

The first night final had been billed as an occasion as much as a contest. It was supposed to be the night Hewitt appeared on court with an eraser rather than a racquet. He would use it to rub out one of the most embarrassing records in Australian sport - the fact that no local man had won the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976.

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AdvertisementSo the pre-match atmosphere was of celebration rather than anticipation. Olivia Newton-John sang a song on court that may well have been in the hit parade when Edmondson won the title. Greg Norman, for whom Hewitt once caddied, joined the Australian's entourage. And, as well as the 16,000 supporters inside the arena, another 3000 watched on a big screen outside.

The 24 minutes it took the Hewitt to win the first set did little to change the mood or alter the suggestion that this would be a night of national celebration. But, as Norman might have told his former caddie, the greatest build-ups are often followed by the most bitter disappointments. And, although Hewitt had nothing to regret after his brilliant march to the final, this defeat will be hard to swallow. He had worked harder than any finalist in memory merely to get to the final match and it will take an enormous effort just to get that chance again.

Hewitt had started the match nervelessly, continually fetching the few balls Safin got over the net and, it seemed at the time, exposing his opponent's brittle psyche. In that lopsided opening set, Safin committed 13 unforced errors and what had been billed as a match for the ages seemed like becoming a one-sided procession.

Indeed, so flat was the contest that Hewitt did not utter his customary cry of "C'mon!" until early in the second set, and that was only a timid reminder of his previous roars. Yet, just as the Australian seemed to have one hand on the trophy he has craved since making the annual family road trips from Adelaide to Melbourne Park as a boy, Safin's heart started to beat.

In his upset semi-final victory over Federer, the Russian had shown unexpected fighting qualities - first saving a match point in the fourth set, then finally clinching a spot in the final with his own seventh match point. The turning point in this match came unexpectedly when Safin made what was to prove a conclusive break of serve at 1-2 in the second set.

Typically, Hewitt was not shaken by Safin levelling the match. He broke serve himself early in the third set and led 3-0 when Safin went to his chair for treatment - something that seemed more like a delaying tactic than a medical necessity. Safin then forced his way back, breaking Hewitt twice to gain what would prove a decisive two sets-to-one lead.

As might have been expected, Hewitt went down screaming. After being foot-faulted while facing a break point at 4-2 in the third set, he won the point with a brilliant winner, then screamed at the linesman who had faulted him. The replay showed the call was correct, but Hewitt's disgruntlement earned him a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Hewitt camp may continue to bemoan the slow pace of the Rebound Ace. They might wonder how badly the effects of such a tortuous road to the final had on a player already inconvenienced by a hip injury. But, in the end, they will have to swallow the inevitable: Hewitt was simply beaten by the better man on the night.

As always, it had been Safin's attitude as much as his execution that had been studied intently throughout the tournament. While he had performed the impressive feat of beating Pete Sampras in a US Open final aged 20, in recent years, his inability to win significant titles had him compared to Goran Ivanisevic - not for his big serve, but for his potential waste of talent.

But while the clock on Ivanisevic's career had almost reached midnight before he finally fulfilled his destiny at Wimbledon, Safin has resurrected himself mid-career. After losing most of 2003 with a wrist injury, his straight-sets defeat in last year's final to Federer did not seem so bad in retrospect after the Swiss went on to dominate the tennis world.

Match point down in a semi. One set down in a final. It takes nerves, class and endurance to come back from a position like that. And, at last, Safin has shown he also has the qualities of a champion.