return of the csar

maratsafin
Originally uploaded by nardac.

The Paribas Masters is finally over, and, against much expectation, one of the qualifiers did not win. Instead, Marat Safin became the only man in Open Pro history to win consecutively the two indoor Masters tournaments. (He was victorious in Madrid earlier).

Safin, a former (and privately still) enfant terrible, is now coached by Federer's old coach, while Federer himself has ascended to such stratospheric heights that no trainer does he need. One might attribute Safin's new-found mien of wisdom and calm to this change.

But Homey don't play that way. What we are watching, my dear friends, is the true awakening of the csar. What I saw this week was a player with an uncanny ability to subtly modify his game to dominate his opponent. It's a startling intelligence to see in such a brutish bearish man.

But even look at the way he holds himself before the public and during the game. While entering the court, his head is angled down, but the shoulders slouch back. The head angle clearly says concentration, but the body conceals all the speed of such weight. It's a humble gait for such a big man. It isn't until he starts playing that we become aware of his incredibly quick responses. And, more telling, after the game, Safin always stands broader, shoulders back without the slouch. He holds himself to his full height and looks dispassionately at all around him...until he cracks his first joke. He's exactly my image of a young csar in his castle, picking from his harem of mistresses.

There was even this one funny moment when he won the U.S. Open, and during his acceptance speech, he thanked his 'family,' sitting in the box by the court, for supporting him. Except his family comprised of three very luscious young blondes sporting typical Russian ho-bag fashion. It was almost a living breathing Larry Sultan tableau.

Anyways, I'm gushing. I know it's bad, to gush like this, about tennis players, for goodness sakes. But I don't care. With the dearth of real sports, except for football, a little tennis on the diet is great. And Safin bulk reminds me of a hockey player. If only...