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Marat Safin of Russia - Source: Reuters -
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Marat Safin is just two tournaments from the end of his career but the competitive fire burns as strong as ever.
The 29-year-old Russian launched into an astonishing verbal
tirade against his opponent Tomas Berdych after their tough match
on Wednesday in Shanghai.
AUDIO: Safin
sounds off (1.09)
Safin lost 3-6 6-4 6-4, the Czech in bowing out of the 2009's final Masters 1000 but was clearly affronted by some dubious gamesmanship on Berdych's part.
At the beginning of the second set the Czech player called for the trainer and proceeded to have extended treatment on knee and thigh injuries.
He hobbled through the next few games and looked down and out - before suddenly finding his range.
As he started to gain some momentum - Berdych's limp and injuries seemed to instantaneously disappear - much to the chargin of Mr Safin.
In the subsequent press conference the charismatic Russian pulled no punches
Tvnz.co.nz: Back to Berdych's injury - or maybe it wasn't really an injury. How many times has this happened to you over your career where opponents have kind of faked an injury and got a psychological advantage?
Safin: "The fact [is] that I've known the guy for so many years. I've been nice conditions with the guy, and then look at this ? to hold [a] show? Just come on. Just grow up a little bit. 26 years old - Just deal with that."
And there was more from an indignant Safin.
"If you're losing, be a man and lose as a man. Don't pretend that you are injured and then you start running around and start to hit winners, and then pull [your] hands up in the air after winning the match?
As Safin continued you got the definite feeling there will be a couple less Christmas cards flying between Prague and Moscow this year.
"I mean, what kind of sportsman are you? What kind of man are you?
"Of course [Berdych] will say, No, I [have] been injured but then I felt a little bit better. He will find 10,000 excuses [but] it is not enough."
"[Either] you're playing or you're not playing. If you're not going to play, so don't play. If you're playing, then just shut the f**k up and play, basically."
"And you're a man, so just lose like a man."
It was an impressive display and one that had some members of the media nodding in agreement.
Meanwhile the wee Chinese girl providing simultaneous
translation had gone beetroot red, having heard language that she
never encountered at the Beijing University of Linguistics.
tvnz.co.nz's Michael Burgess is in China courtesy of the Asia New
Zealand foundation and travelled there with Air New Zealand. He is
aiming to investigate the impact and legacy of the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games and will be writing about the sights and sounds of
China along the way.
