roger roger #1

phew... just finished watching the 2004 australian open championship match between roger federer and marat safin... RF wins 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2...

now for the stats and facts about this match:
- federer owned safin... yes, that's a fact...
- 2nd grand slam for RF...
- RF becomes number 1 in the world for the first time after winning (or even losing, if he ever did) this match...
- safin breaks 2 racquets and gets a racquest abuse violation after totaling the second...
- 2nd AO finals loss for safin...

some quotes from the match:

"you know, federer, when he was a kid, he used to hurl racquets like there was no tomorrow. he's so different now as a top player in the world." - commentator 1
"now he induces hurling." - commentator 2

"come on, safin. you can do it." - female spectator
"i'm trying. I'M TRYING!" - safin

come 2005 (the birthyear of my interest in the sport), safin bitch-slapped-revenge-style federer in a 5 setter semi-final 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(6), 7-9... then, i tuned in to the tv set and watched safin's match against lleyton hewitt... finally, safin wins the slam (his 2nd) and became my first tennis idol... (had i watched the 2004 final first, federer would've have been my first idol... regardless, he's my idol now...)

on a sad note, safin's retiring this year... he really hasn't lived up to his 2004 win and hasn't won that much with the injuries and all (i barely get to see him play anymore)... but he'll always be dear to me (not just because he's hot)... i'll surely miss his racquet hurling and intense energy/temper... i hope i'd get to see him play in the US Open series... hmmm... maybe i'll go watch his US Open win against pete sampras... hmmm...

(isn't this post supposed to be about roger?)...