Marat Was Partying Before DC Match With Nalby

[Ti-Amie]

Eurosport

Marat Safin, heavily criticised by the media for his perceived arrogance and flamboyant lifestyle, has been hailed as Russia's saviour after he clinched the country's second Davis Cup title.

Safin beat Jose Acasuso 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 in a nerve-racking fifth and decisive rubber before a capacity 10,000-strong home crowd at Moscow's Olympic arena on Sunday to seal Russia's 3-2 victory over Argentina in the three-day final.

"Marat saved Russia!" trumpeted a headline in the popular tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda on Monday.

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev, who on Sunday became the first person to lead his country to two Davis and two Fed Cup titles, also praised Safin.

"We had two choices for the last rubber and I picked Safin over Tursunov mainly for his big-match experience," explained Tarpishchev, dubbed a "tennis genius" by fellow coaches and some of his players.

"It proved the right decision after all. Marat not only won the last point, he also saved my reputation."

It was not all plain sailing for the temperamental Safin, however.

Just a day before, he was vilifed by local media after meekly surrendering to Argentina number one David Nalbandian in straight sets in Friday's singles.

Press reports said the 26-year-old Muscovite, long known for his lavish lifestyle and night-time escapades, was seen partying in a posh nightclub on the eve of his match with Nalbandian.

Asked to compare his feelings to the 2002 victory over France in Paris, Safin told reporters: "This one is probably a bit more special because it happened at home in front of all our fans."

The former Australian and U.S. Open champion said the win was especially memorable for him following a difficult season, plagued by injuries and inconsistent form.

"This was really bad year for me, probably the worst in my whole career," said Safin, who earlier this year tumbled out of the top 100 in the ATP rankings for the first time since making his professional debut at a 17-year-old in 1997.

"So winning the Davis Cup should give me a much-needed confidence boost," he said.

"I really hope to do well next year, regain my rankings. I'm especially looking forward to playing in the Australian Open after missing it this year with a knee injury and not defending the title I won in 2005."

Has anyone seen Marat since the DC win? Anyone other than Ukrainian female folk dancers that is?

[mmmm8]

The Russian press reports that the partying was actually on Sunday and that Nalbandian was so trashed he couldn't walk. Marat was at the afterparty with Dinara and their mom. My avatar is Safin and Youzhny leaving the party, clearly relatively sober. I mean, honestly, we make fun of them and the next thing you know, Safin has to devote half of his press conferences to his partying lifestyle which really hasn't been there for the last 3 years or so.

Sorry, rant over.

On a different note, one of the articles about the afterparty in Russian internet tabloids said "Dmitry Tursunov arrived at the party with an unknown young woman. Tursunov recently split with his American wife" WTH? Where do they get their fake info?

[Ti-Amie]

I think Eurosport was talking about a pre DC party not the after party.

I was going to ask you about your new avatar. Cool! 8-)

[mmmm8]

I should add a disclaimer. Noe that my rant is over, it will not stop me from making fun of them And I looked at the photo again (you can enlarge it by right clicking and picking view image on the avatar) and it sort of looks like Youzhny is hazed over and Marat is holding him up.

[Sebastien447]

Partying the night before works for some players. My doubles partner in juniors would regularly drink his ass of the night before a match. Almost every time he'd play brilliantly the next day. In fact, his best matches were played in this condition. I think it was the pressure of having partied and not wanting to hear about how he shouldn't have done it. And also wanting to keep doing it.

Anyway, for what it's worth, and not a defense of Marat because he's just a bubble head! ;D

[Ti-Amie]

They both appear to be feeling no pain. :-*

[mmmm8]

Or, here are some photos of the post-party.

The article said all the Russians left the hotel where it was held in "good condition," while Nalbandian kept falling on the ground while waiting for the car service




Argentines leaving the party - note the vodka carafe they took as a souvenir


The Davydenkos


Is Youzhny sad or about to pass out?


Oh, and as a bonus:
Diego Maradona couldn't stay sober either:
He got drunk:


And peed, reportedly on someone's Jeep:

[Kirkus]

Looks to me like he's zipping up his jack, not his pants. I think it's funny that Nalbanian kept falling down.

[hurricanejeanne]

LMAO.

Marat seems to really be able to hold his liquor.
Youzhny looks like he needs the puke bucket.

And *death* at the Argentines lifting stuff.

[smiley=hyst.gif]

[mmmm8]

Looks to me like he's zipping up his jack, not his pants. I think it's funny that Nalbanian kept falling down.

Several sources reported Maradona was continuously drunk in Moscow and peed on a Jeep. This picture might have been of a different moment in time, sort of "imagine the rest yourself."

And, jeanne, how much can you really drink with your mom there? Wait, no, I don't think I'm qualified to answer this question, I drink more than my mom when we are at the same event.

[hurricanejeanne]

m

[quote author=Kirkus link=1165541897/0#7 date=1165544072]Looks to me like he's zipping up his jack, not his pants. I think it's funny that Nalbanian kept falling down.

Several sources reported Maradona was continuously drunk in Moscow and peed on a Jeep. Â*This picture might have been of a different moment in time, sort of "imagine the rest yourself."

And, jeanne, how much can you really drink with your mom there? Â*Wait, no, I don't think I'm qualified to answer this question, I drink more than my mom when we are at the same event.[/quote]

LOLz.
I'm sure Marat was allowed to drink enough though. When his mamma wasn't looking of course.

[jsd123789456]

im going to have to agree in part on the drinking and playing better in some cases. my friend and i would get up the morning after a long night of drinking and partying and go play tennis to avoid my mom and usually we produced some pretty incredible stuff on these morning where our inhibitions were all there but we were still very loose and relaxed... oh how i cant wait to go home for those days again next week! finals week blows in college

[Sebastien447]

Don't be so hard on Marat. It could be worse. For example, there's the drinking during competition option that's popular among impetuous college tennis players.

Margaritas drunk from a tennis ball can: killing a scholarship and my brain cells at the same time! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[jsd123789456]

Don't be so hard on Marat. It could be worse. For example, there's the drinking during competition option that's popular among impetuous college tennis players.

Margaritas drunk from a tennis ball can: killing a scholarship and my brain cells at the same time! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

nice, but doesn't the can make them taste like fuzz? or do you have the foresight to clean it out, ive had water from a can before and it tasted like balls...that couldve been worded better.

[Jessie181]

[quote author=Sebastien447 link=1165541897/0#12 date=1165555298]Don't be so hard on Marat. It could be worse. For example, there's the drinking during competition option that's popular among impetuous college tennis players.

Margaritas drunk from a tennis ball can: killing a scholarship and my brain cells at the same time! Â* [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

nice, but doesn't the can make them taste like fuzz? or do you have the foresight to clean it out, ive had water from a can before and it tasted like balls...that couldve been worded better.[/quote]

LMAO
that COULD have been worded better.
LMAO