The Many Faces of Marat Safin

Yes, Rodger Federer and Rafael Nadal are probably the better players, and certainly more enjoyable to watch for most people. But we here at Wenzel enjoy the unexpected and that's why we love to watch Marat Safin on the tennis courts. Safin, you see, is like a box of Forrest Gump chocolates. Sometimes capable of the most sublime play (he is the only player, along with Nadal, to beat Federer in the last two years), whereas at other times he looks like a drunk chasing a balloon near the edge of a cliff. Unlike some players, like Andy Roddick, who may be inconsistent and you know within the first few games how the match will go, the many faces of Marat can show themselves within the same set. He keeps you guessing throughout the whole match. Will this be the point where he smashes his racket, lobs it into the crowd, fires off a 140 mph serve, or threads a delicately aimed passing shot over the net, barely tagging a line to stay in?

For many, this can be a frustrating experience, to watch a player capable of so many ups and downs in one match, but Marat rewards you in the long-run, even if he lost today to Tommy Robredo (5-7, 7-5, 2-6). We've always liked rollercoasters, and we'll always watch Marat.

For more tennis action, check out the Rogers Cup.