Marat Safin needs to score a massive upset on Wednesday in Paris if he wants to prolong his career. Safin's opponent is U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro.
Marat Safin was one point away from retirement on three different occasions in his first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open. Now he faces an even tougher test on Wednesday afternoon in the form of a first-ever meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro.
Safin, who will call it a career after this final regular-season tournament of 2009, faced three match points on Monday against Thierry Ascione before surviving 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3). Normally this year it has been Safin who has been throwing away matches he had every chance of winning. The 29-year-old Russian owns a mere 19-21 match record in his last season and the former world No. 1 has dropped No. 65 in the ATP rankings. That said, he always seems to play well in Paris, having won this Masters title in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
Furthermore, he has a real shot against Del Potro. Although, Safin won't hear it. "The way he's playing right now, I don't think I have a chance," said the two-time Grand Slam Champion. "At the end of the day, I don't think I'm going to be the winner."
Del Potro, however, has not won a single match since his triumph over Roger Federer at the U.S. Open. The 21-year old Argentine returned for the first time in Tokyo, where he suffered a shocking first-round defeat to Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Hampered by a wrist injury, Del Potro retired in his opening match at the Shanghai Masters while trailing Jurgen Melzer by a set. Nonetheless, the world No. 5 is an impressive 49-13 for his 2009 campaign, which also includes titles in Auckland and Washington, D.C.
If 100 percent, Del Potro is obviously a huge favorite against Safin. Del Potro often struggles on lightning-fast surfaces because his forehand motion is longer than that of most players, but the Paris court is not playing extremely quick. Safin, as his Paris record indicates, excels on indoor hard courts, but he most likely needs another off day from Del Potro in order to advance.
"I'm going to try," added Safin. "Why not? If I'm going to serve well and he's not going to be at his best, I have a chance."
The pick here is that Safin has more than a chance; Safin in three.
