Nadal back on the prowl, Safin escapes the ‘zoo’

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – All eyes were on two of the  most famous pairs of knees in tennis yesterday as Rafael  Nadal and Venus Williams were back doing what they do best at  the U.S. Open — obliterating their opponents.

As the cameras zoomed in on their stricken joints, with  both former world number ones struggling with tendinitis in  recent months, Williams skipped into round three with a 6-4 6-2  win over fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Less than two hours later a merciless Nadal subjected an  unfortunate Richard Gasquet, who was making his own comeback  following a doping ban, to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 first-round mauling.

The grand slam stage, however, became a poorer place on  Wednesday when Marat Safin walked out of the Flushing Meadows  — which he likened to a “zoo” — for the last time with a  final wave to his adoring fans.

Never again will spectators at the four majors catch a  glimpse of the brilliance or entertaining antics of Safin after  the 2000 champion bowed out in the first round following a 1-6  6-4 6-3 6-4 defeat by Austrian Juergen Melzer.

On a day of farewells, 36-year-old Fabrice Santoro’s 69th  and final major outing ended in defeat. His French compatriot,  former world number one and 17th seed, Amelie Mauresmo was  unsure if she too would return next year after she was thumped  6-4 6-0 by Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak in the second round.

Comeback mum Kim Clijsters completed a forgettable day for  the French when she beat 14th seed Marion Bartoli 5-7 6-1 6-2.

Gasquet, Mauresmo and Bartoli may see their names go up  under the ‘loser’ banner on Wednesday but at least they were  spared the fate of Sania Mirza, who was on the receiving end of  a 6-0 6-0 drubbing by Italian 10th seed Flavia Pennetta.
HORRIBLE TENNIS
With over a billion Indians following her every move on the  tour, the 22-year-old Mirza can expect her performance to be  analysed to the nth degree back home but she offered no  excuses.

“I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m playing such horrible tennis.’ She  had an answer for everything,” Mirza said after the 50-minute,  second-round blowout under sunny skies.

“If she plays like that, she’s going to win the Open.”

For Safin, however, there will be no more chances to add  to his two major crowns as he will be retiring at the end of  2009.

In a topsy-turvy career spanning 12 years, Safin’s mantra  has always been to expect the unexpected.

Whether winning a title in grand style, smashing rackets by  the truckload or dropping his shorts on court after conjuring a  spectacular winner, the one thing Safin can never be accused of  is being boring.

Asked to sum up his abiding memory of the Open, he quipped:  “Here first few days it’s like a zoo. It’s like a million  people running around, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers,  grandmothers, so many people. That’s pretty much annoying.”

Safin might have been eager to escape the zoo but fellow  29-year-old Williams was determined to prowl around Flushing  Meadows for a few more days.

Less than 48 hours after coming within three points of  defeat, Venus and her heavily strapped left knee enjoyed an  easier workout against Mattek-Sands.

“I was moving pretty good and I try not to focus on my  body. I put that out of my thoughts,” said the 2000 and 2001  champion, who needed a medical time out during her opening  match.

Third seed Nadal stepped out for his first grand slam match  in over three months without wearing any strapping around his  knees and the manner of his victory suggested that he did not  turn up in New York simply to show off his new sleeker  haircut.

“I’m back here to try my best,” asserted Nadal, who skipped  the defence of his Wimbledon title because of his injury.

Later yesterday, in a break with U.S. Open traditions,  the evening session will open with the men’s second-round match  between five-times champion Roger Federer and Simon Greul of  Germany. Women’s holder Serena Williams will follow them on to  court against Hungary’s Melinda Czink.