2 words:

Oh my God. Oh my God. And by this I just mean: Oh my God!!!!

Ok, explaining now, in two words: Marat Safin. I will not write any more "oh my god"s here, but let's say that I could write that for 5 more lines. So, Marat Safin.

I have to say that he is even better than I had imagined. I never actually think he is a real life human being, and seeing him standing right in front of you kind of shows you that indeed he is, and that yes, he does look that good. But anyway, about the game: it was.... well, it was not his best. I have no idea why, maybe it's because he is not fully back from his last injury. I don't care. (I didn't really pay thaaaaat much attention to the game in the beginning, to be completely honest here). The fact is: you can see that he has the game, the talent to do it. You see it in a couple of shots, some aces, the way he moves about. It's all there: the speed, the strenght, the talent. And also, the lack of patience, the frustration and the bad luck, and the balls that stay in the net. And this time, the bad parts of his game overcame the good parts, unfortunately.

Was it worth it? Completely. I mean, the game was too short, and well, he did lose, I know, I know, but really.... I don't know. It was still worth it. It's different seeing a guy that is that good playing. Fine, not his best day, but he is still good. And he did everything he always does, and it was nice seeing it live: hitting the clay off his shoes, being angry at the ballgirl (oh, and the funniest thing: the ballgirl - other ballgirl, actually, but anyway- giggling when he walked away from her. And then she looks at you, and knows that you saw it and are probably thinking the same thing she is - any variation of oh-god-he-is-gorgeous - and you both just laugh at it, in the middle of the game); doing the little jumping thing he does on his left (sorry, only way to describe it. Giulia will know), yelling, cursing in Russian, staring at the racket almost saying to it "what the hell do you think you are doing???", and, of course, smashing the poor racket on the ground. Obviously. And besides, come on, just look at him. He could stand still in the court for 2 more hours and I still would not mind just staring at him being there (yes, I know, kind of obssessive talk here, but really, you have to see the guy... and I am not stalking, following him around or sending him letters or hanging posters on the wall here people, so be calm. Just commenting).

So, that was it. Marat Safin, live. 4 years after my first attempt, but still, Marat Safin(!!!!!!) Not the game of a decade, I admit it. But still, Marat Safin. And it is at times like these you realize how easy it actually is to make me happy.

(ps: picture later. I don't wanna upload now. But don't worry, since I took something around 40 pictures. In a 2 hour game. I have no idea how, but they are here. So, soon, as soon as I actually tell you something about Hamburg and the 3 days I spent there).

beijos