Lleyton Hewitt v Marat Safin Full Match | Australian Open 2005 Final

play you a nice Cris clean start from both players and good to see the first point decided with a winner oh little nerves that one he won't miss that one in another few games [Applause] [Music] help keep that's a sort of point that Leon hu enjoys so much comfortable from the back of the Court keeping reasonable length and preventing saffin using his power sain's playing his seventh consecutive Australian Open here for the first time in 1999 couple of years ago though he sustained a wrist injury here most of Australia breathes a collective side Rel one of his tried marks well he's very comfortable as well from the back of the Court Merit saf and he's capable of accelerating the racket head when he has an opening and technically very very good he's not just a server here thrives on this one of the big problems that if saffin doesn't really pick up the pace on the ground strokes he's not going to hit too many winners against hu and that's not good news for him you got B it oh not much Pace on any of those balls coming from lighton hu well I think he's slicing the ball a little more than normal as well Peter trying to keep the ball low cuz he's aware of the fact that if it's up in The Hitting Zone of saan he can really give it a smack so huge strategy even early on seems to be the right one don't let saffin get too many shots in The Hitting Zone no first serves into play in this Opening Service game for Marat saffin yes well played that's the type of tennis saffin has to come up with the win point very safe on the volley here decides to come in that one goes crosscourt nice comfortable there good firm volley plays the short volley here good technique moves the racket head out in front a real chance here for the Australian early [Applause] 304 if he can capitalize here the crowd will get even more involved than they are at the moment listen for the roar that's this last backhand that Jeff was talking about and it's paid dividends very early because that ball skids through saing a very very tall man he's got to get down before he can get come from low to high on that backand if he just drives through it when the ball is sliced like that back hand's going to finish up where it did right there right in the middle of the net he couldn't have wished for a better start than you a hold of service followed by a break of saffin we just saw a shot of Leon hu's Entourage some familiar faces up there one who hasn't been here in this fortn night Greg Norman flew in today to watch his friend endured a 22h hour flight to be here what well it's just a beautiful Start From hu's perspective his unforced error rate is extremely minimal and saffin starting to just make a few extra unforced errors uncharacteristic error there human has been faultless so far the unforced ER count is 6 zip 4 [Music] that is as good a start as l w could possibly have hoped for 15 [Music] go 4 left as been at Full Tilt yet saffin on the first serve 206k an hour his fastest yet he can certainly serve in the 220 range easily well that's audacious very well disguised as well well it's a success of a drop shot is disguise it well saffin was moving to the backhand Corner had to run almost in a circle to get this one and in the end realizing he's not going to get there coming under the ball there hu doesn't hit a lot of Drop shots but that was well disguised well placed an opportunity to get on the scoreboard here with this backand look at the balance there he plants that foot second the big man from Russia is on the board down a break though here leads three games to they're playing for $1.2 million for the winner tonight but neither of these men would probably even know that figure because there's much more than money at stake here this is what they play for the Grand Slam championships and the trophy that's a tough shot for saff in that one again it was the slice and on the forehand he's got to bend because he's got to pull that down the line over the High part of the net not easy [Applause] seems just a little stilted with his sa yeah with his ground strokes he's not free flowing as he's capable of just still a little tense 198 km for the first ice of the match cleans the paint Another Love Game for the Australian he is up and about early and leads by four games to one with the [Applause] break oh love the thing starting to get a little sorts with himself saffin but hu has just been Rock Solid think I've seen him have a start in a match like this where he hasn't made but one error in the first what five [Applause] games 30 26 points 10 unforced errors that ratio will not get you too [Applause] far well this is incredible no one expected a start like this we were saying that the only chance s had would be to come out and have a start like hu's had yep thank you three chances for the Australian to take a 5-1 [Applause] lead well he's won the point saff but that's a panicked way of winning the point for M hitting a drop shot at love 4 he4 this is high risk comes up with a lob volley here and does it beautifully [Applause] that's a tough way to save one of three break points got oh that's a gem well when he's on song and he hits this one this is as pretty as any shot that you'll see stays down on the ball look at the preparation plants that foot through great balance head still on the line still break point [Applause] swinging a little more freely now saffin just a little extra Pace from the Racket and hu quite able to track it down well if he gets out of this game it's got to give him a bit of a lift up down L 40 if he can fight his way through this one to see where he serves that second serve we haven't seen saffin serve a second serve to the forehand absolutely perfect what a corer indeed Advantage here this is beautifully done it's a good volley it's deep so rather than go down the line or crosscourt he elect to go over the top saff and had to move forward and just beautifully executed from huitt one of his favorite shots he was always going to make that H Leon hu must be pinching himself at the moment and Meritt saff and better start pinching himself to wake himself up hu all over saffin leads 5-1 in the first set leads [Applause] 5 after just 20 minutes lighton huitt serving for the [Applause] set this is well saff finished as far as this set's concerned he wants to serve first in the second set he's got to try and forget this one Peter lungren his coach there that'll be a little concerned nothing wrong with hu's Mobility here this evening he's done lots of work during the tournament but moving as quick and covering as much territory as ever and easily brilant stop quite Incredible S start from H I think I've covered H all over the globe on all different surfaces over the last six or seven years on everything and I've never seen him start a set off here and play the way he's played tonight he's had one unforced error in this first set as he stands at set points what an unbelievable effort that is as close to perfection in a set in a championship final as you could possibly imagine the last man to take the first set six1 and win the championship Matt filander in 1983 also against Ivan lindle he won at 1 four and four good return from H he's aware of the fact that saff and just likes to roll that second serve into the back almost every time and hu on a couple of occasions already this evening has run around and hit the forehand feels little risk in doing so see where this second serve goes it's been 100% down the middle a kicker to the backand there it is again now watch the the uh South and Federer match upstairs when Roy Emerson was sitting just alongside from me and and it took him about four games and he said this guy serves his second serve down the middle all the time never goes so just shows you what a keen mind he had for what was going on out there in that match and still saffin the players are aware of that now as Jeff's mentioned though and the amazing part is we sat in this very spot 12 months ago and spoke about the same thing yeah there it is again he's got to vary that cuz it's against a good players you can't get away with that very SK and as you said players and the coaches aware of it Roger Rasheed actually spoke to me about it before the match yesterday just to confirm that had been the case so they brought it here tonight as part of their strategy it's very important for the big man here to get off on the right foot he's got to get a good start in this second set this one he really put the burners on here he thought this one was going in saffin first serve percentage currently 36 he gets away with it though troubled on serve but that was a critical hold of serf for [Applause] saff 50 m oh something a little different from Zin he's just might making not making a dent at all in H's armor H's just using his pace and is just as clean and crisp off the ground as we've ever seen him Hu [Applause] just the slightest hint of an opening for saffin well this set even though it's the early stages this is a must-win set from saff and he's never come back in his career ever from two sets to love down Le service [Applause] [Applause] h a very worried Peter lren Meritt saffin coach oh Jee it's a an opportunity missed but wonderful defense from hu the return was excellent had to struggle and so quick that one there that's tough and as ever terrific on the Counterattack getting that ball just low enough hu knows that was a big Point saffin showing the first signs of frustration at the net after that Mis volley yes first one of the match to either player enormous game here in the scheme of things for meritta and in particular as Fred sty said he doesn't want it to go to Five makes it look easy hasn't put a foot wrong reads this play good first serve comes up in the air a lot of the times he'll back off not tonight he's confident he's in there good round arm volley and you can see the reaction come on here TI to duu but able to come up with a couple of big points and holds at one all in the second [Applause] and surely hu must almost be experiencing a surreal feeling out there the expression of being in the zone is overused in sport a lot but that describes his State of Mind at the moment surely well he's hitting it crisply and cleanly as Fred said right in the middle but early stages of the second set vitally important to keep that momentum going [Applause] the only thing that sain's got going for him Jeff is the fact that hu can't possibly play any better than he played in the first set 1 first ice for Meritt second 109 km an hour his quickest for the match so far 211 was it an ice hu had a good long look and with [Applause] reason 49 serve again to the backand the second serve into the body but he just doesn't doesn't go out wide of the forehand just will not take the risk I don't know why he's a tall guy Tu taking a chance there and it was a good calculated chance because uh again the saff and serve to the backand hu realizes there's no risk in running around it this one finds the line and saffin his first Ser percentage is woeful 34% point of the match surely he can do no wrong can't get it any better he was out of that point saffin was out of it to start off with here miraculous recovery then he comes in not quick enough though slices it the ball's going away from hu and he finds room down the line to get it past the tall man on the [Music] line he's missed it puts all sorts of pressure on saffin here just scrambling that ball back nothing on the return but it was so short it becomes difficult look where this one bounces saffin likes to hit with a lot of heavy Top Spin he knows that hu's on track after it and he's hit the last one down the line pushes that one out this would shatter his confidence from 40 love up now juice could have gone either way off the tightly bound [Applause] [Applause] [Music] here he's just reading that serve and returning it so well hu all sorts of pressure on the first serve here s saen endures a little bit of a heart palpitation [Applause] not often you find a point like this from hu he gets the big first Ser in gets the half caught ball and then smacks it away for a winner that's left mostly to the big service for that last backand from saff was nearly a half volley but it was hit as firm as anything that he's hit so far and he extracted the error so the big man's not done yet 1530 [Music] well as well as H has played it might come down to just a point or two like these next two points and all of a sudden in 15 or 20 minutes this match could be all square it's been Total Domination by the Australian but saffin has the chance to wedge in front in the second set right here and there is the break and sa saffen back in business how big is that last game now huge unbelievable how things turn so quickly but saffin still has to do the job he has to whole serve here to [Applause] consolidate saff serve points one 50% first Serv 58% second cons served love his 51 second Ace for the big man beautiful motion on the serve if he doesn't get that ball tossed too far over the left which sometimes causes him problems but not much can go wrong with it [Applause] well he's got so much respect for the hu speed and counter attacking abilities that he only comes to the net saff and when he's certain such as here that he's got hu in real difficulties and the volley will be simple it's a very good approach shot effortless well there was a net cord that screwed it up there for hu he was in on the approach but then he is just left there after this one just wondering because sain's got many choices here hu guesses moves to the right a little bit opens up the court down the backhand wing 43 very confident in his own ability off the ground here tonight hu over the high part of the net Struck it beautifully [Applause] light call it's called [Applause] wide these guys under pressure too caros Ramos in the end it matters not hu serving at 14 15 minut this is where hu normally digs in it's only the one service break [Music] 30 l no Pace on that second serve 138 km hour hu say to saffin if you want to generate some Pace make your ownice oh pulled off that one totally Z's got to keep his mind on the job he's got to concentrate he has concentration lapses two free points the first two in this game W they F off ordinary serves just a free point from saffin on both time hu deciding not to make an issue of a ball that was right on the Baseline in the middle of that rally 15 H's first serve percentage not what it should be either 51% and dropping game h now this is the game that saffin has to keep his mind on the job it's the seventh game of the second set and if he loses this game he's going to be in all sorts of stri hu came back from 14 in the third set against Andy rodic and the semis at a set all hand back to take that set in a tiebreaker so he's certainly not about to let this set go now and saffin has played a few loose points in that last game [Applause] hesitated here saf and look where he is he just didn't commit to coming all the way forward to the net you're on the service line against hu y totally vulnerable good save from the Russian there that had been a little deeper would' have been able to scramble look where he is though and the angle here is just enough to save it inside the court there that had been a meter further back this one then hu would have tracked it down and that is his quickest for the match 213 km an hour he can pick it up to a bit more than that but this he desperately needs to hold here 3 away with backand no balance on that shot pulled off it so as we talking about just a couple of shots here and there hu's been very solid he's not going to give him a couple of loose ones now probably the first of the real clutch points of this match especially for saffin [Applause] 43 Greg Norman twice a major championship winner lighton huitt twice a grand slam winner for the moment thank you almost a r smile on the face of saffin he was very solid under pressure saff just one game away from leveling this match [Applause] 15 left good tennis all around there 15 on started with that return didn't it hu on the defensive look at this approach shot wide didn't quite get all of this smash had to play yet another shot sa whacking himself on the thigh saying get that foot across get it over there get the feet moving pinpoint accurac on the serve though from hu sa would love to do it here because it would mean that he would be serving first in the third set 10 unforced errors now from the racket of Fu that means there's been nine in the set yep 43 two IES a piece now big return from saff and he's certainly picking the pace up off the ground yes he's found a slot there hasn't he the players work around when they play to try and find a comfortable position where they can have a crack at the return off a second serve and it seems saffin found that spot now where he can swing freely and get the ball in The Hitting Zone second service it's been a courageous comeback by the big man from Russia 6' 4 in of him 193 CM he could have easily dropped his bundle the way the first set had gone he could have dropped it how he Lo lost that game to go down 2-1 that he held set point [Applause] yes let for service yes it was the forehead return was a m hit just didn't get any depth on it and it's set up this one here right off the top of the frame hu moves into position no question beautiful to watch when he's on song and he's in the slot with his backhand at the moment during the rally and then he picks up the pace gets the one down the line [Applause] just occasionally snatching at it Lan drops his head advantage [Applause] here absolutely stone cold dead hu fights off a break point a set point for saffin will he get another one sa leads five to three he has still the break in hand well lren we had seen the point before this with the head dropped he knew how important it was for saffin a to win that set and B if he could to serve first as you mentioned Peter in the third now pressured back on saffin having to serve this out saffin needs to get first serves into play not again oh can you believe that obviously thinks everybody's against him but nevertheless Fred he was a little lefar getting up there I thought he had time this ball really sits up and he's got plenty of time here saff but he's just not well he's a big man well yeah and he Mish hits it though when he gets up there he just doesn't have that other shot once that ball gets below the net that's the second one of those that he's framed you might not see two of those in one match but two in two points is remarkable 5 thir [Applause] 15 H looking up to his Entourage for Assurance was way out good call the Australian showing signs of aggression he knows it's now or never for the second set sa thought it was out [Music] clearly a little terrific drop shot Zen started early he read it but the shot was too good but certainly the point before that one there he thought was long saffin but seemingly he's incorrect and starting to get for the first time in this match just a little rattled couple of net cords have gone against him that call he wanted for it to be out big moment here must put the frustration aside and go through the process oh good second serve hu knowing full well that was going to be there that's where we said he has not hit one out wide hu took the risk but it was an excellent second serve this one look at it jumps up where hu had to try and just get out of the way of that one couldn't control it you see his displeasure with that saffin with a second set point after 1 hour and 5 minutes we are locked together in the [Applause] final 30 left [Applause] [Music] that's a different saffin now he's realized that sliced back in this one look he's got to bend the knees and he comes right from low to high on that one right up and around the side of the ball oh he's fluent now the Russian a half B there wanting to take time away from hu and did so successfully look at this half volley wanting hu to have so little time to use his foot speed to get back in and defend [Applause] that's just pace of shot pace of shot and depth of shot and as good as H is he can't get in position to do much with this se's on the back foot forcing him back come on come on this is the time throughout this fortn night that players sometimes have been a little upset with hu with the come on coming on their mistake rather than a Hu winner Advantage here it [Applause] this [Music] sain's Spirits have certainly been boed by the second set score line his body language has been different what a difference a break here would make [Music] and he's got a second chance to do just that he starting to make a few errors those things were not he was hitting those crisply and deep in the opening set played a perfect opening set H another good serve from here yes we haven't heard much emotion from the Australian even during that dominant first set realizes the importance of this opening game of set three come on mik come on Advantage H and he sets up this one he's made a few of them a little bit late through the strike zone on that one come on mate come on there's the first big one time will tell outstanding defense again from H couple of shots there that not only would many not have gotten to they certainly wouldn't have been able to get there quickly enough to hit defensive difficult shots such as that [Applause] for all of his Brilliance at times almost inev blue in a match Meritt Sapp will go through a valley H will have to capitalize when he does is this it well he saved a couple of break points in that last game he's got an opportunity here love 30 this will really annoy the big fellow if hu can break here 15 great time to do that 199 straight up the middle the Russian fans are here to you can do it they are hopelessly outnumbered [Music] well a big save there that one for russan this one slides it down the line he thought it was wide but boy did he make sure he covered [Music] it you can do it still a little glimmer of Hy here for [Applause] hu super defense from hu how quick is he well he read that drop shot that's what you were just saying sa says well H reads things better than most and before he even played this one k was on his way saffin had all the court open to drive the ball here's the gets to it no mistake that one so what a break here for Leon hwit thank you saff can't believe he did thate thank [Music] you he won't play a drop shot off that one what a time to come up with your quickest serve for the match 214 kilm an hour this is what he should have done with the last one he had the ball was high enough to do it off the [Music] backand play Drop shots on this rebound ace against hu is nearly impossible no is there any shot he can't get to almost joined the ball kids on the side of the Court an unbelievable effort from both players here aren they giving it they're all here hu stretches saffen clocks this one finds the angle that was even inside the service box and still hu forces him to play One More Shot and it wears at you because you start going for more than you really want to so concerned are you as to the speed of Fu that last one there he tried to hit for a winner he didn't want that to come back found the tape Advantage s just his fourth ice of the match three to [Music] [Applause] [Music] hu thank you cor Shu it has gone [Applause] ballistic ball was good here it's [Music] wrong Carlos Ramos with important and correct overule replay shows part of the ball was on the line went right through the line they replay the point well actually the one saffin the one that suffers here saffin the one that's had a little bit of bad luck because hu missed that ball hit it into the net that would have been game to saffin where standing at juice right [Music] now missed it to this would be a huge blow to saffin if he was to lose [Applause] this especially after having two break points on the hu serve in the first game of this set well then that overall basically would have given him the game and they replayed the point [Applause] yes we talked about Fred that game in the women's final yesterday between Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport and how critical that was this might be the equivalent tonight oh he's made it again talking about reading the play he almost got there too soon incredible effort again this one boy just jabbed at it he overran it knew we just had to get it down the [Applause] line apologizes he apologize for the mishit return not for the passing shot third break point for the Australian that's L sa's racket goes it's smashed onto the rebound a surface that might be the match changer that game there here it leads two games to left I can't believe he hasn't changed his racket s because I think that broke for sure well that's got to be disappointing I feel a little bit there for him because of that overrule but that happens in the sport and now he has an uphill battle in this third set he's got to fight all these fans hu and his own emotions and here not to let him off the hook you can see the shaking of the head from saffin [Applause] got say this guy's got more guts uh defensive plays Miss he turns into winners now two Aces to consolidate this third set break to good there it goes again that bracket has a limited life span the approach shot was nowhere near good enough and hu aever never overplays the first shot it's like Billiards he plays one shot to set it up for the next shot totally under control again 145 it was a bit of Brilliance from saffin but he's still striking his head tough shot to play this is the good effort though the stretch volley on the next one [Applause] 403 well the bit could be on the on the other foot here [Applause] saffin can get the next point the doubts might start creaking into the Australians mind and it might be an immediate break back [Applause] here well it's Brighton now 15 only problem with this now Jeff is that saffin had his 3 minute injury time out he's calmed down a little calmed down a little bit had time to reflect and uh well certainly it was hu that had won the the metal yeah battle up to that point well that was the thing of the evening wasn't it that we felt that H it's going to win the mental battle against any of these players Ball's good rip the B one h Carlos Ramos gets a similar reaction from Marat speaking to him in Spanish here [Music] now this one's good clearly good a good good ey R 51 saffin he's just about ready to [Applause] explode unplayable swinging wide away from the h forand at 195 km hour Jeff as we watched this in replay you and I saw the match against Olivier rockus the other day saffin was frustrated throughout much of that match after had the explosion he was a better player he calmed down a bit got it out of his system he was Peter lram believes that he is better off letting his emotions run freely get him out and he believes that he plays a little better good longer than being sa's coach and used to coach Roger feder here leads three games to [Music] [Applause] [Music] b fittingly a perfect night in Melbourne weather has been magnificent for these championships for all by one day [Music] [Applause] mental battle continues saffin battling himself for yes one of the best rallies the best rally of the night toet to toe slice Top Spin saffin barely gets out to this one and then the control that H has uses the pace steers it in the open court and saffin says too much he does say too much 31 stroke rally and saffin out of breath at the back of the [Applause] court and he's certainly looking a little fatigued if he had a requirement for a rub Midway through this third set that last rally would have done him no good whatsoever now if the thighs are little fatigued at the moment he's got a lot more running to do yet still hu just operating at 48% of first serves into play in this set 43 for service 4 to15 [Music] [Applause] just the one cour against the H SW once again he's able to consolidate the [Applause] break 15 minut [Applause] [Music] 31 Ace number seven for the big Russian that one at 203 quickest for the match 215 4 this is just what he needs to have a bit of a breather an easy service game he is getting a little rattled theice now s l g for now s for hu love game on his Ser there are 19,273 people in Melbourne Park tonight around 15 to 155,000 of them in this wonderful stadium so around 4,000 people outside watching in Garden Square on the big screen and it's an alltime attendance record 543,000 it smashed the record from 2001 by 30 people so the Fanatics have put it over the top exactly that's just lack of footwork for me he was in to the net in good position just needed to make an extra step to this volley and instead he just reaches that's one big step instead of two small ones you acknowledging the shot from his opponent as he has done several times throughout this match well they have great respect for one another what's the angle saff and creates from here from deep in the court gets that left hand through and that was hit cleanly that wasn't a Miss hit that was hit cleanly and meant to go [Applause] there well I think he's going to need more of that sort of play sa and he's going to need to shorten up the points look to be as aggressive as possible as early in the point as he possibly can otherwise hu's just going to wear him down simple as that if happens to be any hope of getting back into this third set you would think that this is a must-win point and win it he does he set that one up beautifully and a will return a serve got the short forand the off forehand flatten it out big big moment [Applause] [Music] now was nice too there's the heels around and he does touch the line an unusual motion on the serve with his feet anyway oh yes look up there sa looked up after that rally because he thought he'd won the Point here it scampers out 33 shots in this rally he thought he'd won it here he goes round the Net post saffin just can't believe it Sports conduct warning Mr H yep well he went off you can see him there gesticulating to the linesman who' called the footfall and whatever he said he's been given a warning by the chair umpire Carlos Ramos unsportsmanlike conduct [Music] s's going to have a second chance emotions are on the knif edge here Advantage both things are the C yep hu realizes what's going on here this game and it was a footfall because he gets those heels [Applause] around touch the line this well you knew when saffin came forward off that approach out he was in trouble because the ball was so low he couldn't get a good hit at it but what a tremendous Top Spin lob again from hu this man is 6'4 and it needed to be hit to Perfection what a game this one is turning into be foot fults Top Spin lobs four hands down the line thank you is there anything left to give us fck Advantage [Applause] [Music] s emotions are running hot hu at the end of this point screaming at himself [Applause] [Music] saffin fights and fights hard and gets the third set back on serve and the final comes alive [Applause] again in that last change over they had a change of linesmen line judges so it's not the same compliment of line judges that were out there 5 minutes ago they work on 45 minute shifts 13 [Applause] [Music] starting to serve better sa and he's up to the high 50% 58% first serves into play saen the first set was in the 30s second set the 40s now he's dragged this set up a Long Way 40 15 in fact Jeff in this set before that serve safam was serving at 81% of first serves into play that's extraordinary yep he getting the odd free point up two aces in the game again brings the tally up to nine four games on you just feel the electricity in the air here we've talked about everything else around them and you just feel that whoever can take control and win this set they run out the winner that's wide 11 hu's first serve percentage in contrast is poor for this set 41 for the match 46 let for second set set it up Point [Applause] 15 15 that's terrific racket head control from saffin just Out Of hu's Reach 30 another footfall different end different [Applause] judge oh we hear it with a quick look up there that time he didn't expect that shot as explosive as it was but just he unleashes on this forehand saffin the momentum now with the Russian two break points for a 5-4 lead in the third set that's one of them saved 3040 [Applause] well even the very best can get tight on the extremely big points what a way for that to happen I was just thinking he hadn't Saed a double for a long long time L yes well he played that to Perfection didn't he he knew exactly he wanted to do this one saffin goes in this shot has played to keep the ball to get a crack at the next one saffin goes back into that corner and that's where he paid the price [Applause] 1 who knows he's got to come up with the goods on the serve it's in those extended rallies 11 Aces now 24 km hour just one shy of his quickest for the evening the final ticks into its third hour s knows that's going to happen he's just a little slow moving to this one again good play from hu Brave shot [Applause] [Music] a serving game just when he needed [Applause] it merat saffin on the verge of taking a two sets to one lead thank you [Applause] yes there's not a difficult back end that one for saf he's feeling the pressure another big serve Advantage sain he's won every point to the first court this game saffen can't win one to the second that will do it set second six it's going to have to go to Five sets if H is to win the championship saen takes a big stride and leads by two sets to [Applause] [Music] 15 left wouldn't come [Applause] in that would have been a sitter had hu ventured to the [Applause] net hasn't been in there too many times tonight said one in Fr and he's been into the net eight times and won seven of them don't need to go in when you can serve like that 45 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh yes unbelievable saen do a h at Full Tilt the big man his coach is pretty happy about that he's not 43 look at the run here the coverage l long stretched out strides down the line he at everything but that [Music] covered what a massive point that running forehand might turn out to be can't quite any better than that one advantage suffing time for push these man into the corner and then takes the overhead back into the same direction saen with a point for a third successive break of serve for [Applause] oh yes brilliant absolutely [Applause] brilliant 15 love [Applause] Just Landing awkwardly but getting up quickly 30 left oh he's doing some serious damage now saffin from the back of the Court picking up the pace finding the corners hu scr Ling as ever but very much on the defensive now well this Ser is on song now Jeff isn't it beautiful Rhythm up in the 60% range that is good when you got to serve like that 12 Aces to six not so much the aces it's the free points 45 [Applause] another big kicking second serve from Meritt saffin concedes just the one point sa needs two GES to the momentum is all [Music] his six out of the last eight years we' said earlier player that won their first semifinal gets through to win the final not a good sign here for hu he's about to prove it wrong for a set and a half he's got a big struggle ahead now he's not done though well he led 4-1 though Fred in the third set and so therefore he's lost the last seven games and it's just been oneway traffic oh boy that's good and hu says yep he just stood right in over the top of that 15 he's getting too many looks isn't he at the second serve and when he's starting to serve much better himself the confidence level is elevated that's a little over confidence yeah that's he said no no he calm down a little bit long way to go yet 4 15 [Applause] it's been a high quality final winners to unforced eras ratios for both men saffin 43 winners 31 unfor steers hu 28 winners 20 unfor steerers [Applause] well s saying of the crowd calling out didn't help Himes 3 well this is just ideal for Meritt saffin at this stage who knows whether he can keep it up but uh he has just turned this around as Jeff mentioned with the serve and when you don't have to do that much work and you get the serve in Jim absolute Jim not dissimilar to the shot that he played the end of the third set to break uses the left hand to pull that racket head through the angle was extreme second what a service going a love game brilliant serving great touch sa leads three games to it is beginning to look as though saffin is going to be the man will take away the trophy from Melbourne Park hu will fight it to the end though and he's going to need to serving at 13 fourth set down two sets to one another second serve from Hu and another opportunity for saffin to be aggressive and he took it one of the first percentages there now beat for hu 50% for huitt 58 for saffin [Music] [Applause] [Music] 1 surely one more break of serve might take the wind out of his sails Greg Norman looks on his parents look on how many times have they heard Leighton from the time he was a little fellow talking about playing in this very match he's Play3 Grand Slam matches mom and dad are watched him play every single one of them [Applause] oh boy he was all over that one saff and just a little bit too anxious what a beautiful return he made and again the fighting qualities of hu how he gets this one back and then saffin wants to get it into the corner just doesn't let it get up high enough hu still lives 3040 [Applause] saffin eyes the trophy now break point yes San's got a guess [Music] [Applause] oh Advantage here it [Applause] [Music] 205 points in the match and sa has won three more oh what a point I want a rub from that guy who robbed sain's legs earlier this is a a terrific shot from H what he does well how saffen gets forward to this one I don't know and then controls it for super angle H at the full dive tremendous Point wasn't it h gives it a Becker here yeah and he landed really heavily [Applause] too what an important Point 15 love saffin should take a couple of deep breaths this match has been played in wonderful spirit they have great mutual respect hu now the number two player in the world having overtaken Andy rodic by winning the semi-final oh that's too good man he's just turned the tap on with the serve it wasn't that way we were setting a bit and as we mentioned before the final started Fred 16 Aces but not one double fault yet you put the mocker on him again Pete you put the mocker on him again every time you say that that happens sorry Lar [Music] G second that's a fair old reply 215 up there with his quickest for the night Ace number 17 saff leads four games to two two games away from the [Applause] championship this man from Adelaide at the other end of the Court blon hu has produced some amazing comebacks in this fortnite and in his career he's going to need a big one here [Applause] [Applause] left 5 it was worth a chance there was a percentage Plus love 15 when you got a service break love 15 you get a second serve have a crack at it it's in you got love 30 the worst thing can happen they're even 15 all and you still have that service break well again having a crack at that second serve if he was inhibited with his ground strokes in the first set he's anything but now really flowing freely from his racket pinpoint accuracy imposing himself on Hu [Applause] [Applause] 30 saffen will not be happy with that 1530 second s 43 May you's got to keep he honest and play the first serve on its merits have a crack at the second serve still in there he gives himself one maybe two more chances to break serve [Applause] 15 just weight of shot here from seen too good too much [Applause] power saf's done a good job so far of keeping the crowd out of this hasn't he hasn't taken much notice of him another big serve hasn't got frustrated I thought he would uh get a little bit more annoyed with the crowd but the crowd have been pretty good the Fant the Fanatics haven't overstepped the Mark I think he said he's enjoyed reasonable support from the crowd frankly sein 305 [Applause] boy hu again was there read that beautifully just a little bit off balance with it incredible serve again from saffin affirmation from the box to their man [Applause] he's running out of time though oh what a brilliant Che he can't hit a return of serve off that any better than hu struck that return and saffin was there with something with even more miles PR on it now then the equation is simp for lighton hu hold serve or it's all [Music] [Applause] over and even if he does perhaps it seems that he may be just prolonging the inevitable thank you my please there are no come on now he needs every ounce of energy he's got if he's to get out of this one H into the corner back in behind his man turns directly around to go back and get on with with the job robbed again sa just has a Ry smile he can't believe that net has been so bad for him tonight thir to 15 double fault number three for hu combined with six Aces saffin 17 Aces one double fault for the match [Applause] how many times of the last set and a half has sa come up with that wonderful down the line backhand and with just enough Pace that even the speed of Fu cannot get [Applause] there the number four seed is two points from the championship [Music] and by the way he would love to do it on this serve and not have to serve it out [Music] [Applause] [Applause] 41 oh oh Jee that's a gem could he conate the moment yes [Applause] Advantage [Applause] hu yes good pressure again from saffin the minute he played that low ball he was moving forward hits it keeps it low moves forward immediately looking for the short [Applause] [Music] volley Advantage H another good serve down the middle needed every one of those isn't that enough not too bad at all he gives it everything he's got that's the one that's got him to the dance [Applause] called good yep I think it made it it was [Applause] good barely but it was good got on the [Applause] [Music] line it seems such a long time ago now that huitt had a strangle hold after the first set it has been some sort of comeback from Meritt saen 4 left obliterated in 23 minutes in the first set one unforced error in the first set hadn't seen him play a perfect set like that ever and that's we said sain's only chance was that H couldn't play any better okay and saffin lifted his game set match Third Time Lucky Meritt saen finally tast victory in Melbourne and wins a second slam Leighton H's Australian Open dream remains just that what a comeback what a belated birthday present as he joins y kov as an Australian Open champion in the centenery year to the runner up of the Centenary 2005 Australian Open his dream is still alive ladies and gentlemen Leon Hu couple of Australian cheres there ladies and gentlemen and I'm sure you'd like to hear from Leon lighton H thanks mate uh um first I'd like to congratulate Marat on uh a hell of a tournament mate um you came here you're you're one of the best players in the world you had a great finish the last year and uh you knocked off the guy who's been nearly impossible so you thoroughly deserve it mate I'd like to thank all the sponsors espe Kia and garia for putting in uh great sponsorship money for the tournament without your help these kind of tournaments aren't possible the Australian Open obviously is one of my favorite tournaments of the year so yeah please keep supporting thanks um I'd like to thank all the ball kids the Lions people everyone who's done a wonderful job behind the scenes the last two weeks it's an absolute pleasure for not only myself but all the players worldwide to come here and play in this great event uh it's just such a wonderful Stadium it's fantastic underneath there for the players um you know it's been wonderful last two weeks so thank you um I'd like to thank my gang i' like to thank my parents my family my girlfriend Beck my boys Fitzy and uh Fitzy and Wally macka Matt Smithy you know who you are um and lastly in my group I'd like to thank my coach Roger mate I love you mate you're a uh you're a Legend um Roger and I had a uh a rough start together when he took over the rigns and uh you there there's no hidden secrets why I'm standing here today and number two or number three in the world and Roger's got a hell of a lot to do with that so thanks mate for all the hard work you put in and lastly I'd like to thank the crowds here in Melbourne it's been uh it's been unbelievable I've been fortunate enough to play many uh big Davis Cup matches here I'd never made it pass around the 16 at this event before and uh I have all these people here that have been coming out the last two weeks to support me every second day um without your support you know I probably wouldn't have made it you know my body wouldn't have held up so thank you very much and uh I'll try and go one step further thanks l h and Now ladies and gentlemen to our Centenary Champion he has in recent years become a very very good friend to Australia and I know he'll be back he is an out andout champion maritt saffin well not yet not yet uh first of all congratulation uh Leon you had a great start uh this year sorry sorry sorry sorry you had really good and tough two weeks I've been watching you on TV even though that I never watched tennis and you were great against Nadal you were great against nalbandion you are such a fighter you have an amazing talent that uh they have uh God gave you to fight until the end until the last ball and I also have to remember that we remember we played in brisban in 99 and ster the first rounds of the tournaments and now we're playing the final so I think it's like after so many years together we're playing the final I think it's great for tennis of course Lon would not achieve anything without the group I think they they deserve also uh well done parents coach girlfriend everybody [Applause] um I have to admit that without I mean the sponsors which is really important for for tennis you've been great you are supporting Kia supporting during uh I think last four years right am I right uh now we have a new sponsor Garnier thank you very much for that and um and all the other sponsors that are making really this tournament happening you know and give us such a good time and for you guys I think you enjoyed it last last two weeks so thanks for the sponsors without them without we have then of course B kids B kids lines like I said always said that without linman I would not win one point so thank you very much for that thank you that very important I think also my service all the security guys all the drivers all the volunteers who was helping this tournament during these two weeks thank you very much and I think everybody appreciate the help right all right my group sitting over there my friends my coach my girlfriend and uh everybody managers and of course the last thing and the most important one thanks to all of you to to come here to support me to support all the other players thank you very much even though that half of uh basic basically 90% with Lon tonight but I still but I still really appreciate that you really love tennis you coming here and uh like they said before we broke the record this two weeks 500,000 I don't know how many people and but it's really impressive thanks for all of you for coming here and supporting us that's really really great for you

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