ARTICLE Safin accuses Ferrero of child's play
HAMBURG, Germany, May 11 (Reuters) - A furious Marat Safin accused Juan Carlos Ferrero of acting like a 14-year-old after losing 4-6 6-4 6-2 to the Spaniard in the second round of the Hamburg Masters on Wednesday.
The Russian third seed had a long argument with the chair umpire at 2-0 down in the second set after an overrule and was infuriated when an impatient Ferrero asked the official to order Safin to resume playing.
"I don't understand what Ferrero was complaining about," said Safin, whose rivalry with the Spaniard dates back to their time as juniors. "I grew up with the guy basically, we've known each other for 11 years and the guy is doing this to me.
"I don't think it was really polite from his part. You have to act like a gentleman. I'm not trying to cheat anybody, I'm just asking (about the call), I'm just trying to prove my point.
"But don't give me this attitude, like a kid who is 14 years old."
The Australian Open champion, who also lost to Ferrero at the Monte Carlo Masters last month, added: "He should realise himself, he's 25 years old, a little bit grown up, he's played a lot of tournaments and we've known each other 11 years.
"I don't need to cheat anybody. I'm trying to win the match. It really pissed me off."
CALM FERRERO
Ferrero, who is beginning to rediscover the form that brought him the French Open title in 2003, said he hoped their friendship would not be damaged by the incident.
"Sometimes Marat gets a little bit nervous and then he does something like this," he said. "I tried to stay calm and focus on the next point.
"The umpire can't spend three minutes talking with a player, he had to stop it. Three minutes is too much.
"But Marat is like this sometimes. I know him and am very friendly with him. I hope this doesn't mean too much in the relationship."
He also rejected Safin's claim that he had been talking to his coach constantly during the match.
"My coach talked to me one or two times in the whole match, exactly the same as his coach," said Ferrero, whose win set up a last 16 clash with another Russian, Nikolay Davydenko.
"I'm feeling really good physically. I feel I can beat anybody," said the Spaniard, who has slipped to number 39 in the rankings after a succession of fitness problems.
HAMBURG, Germany, May 11 (Reuters) - A furious Marat Safin accused Juan Carlos Ferrero of acting like a 14-year-old after losing 4-6 6-4 6-2 to the Spaniard in the second round of the Hamburg Masters on Wednesday.
The Russian third seed had a long argument with the chair umpire at 2-0 down in the second set after an overrule and was infuriated when an impatient Ferrero asked the official to order Safin to resume playing.
"I don't understand what Ferrero was complaining about," said Safin, whose rivalry with the Spaniard dates back to their time as juniors. "I grew up with the guy basically, we've known each other for 11 years and the guy is doing this to me.
"I don't think it was really polite from his part. You have to act like a gentleman. I'm not trying to cheat anybody, I'm just asking (about the call), I'm just trying to prove my point.
"But don't give me this attitude, like a kid who is 14 years old."
The Australian Open champion, who also lost to Ferrero at the Monte Carlo Masters last month, added: "He should realise himself, he's 25 years old, a little bit grown up, he's played a lot of tournaments and we've known each other 11 years.
"I don't need to cheat anybody. I'm trying to win the match. It really pissed me off."
CALM FERRERO
Ferrero, who is beginning to rediscover the form that brought him the French Open title in 2003, said he hoped their friendship would not be damaged by the incident.
"Sometimes Marat gets a little bit nervous and then he does something like this," he said. "I tried to stay calm and focus on the next point.
"The umpire can't spend three minutes talking with a player, he had to stop it. Three minutes is too much.
"But Marat is like this sometimes. I know him and am very friendly with him. I hope this doesn't mean too much in the relationship."
He also rejected Safin's claim that he had been talking to his coach constantly during the match.
"My coach talked to me one or two times in the whole match, exactly the same as his coach," said Ferrero, whose win set up a last 16 clash with another Russian, Nikolay Davydenko.
"I'm feeling really good physically. I feel I can beat anybody," said the Spaniard, who has slipped to number 39 in the rankings after a succession of fitness problems.
