CRI听力: China's Gong Maoxin Lost to Safin at Shanghai ATP Masters

Gong Maoxin came into the game with solid strokes and swift footwork, forcing the tall Russian to move around restlessly.

The two remained even at 4-4, until Gong Maoxin lost his 5th service game to Safin, firing two double faults.
Safin served out the set, and quickly broke Gong Maoxin at the first game of the second set.(www.hXen.com)

The world No. 86 then kept a firm lead over the Chinese wild card, currently 541st on the ATP world tour rankings, throughout the rest of the match and won.

Gong Maoxin admitted that the winds began to turn at the 9th game where he was broken first.

"So basically my first-serves started to go wide and out of my control. I started to feel stretched, and failed to keep my state of shape at a steady level."

Most of the time Gong Maoxin played solidly and his defense game was almost flawless, but his strokes were not lethal enough to push Safin out of his comfort zone; he also contributed a total of 7 double faults to Safin's victory.

Spectators from home and abroad also were being very supportive to Safin, and the stadium court was as much a home court for the Russian as it was for his opponent.

Interestingly, the dominating majority of male spectators sided with the home boy, while almost all female spectators seemed crazy about the Russian, shouting out supportive slogans and waving eye-catching banners.

One of the banner reads "glad to meet u, tough to leave u", clearly in regret for Safin's decision to quit professional tennis after this season ends.

But Safin confirmed with the press again that it is time to say goodbye.

"It's coming to an end. It's coming last three weeks I'm going to play. People are trying to be nice to me, so I guess knowing I'm going to be retiring, they try to support me even more. That's what happens last three weeks in Asia, very nice feeling. It's going to be over, so I need to enjoy it."

Earlier on the same court, 16th seeded Spaniard David Ferrer won over France's Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, while American James Blake beat Croatia's ace machine Ivo Karlovic 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Damin, CRI News, Shanghai.