Friday, September 7, 2001
Tough shot
From the Page 2 mailbag
With all the hoopla surrounding Agassi vs. Sampras and the battle of the Williams sisters, defending U.S. Open champ Marat Safin went almost unnoticed last week at Flushing Meadows. That was until we caught him in a strange pose for Page 2's Mystery Photo.
We received more than 750 e-mails from readers suggesting captions for what Safin was really up to last week. Here are some of the best:
This one time, at tennis camp ...
Michael Nicholson
Atlanta
Scientists admit their attempt to clone a U.S. Open champion is considered a failure.
Jim Sauer
El Cajon Calif.
"No, really! I saw Bobby Riggs play like this once and win $100 from someone!"
Robert Igoe
Altoona, Pa.
Martina Hingis accused Safin of getting more endorsements because "he has a tennis racket growing out of his butt."
Ryan Mitstifer
Winston-Salem, N.C.
After breaking a string ... Safin pulls out a new racket ...
Jack Shapiro
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
"I have got to get rid of this jock itch. Boy I hope no one is looking."
John J.
Edison, N.J.
"Doing the bull dance, feelin' the flow."
Michael Caviness
Ramseur, N.C.
Safin's new "Back-door" backhand.
Chris With
New York
... and he's still thanking God for the man who invented the cup.
Peter Yates
Seattle
"I always get a wedgie on the tough shots!"
Henry Richmond
Orlando, Fla.
No. Actually, the guy with the rubber glove was surprisingly more gentle.
Neal Koblitz
Jupiter, Fla.
Safin's tennis elbow takes a turn for the worse.
Scott Cost
Charlotte, N.C.
Yo! A little help here!
Adam M. Zdanavage
Philadelphia
This guy literally eats and sleeps tennis.
Aaron Petrosky
Pittsburgh
Marat Safin learns the hard way to look before you sit down.
Derek Kirchner
Detroit
Oh yeah?! Well ... here's what you can do with all your Grand Slam trophies, Pete!
Rob Razzano
Cincinnati
Taking after, "Mr. Garrison," of South Park fame, Marat Safin introduces us to, "Mr. Racket."
Shawn LaRoche
Barre, Mass.
This Gold Bond stuff works pretty good!
Dave
Austin, Texas
Here's the real caption from The Associated Press: Marat Safin of Russia returns a shot through his legs Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, against Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina at the US Open tennis tournament in New York. Safin defeated Zabaleta 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. (AP photo/Elise Amendola)
