[ivanovic]

Looks like Marat chickened out when he realised he was gonna face Ana Ivanovic in the mixed doubles so he withdrew.
Anyway I have never heard of this ATP player b4.

[©@®eLess]

If Serbia doesn't win this it will really be a shame

[groenefeldeffect]

Is this some kind of bad joke; some random Russian who could make it to Perth?

I don't want to see him play; please let this not be true

[ivanovic]

Originally Posted by groenefeldeffect

Is this some kind of bad joke; some random Russian who could make it to Perth?

I don't want to see him play; please let this not be true

Yeah, they could have gotten Davydenko.

[groenefeldeffect]

REIGNING Australian Open champion Marat Safin has been forced to withdraw from the Russia Hopman Cup team because of an ongoing knee injury.

Safin has been replaced by 20-year-old Teimuraz Gabashvili, who will now partner Svetlana Kuznetsova in the mixed teams event.

The lateness of the withdrawal means there will be no changes to the seedings or the draw.

Safin's withdrawal follows a longer than expected recuperation period for tendonitis of the right knee.

The Hopman Cup begins on Friday in Perth with a qualifying tie between China and The Netherlands.


EDIT: He is ranked number 132 in the world; not that bad I guess.

[ivanovic]

Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)

Birthdate: 23-May-85

Birthplace: Tbilisi, Georgia

Residence: Moscow,Russia

Height: 6'2'' (187 cm)

Weight: 178 lbs (80 kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 2004


Previous Year's Final INDESIT ATP Race Position: 257

Current INDESIT ATP Race Position: 167



Career High INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking - Singles: 132 (11/28/2005)

Career High ATP Entry Ranking - Doubles: 216 (9/27/2004)

YTD Record:
Singles Record: 2 - 4

Singles Titles: 0

Doubles Record: 0 - 2

Doubles Titles: 0

Prize Money: $85,771


Career Overview:
Singles Record: 2 - 6

Singles Titles: 0

Double Titles: 0

Prize Money: $135,745


Current Yr. Highlights:

2005 HIGHLIGHTS
Singles Winner: Poznan Finalist: Barcelona, Reunion Island Semifinalist: France F4, Pamplona Quarterfinalist: Szczecin, Kolding, Tampere Doubles Winner: Reunion Island(w/Robert) Semifinalist: France F5(w/Chadaj), Seville(w/Martinez), Kolding(w/Przysiezny)


He's only like 20 so - HC would be good exposure for him - but the organisers have lost a MAJOR drawcard.

[rfs1999]

Surprized they dodn't wait until the last minute, to sell more tickets.

[The Kaz]

He smash Gilles Muller (LUX) ranked 64 at Moscow 6-3 6-1 and then lost to Max Mirnyi (BLR) ranked 32, 3-6 6-4 6-1 so he's not THAT bad

And he has betten top 100 players Potito Starce #87, Anthony Dupuis #95 and Mariano Zabaleta #57 as well as pushing #25 Olivier Rochus 6-7 6-7!

[cfc_4_ever]

If anything it shakes up group A and makes it veri interesting cause no one has a clear advantage now. Come On Serbia and Montenegro

[groenefeldeffect]

From hopmancup.com.au:

Continuing knee problems (tendonitis of right knee) have forced Russia’s Marat Safin out of Hyundai Hopman Cup XVIII in Perth. Safin was to partner Svetlana Kutnezsova who will now be partnered by 20 year old Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Safin said “I am very disappointed to have to pull out of the 2006 Hopman Cup due to a longer than expected recuperation period of my right knee tendonitis. It is an event that I have taken part regularly over the past years and one of my favourite events of the year. I hope to catch up what I will be missing this year in 2007”.

Kutnezsova, former world number 4, a US Open Singles Champion and reigning Australian Open Doubles Champion is making her debut at the Hopman Cup. She is due to arrive in Perth on Friday for her first match against the USA on Tuesday 3rd January.

Svetlana when advised that Safin’s recovery was not progressing well said “I know Teimraz well, speak to him most days and would be delighted to play with him, as he is improving quickly”.

The two 20 year olds, born one month apart in Russia, are both based in Barcelona and now create an interesting match up against the two 18 year olds from Serbia & Montenegro. Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic are two of the rising stars of international tennis and Safin’s withdrawal makes this group wide open. Ivanovic and Djokovic have already arrived in Perth.

Teimuraz Gabashvili has played mainly at the Challenger circuit, reaching 3 finals (winning 1) in 2005. He also had a notable win over James Blake in the ATP event at Delray Beach. He will face tough opposition as he takes on Taylor Dent, Thomas Johansson and then Novak Djokovic. He is currently in Doha participating in an ATP Challenger event. He will leave for Perth as soon as he is out of the event. When advised his first match is on Tuesday he said to Tournament Director Paul McNamee “that’s good then even if I win in Doha I still have no problem making it to Perth in time.”

Given the lateness of Safin’s withdrawal, at the instruction of the referee, Peter Bellenger, there will be no change to the seedings or draw. The Order of Play remains as is. Russia will open their Hopman Cup campaign against USA’s Lisa Raymond and Taylor Dent, on Tuesday 3 January 2006 at 10.00am.

[greenfunkTHREE.]

http://www.thefreeimagehosting.com/U...Gabashvili.jpg

i found a picture of Gabashvili. doesn't look 20 to me.

[Fantastic]

I guess it won't be TOO bad after all. Perth fans get to witness a new face and it sounds like he can play. It definitely makes Group A very interesting indeed. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the teams make the final now.

[groenefeldeffect]

Originally Posted by Fantastic

I guess it won't be TOO bad after all. Perth fans get to witness a new face and it sounds like he can play.

That is pretty similar to what I thought after getting over the anger of Safin pulling out.

*Walks off singing 'Always look on the bright side of life*