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PARIS (AP) -- Known for furious, racket-throwing rants, Marat Safin would rather be remembered for the hard work he put in during a 12-year career marked by two Grand Slam titles and a Davis Cup win.

The former No. 1 ended his career Wednesday after losing to Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

"A lot of people there really thought that I'm not a really hard worker," Safin said. "But you can ask all my coaches how I dedicated myself to tennis. They will tell you it's completely the opposite of what a lot of people think."

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SHANGHAI (AP) -- Reigning U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro retired from the Shanghai Masters with a wrist injury Wednesday, adding to the mounting injury toll at the event.

The third-seeded Argentine was trailing Austria's Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 2-1 in his second-round match when he retired with an injury to his right wrist.

Del Potro said that he suffered from similar wrist tendinitis earlier this year.

PARIS (AP)-Sentimental favorite Roger Federer did not quite follow the script Friday at the French Open. He decided to go for high drama.

Striving to complete a career Grand Slam, Federer came from behind twice in the semifinals to beat big-serving Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Playing in his fourth consecutive Roland Garros final, Federer will try for his 14th major title to match Pete Sampras' record.

There are dominant performances on the big stage, and then there are Roger Federer dominant performances.

In his Australian Open quarterfinals match against Juan Martin Del Potro, Federer volleyed, served and ground stroked his way to a near-perfect defeat of the 20-year-old Argentinian 6-3, 6-0, 6-0.

Andy Murray will have time to contemplate the pie floater this week. The No. 4-seeded Brit lost a five-set match to Spain's Fernando Verdasco (right) on Monday at the Australian Open, becoming the latest seeded player to get beat at a tournament that hasn't been kind to the "over-dogs."

If the blockbuster hit "Wimbledon" showed us nothing else, it's that getting smacked in the face while chasing down tennis balls does actually happen. Ball boys are all over the court, and with the speed some of these men and women hit the ball these days, a wayward ground stroke could really swell the skin quickly.

Well, at this year's Australian Open, Juan Martin Del Potro introduced a ball boy to one of his wide returns. It might not be the best angle to see where the ball hit, but I can guarantee that one kid went home with free ice pack. Ouch.



via Deadspin on SimonOnSports