On this link is a great report of the DC: http://www.guyfromrussia.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=fanreports&action=display&thread=1190711937&page=1
Don't copy words/photo's without asking the owner!!! It is allowed to put the link (just like here) on your own website or other forums. ENJOY!
http://www.daviscup.com/ties/tie.asp?tie=100008938
SCORE: 1 - 1
Andreev def. Haas with 62 62 62
Davydenko lst. to Kohlschreiber with 76(5) 26 26 64 47
For all the interviews: http://www.daviscup.com/news/newsaudio.asp?articleid=14313
Dear fans
I am writing this letter on behalf of Marat who has been in touch with me in the last 48 hours and asked me to pass on this message to you all.
As you know Marat has taken an interesting step because of various reasons which he explained in his letter to you last week. And it has been an adventure - doing his acclimatisation climb and getting used to all that is part of climbing mountains.
The delegation has reached the next height of moving to the base camp for Cho-Oyu and at this stage Marat has realised several points.
First of all Marat realised that this climb is a very serious challenging issue and not just an adventure. He loves the experience and is fully into it but realises that it has to be treated with great caution and respect. And the next step is a very big one indeed.
Talking to me and to the people he is closest to in the delegation and his coach via satellite phone - he has decided that the smartest and bravest decision for him is to step down and to start a very long 5 day trip back to travel down the mountains and back to Moscow.
In Moscow he will meet next week with Hernan Gumy and after a week recovering from the altitude, he is meant to start practising again in about 2 weeks time. The wrist is well rested and all being well he will hopefully play again in Madrid.
Marat doesn't believe he will be ready in time for the Kremlin Cup although he would like very much to play there. He needs time to recover from what has been an exhausting experience. From my conversations with him I was happy to discover that he has had a tremendous time and it was a fascinating experience.
Now it would be Marat's main concern to be healthy and play professional tennis again soon as he misses it very much. We can soon expect to see Marat back on the circuit hungry for success and with a new fresh look at tennis.
I know it is very important for Marat to pass this message on to his fans and to say they will now be able to see him in the last part of the Indoor season and I can do this with delight.
Marat wants to thank all the great and amazing people in the delegation and his wishes that they will complete the challenge to the end.
While Marat is starting his long trip back - his fellow Russians will be playing in the DC semi finals against Germany and he sends wishes to them from the bottom of his heart for great success.
Best Regards
Amit
Yes my dears, it has started. Here a little report and photo's from the first day! You can also have a look on the websites below. That's where the reports are placed! Kisses
THE FIRST CLIMB OF MARAT SAFIN
September, 16.
Today at night, the team has moved from Zhangmu to a small town of Nialam (3600м), situated in gorge among high mountains. The way passes by a bad road heavy loaded by lorries. Now the road is under repair for Olympiad. After breakfast we have gone on an acclimatization climb on the nearest summit (under the name Murat) 4100 м high.The strong wind blew all the way up and at the top the rain has started.Having gone down to Nialam, all members of team have intimately congratulated Marat. It was the first climbed summit in his life. Tomorrow we will go to Shigar, which is located at height 4200 м.Today in the morning we have said goodbye to ours Sherpas which have gone by two lorries forward to establish Base camp at height 5100м.
http://www.7summits.ru/
http://www.7summits-club.com/
Best regards from NialamAlex Abramov
^^GO MARAT!^^
From the OS-website: 
<< this is the mountain I'll climb
To all my fans out there - I am writing to you from Katmandu.Yes a lot of you have heard already that I was on my way to my exciting adventure to climb Cho-Oyu, a mountain in the Himalayas in the Tibet.I feel it is important for me to fully describe to you what has been going on with me in the last few weeks as well as what are my future plans.
It is you guys who have always been an important role in my career and always been there to support me through difficult times and the oh so sweet victories. We have shared lots of times.
As you will remember I started the US Hardcourt season in Los Angeles where I also began my association with my new coach Hernan Gumy.
I would personally like to say that the co-operation with Hernan is an excellent one. I think he's a great coach and I'm delighted with the work we do together. It is only thanks to the confidence I have in him that has allowed me to go ahead with this step that I have taken and to be where I am now.
Through out the 8 weeks in the US we really tried to work on my game again. To change my game tactics to where I will be playing again my old tennis style meaning playing faster tennis, shorter points, hard hitting and playing more on the baseline rather than playing two metres away from it as I felt I was playing the last 1 and 1/2 years. I really did feel that things were improving but unfortunately through the 1st round match at the US Open - I felt again the pain in my left wrist - the same one that first started bothering me in 2003. At first I wasn't too bothered with that but during my 2nd round match, the pain got me out of focus and I felt that instead of concentrating on the match, I was solely thinking of the implications of going through all the pain and problems again.
My orthopeadic surgeon Dr. Feder from Los Angeles - flew into New York and examined me after the match. His diagnosis was a relief for me. He said I will only need 4-6 weeks rest. Luckily no extra damage had been made and I should be completely fine after that.
Talking with my coach we have realised that this season is over for me and we have made plans which I would love to share with you with regard to the preparations for coming back to next year a better player and stronger and in overall better shape.
When I got back to Moscow and my doctors in Moscow confirmed the same as Dr. Feder, the opportunity occurred to me to join the mountaineering delegation which includes some of my closest friends and I felt for the first time that this is something I really want to do outside of my tennis career.
This is not some simple vacation on the beach. I know that the physical challenge of climbing is huge. With the unique atmosphere and being away from civilisation - hopefully this will renew my resolve and my powers for tennis.
I want this to be a special experience and it is something which deep down inside I wanted to do for a long time.
Before leaving on this expedition, I ensured to close a deal with Gumy until the end of 2008 and only after he agreed and supported me in taking this step did I feel happy to carry on with my plans.
I have planned to be away for 4-6 weeks. I am truly very sorry that I will be missing the Davis Cup semi final tie which I am sure my fellow countrymen will be able to overcome even without me. At least I can say I have contributed a bit to the efforts with my trip to Chile in the beginning of the year and in the 1/4's against France I played a small role in beating Mathieu.
Gumy and I are meant to get together in Moscow at the end of October to start practising and in early November we will fly to Valencia and possibly to South America to get properly ready for the new challenge in 2008.
I can assure you all my friends and supporters that I still have in me the desire to try and make it again to the top of this game and I hope that all of you guys will be there to support me in my efforts to this.
I will definitely miss you all in the next few weeks and I ask you to support and cross your fingers for the success of my fellow Russians in the team in the Davis Cup semi final.
I will see you all again real soon.
From me somewhere above the roof of the world.
Peace to you all
Marat
It is still not confirmed yet, but as the news and pictures are spread everywhere, it's for sure Marat is in Nepal at the moment. He will miss the Davis Cup. Instead of going to Moscow he is now in Nepal climbing a mountain called Cho-Oyu. His expedition started today (Friday). How long this will take, why he did this and how many tourny's he will miss are all mysteries. Here some pics of last week. Buying some equipment etc. Enjoy and Marat: be carefull and have lots of fun! (CLICK TO ENLARGE!)
Team is announced. And Marat is not in it.. oh ooh..! More news will come as soon as there is some!
RUSSIA v GERMANY Venue: Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia (clay – indoors)
RUSSIA
Nikolay Davydenko
Mikhail Youzhny
Dmitry Tursunov
Igor Andreev
Captain: Shamil Tarpischev
GERMANYTommy Haas
Philipp Kohschreiber
Alexander Waske
Philipp Petzschner
Captain: Patrik Kuhnen
After the US Open it's time to move on. Tonight the final will be played (men's singles) and of course Federer is in it. But we shouldn't care who's in the final. Just hope for the best next time:)! Move on like we're used to! As there isn't much news lately (there isn't really something going on, so it's not that weird) I would like to cheer you up and encourage you to be Marat's biggest fan with some pics I found these days. I hope you enjoy them and think of the good times:) they will come again as long as we all keep faith. "Prepare for the worst and prepare for the best."
Davis Cup is coming soon and I'll bring you all the latest news as soon as possible. The teams will be announced soon as well. Let's hope and see!
This one was taken in spring at Palm Spring (click to enlarge):
These were taken while shopping:
