/ 20 May 2005

Sexy Safin ‘will be ready’ for French Open

Marat Safin has been voted the sexiest man in tennis, but it's success at the French Open he really craves as he desperately tries to pull his season out of a depressing tailspin. His second career grand-slam victory at the Australian Open in January has been the only highlight of what has become a wretched 2005.

Marat Safin has been voted the sexiest man in tennis, but it’s success at the French Open he really craves as he desperately tries to pull his season out of a depressing tailspin.

His second career grand-slam victory at the Australian Open in January has been the only highlight of what has become a wretched 2005, with the 25-year-old having failed to get beyond the third round of any event since.

In fact, his success in the ACE magazine poll has provided a rare reason to smile for the Russian, a former world number one.

”I am very happy that the magazine made me their number-one hot man,” said Safin. ”But for now, it is important that I work hard on my game so they can also make me number one for my tennis.”

Safin is one of only two men to have beaten world number one Roger Federer this year, but his win over the Swiss superstar in the semifinals in Melbourne has not proved to be a launch pad for a sustained attack on the top spot.

”My goal is the French Open,” said Safin. ”That’s my goal for all of my career. I am trying to win it. I have always played well there, but for some reason it just hasn’t worked out. I was always missing something extra.”

In 2002, he made the semifinals in France. He was a quarterfinalist in 2000.

Last year, he made it to the fourth round, but his title push was always dogged by blood-red blisters he suffered on both hands.

”I am going to prepare myself as much as I can for the tournament,” he said. ”I like the Paris atmosphere, the city, the people, the courts; all these things make it very special. It is the perfect tournament.”

The former world number one refutes suggestions that he has not pressed Federer for the top spot.

”I’m not frustrated at all. I can be upset with myself for many other reasons than to challenge Federer. It’s not my goal to challenge anybody.

”I am trying to be as happy as I can, to try and play as well as I can and to be as consistent as I can.

”If that helps me compete with him for the number-one spot, then that’s great. But if I am not able to do that, then I am also happy.

”This is not my first year on the tour; I have been playing for seven years and have achieved quite a lot. So, to be upset that I am not challenging Federer, it’s just stupid.”

One of the few genuine crowd-pullers in the modern game — at the French Open in 2004, he was docked a point for dropping his shorts to celebrate a winning rally — Safin has been backed to bounce back in style and add to his 15 career titles.

His coach, Peter Lundgren, who oversaw Federer’s grand-slam breakthrough in 2003, has no doubts and believes there is a good reason for the Russian’s slump.

”After Australia, Marat was without doubt tired mentally,” Lundgren told the French L’Equipe sports magazine.

”Since we have been together, he has worked really hard and since last autumn he has given a lot on the courts. He won tournaments in Beijing, Madrid and Paris and was in the semifinals of the Masters Cup in Houston.

”He was the man to beat last winter. He was concentrated, he didn’t show emotions and played well.

”Now we need to find that spirit, it will be difficult. But I believe Marat will be ready for Roland Garros.” — Sapa-AFP