Marat Safin said on Sunday that helping Russia to seal the Davis Cup with victory over Argentina had helped sweeten a bitter season and given him motivation to continue in his career.
The former world number one started the year ranked 12th thanks largely to winning the 2005 Australian Open, but fell to outside the top 100 before climbing back up towards the top 20.
”This win is precious and it’s given me motivation to continue playing tennis and to be happy with it,” said Safin, who barely a month ago couldn’t wait for the season to end.
”It’s one of the best moments of my career in recent years.”
Safin, also a former US Open champion, added: ”It was a rocky season for me. I failed to finish it in top 20 due to some misfortunes.
”But playing in the team, playing for Russia is another feeling altogether. A very special feeling.
”When you finally succeed after a year of struggling it gives you renewed strength and a desire to continue playing,” added Safin, who won the deciding rubber against Jose Acasuso to had Russia their second title after their win in 2002.
Safin admitted however he had escaped potential disaster in the deciding clash with Acasuso because the Argentine lacked experience in playing crucial matches.
”That surface is the best for [David] Nalbandian but not for me or Acasuso,” he said. ”I had to battle with it all weekend long and it’s also slightly too fast for Acasuso.
”Besides, Jose [Acasuso] is not very experienced. He allowed me to take an early lead and made several easy mistakes in the tiebreak.”
Safin beat his Argentine opponent 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in two hours and 50 minutes, thus breaking the curse of their home courts where Russia had lost both of their previous Davis Cup finals, to Sweden in 1994 and the United States in 1995. – Sapa