Safin seeks tennis tranquility
2008-08-27 11:31
New York - Volatile Marat Safin says he'd appreciate never being forced to trot out his notorious temper, preferring to live a quiet and peaceful life on court.
But the madcap Russian found himself embroiled in a controversial foot-fault incident at the US Open on Tuesday on a second serve late in the fourth set. The former champion was forced to go the distance for 3-6 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-4 first-round victory over journeyman Vince Spadea.
Safin, the US Open winner in 2000 with a crushing performance over Pete Sampras, is well-known for his explosive nature.
The Russian somewhat remarkably revealed that he would much rather live the quiet life - if possible - even in the heat of competition.
"I'm 28, I've been already on tour for 10 years, and I want to enjoy my tennis. I don't want to fight anybody. I don't want to be facing any problems on the court. I just want to enjoy."
The multi-millionaire and noted tennis playboy added: "It's not like I'm playing because I'm starving to death and I need to do something to earn money. "I want to enjoy - it's so simple. I don't want to fight, I don't want to shout. I just want to have a nice match, win or lose, and whatever happens to go home.
Tournament referee
"That's it. I don't want to face the foot faults and all these things. So I don't have to put myself together, let's try to calm down, let's play some tennis."
Safin got steamed enough in his match against Spadea to call for tournament referee Brian Early - of course to no avail on the foot-fault call which he said came from a linesman in "sunglasses from 35m away."
He added indignantly: "It's very simple: Just give me a warning first before I'm making foot fault.
"It's stupid rules that somebody made in, I don't know in 1850 and now they give me the problems with these things. It shouldn't be that way."
Safin found another complaint to add: "There was the guy from Vince's side was shouting every five minutes, 'Come on Vince; come on Vince.' That's annoying. But I wish I could play normal tennis and enjoy my matches sometimes."
Once his rant faded away, the personable Russian took a moment to compliment his younger sister Dinara, Olympic silver medallist and French Open finalist who has reached the title match of six of her last seven tournaments.
Opposite
When it comes to his sister, Safin's motto is "do as I say, not as I do".
"If she will do everything opposite of what I've been doing throughout the years she will be number one in the world for a long time.
"That's as simple as it is."
But he soon expanded that initial thought, saying that his 22-year-old seventh-ranked sibling is "very close to ending the year as number one."
"She playing well. Tough (losing) finals at the French Open and Beijing (Olympics) and the third one (could be) here.
"I think she deserves it. She's totally ready to win the first Grand Slam, so I think why not? I'm really proud of the way she's handling the pressure and the way she's handling herself. I'm really happy for her."
- AFP