Defending champ Safin hopes for best at US Open
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Updated: 2001-08-24 11:22

On top of the world in 2000 when he captured his first Grand Slam title and led the ATP tour with seven titles won, Safin's tennis has produced few highlights this year.

A back injury sustained while ying Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the Dubai finals in February has taken both a physical and mental toll on Safin.

The 21-year-old sat on the sidelines for a couple of months after hurting his back, and since rejoining the tour has suffered from a serious lack of confidence and titles.

As the summer hard court season was approaching, Safin was definitely not anticipating a repeat of last year's success when he captured the Tennis Masters Series-Canada title and reached the RCA Championships final before scoring his big breakthrough win at the US Open.

"It's very difficult to start again after an injury," said Safin, who did reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon before losing to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic.

FULL OF CONFIDENCE

"I was out for two months or more, and it's difficult to start again because everybody is playing well, everybody is full of confidence.

"I think I'm a little too far from my tennis. I think it's a little too late for this year, so I hope everything will be okay for next year," he said earlier his summer.

Safin, however, was sounding far more upbeat about his game after journeying to the semifinals last week at Indianapolis.

Abandoning his earlier posture of writing off the year, the tempestuous Safin was sensing a glimmer of hope.

"I'm fighting again and have my confidence back," Safin said. "I played a guy (Rafter) who just reached three finals in a row and is playing great, and I took him to 7-6 in the third.

"I'm going to keep trying and keep trying for the US Open. If I keep playing like this I think I have chances of making some good results at the US Open," he said.

Blessed with a supersonic serve and powerful shot making skills, Safin's talent has never been in doubt.

Clearly, the tennis community was in awe as they watched the Russian toy with the great Pete Sampras during his straight-set final victory at last year's US Open.

Safin, however, is often criticised for possessing a game that lacks discipline and tactical skills.

EXCELLENT CHOICE

To combat those weaknesses, Safin called on former world number one Mats Wilander to serve as his coach -- a seemingly excellent choice but one that has been hard to judge by results at this point because of the Russian's injury affected year.

Wilander was known during his day as having a steel-trap mind with a penchant for playing tennis as if it were a chess match.

"Mats... I wanted him because he could teach me to play a little more smarter," Safin said. "He knows how to tell me to study the opponent and improve my tactics."

He is heading into the US Open with realistic expectations but great anticipation of what it will feel like to walk into Arthur Ashe Stadium as the defending champion.

"It's going to be great to come back," Safin said. "I am coming back there as a winner."