Wednesday, August 08, 2001
Ousted Safin: 'I'm just bad'
No titles this year for U.S. Open champ
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — As Marat Safin's news conference ended, an ATP Tour official wished him luck next week in Indianapolis. Safin laughed, then said, “I'll need it.”
The No.3 seed in the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati, Safin was upset in the first round Tuesday by Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-3.
The match was much like Safin's entire year.
“I'm just bad,” he said. “I can't say anything. I'm OK physically, just nothing happened. Nothing. It's just not coming. I keep trying. I would like to win again. It has to come. Otherwise, I'm not good enough for tennis.”
Safin went 12-2 during the summer hardcourt season last year, ripped Pete Sampras in the U.S. Open final in straight sets, then won three more tournaments and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the world -- at 20, the youngest player to finish second since Boris Becker in 1986.
This year? Don't ask.
Safin is 21-20 with no titles. Since advancing to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, he has lost four of five matches.
He hurt his back in March. He hurt his knee in Los Angeles two weeks ago and retired during a first-round match last week in Montreal. He dove for a shot and appeared to hurt his left hand Tuesday.
The biggest problem though has been a lack of confidence.
“It's mentally, it's everything,” Safin said. “You get injured and it's very tough to come back. It's very difficult to find your game.”
He shared some bottles of chilled vodka with selected media after winning the U.S. Open. People magazine once ranked him among the 25 most people intriguing people in the world.
The Russian, who begins defense of his U.S. Open title in less than three weeks, is also known for his temper. He admits to breaking more than 150 rackets during his career.
Early in 2000, he was fined $2,000 for not trying in a first-round loss at the Australian Open and that spring talked about retiring. He vowed that if he wasn't in the top 100 in the world by year's end, he would call it quits.
Then, he got on a roll.
Safin ended up winning an ATP Tour-best seven tournaments and finished with a 73-27 record. He was touted by some as the future of tennis.
He struggled early this year and in March started working with a new coach, Mats Wilander, who has the best winning percentage in the history of the Cincinnati tournament (.837).
Wilander refused interview requests this week.
The two connected through a friend of a friend, Safin said. Wilander wanted to coach. Safin was looking for someone new. They are an odd couple: Safin is emotional, unpredictable; Wilander is more passive, poised.
“It doesn't matter if we don't think the same way,” Safin said. “It's what I think I need, actually. I want to make some good results. I want to learn something from him. If you're not even playing great, he still gives you confidence.”
Which right now is very important.
Sports Stories
Giants 9, Reds 3
Bonds' 48th HR sets Cinergy mark
SULLIVAN: Still no conclusion to Rose saga
Chronology of Rose case
Season over for Larkin, Harnisch
Larkin: SS is only spot open for me
Rijo focusing on relief
Reds to honor Davis
Reds box, runs
Smith must pass passing test
LeBeau uses bench to emphasize point
Doughty AWOL from camp
Wyoming star Hall now a Bearcat
Las Vegas tourneys shift to high school
Ousted Safin: 'I'm just bad'
