Safin wants to be No.1
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2004-01-20/
200401201074557751006.html
Safin wants to be No.1
by Barry Levinson
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
A frustrating 2003 plagued by injury could prove to be a positive for powerful
Russian Marat Safin.
A recurring wrist complaint destroyed his year and saw his ranking slide from
No.3 at the end of 2002 to No.77 12 months later.
But while he didn't enjoy his time on the sidelines, the soon-to-be 24-year-
old (January 27) said it presented him with the ideal opportunity to reflect
on his game.
Safin made a successful return to the Australian Open, after being forced out
with the wrist injury prior to the third-round last year, by accounting for
American Brian Vahaly 6-2 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the opening round on Monday night.
And after passing his first test of Australian Open 2004, the baseliner boldly
stated his aim was to claim the No.1 ranking by year's end.
Currently sitting at No.86, Safin knows the job is all ahead of him.
"I want to be back and I want to finish the year No.1," he said.
The Russian added that his goal could be achieved by simply being consistent.
"There is no special formula for that. You have to play well during all the
big tournaments and try to make a smart schedule for yourself, try to work
hard and not to lose the matches you have to win."
"There's a lot of guys competing and a lot of guys in great shape…and the
more consistent and mentally tougher player will end up No.l."
Safin said his rapid rise over the previous four years had been a blur, with
no time to analyse his strengths and weaknesses.
But, after being limited to playing in only 13 tournaments last year, his
enforced break meant he had little else to do.
"(It was) quite frustrating, but it was (also) really good," Safin, the
runner-up to Swede Thomas Johansson at Australian Open 2002, said.
"I had some time off. It makes you think a lot about your needs, what should
you do, and you see tennis [from a different perspective] outside of the
court. You have a completely different view."
"When you're playing all the time, you have no time off. It's difficult to
adjust and see what you're doing on the court. But when you have time off,
it's a completely different story."
He said he has also rediscovered his hunger for the game.
"I had a lot of months off the court, but still I want to play and I have
motivation. I want to do well."
Prior to the commencement of Safin's 2004 season, which saw him representing
his country alongside Anastasia Myskina at the Hopman Cup, he endured six
weeks of hard, physical training.
Safin said this time was spent 'pumping weights' and 'running all over the
mountains' in Monaco, where he resides.
After his four-set victory over Vahaly, the Russian felt it was too early to
make a call on his form and fitness after just one match, but made it clear
that he expected to be in Melbourne well into the second week.
"It's difficult to make some conclusions about my physical condition. It was
just the first match and I'll see how it's going in the future."
"It's (the comeback) going quite well, but sometimes you get frustrated
because you think you can finish in three sets and then you're losing the
second set and basically the guy (Vahaly) was taking me over in the third
set."
"I didn't come here just to make a couple of rounds and just be satisfied of
being in the fourth-round or in the second-round, or whatever I will do here."
"If I'm coming here, I will try to do my best. I will try to win it, why not?"
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