[薩芬] Safin can reclaim top spot, says Lundgren
Safin can reclaim top spot, says Lundgren
Tue 25 May, 2004 11:20
By Ossian Shine
PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) - Marat Safin can topple Roger Federer as world number
one if only he can stay motivated, the Russian's coach Peter Lundgren said on T
uesday.
Lundgren is qualified to talk about such things, having guided Federer to the W
imbledon crown last year.
Now he is working with former number one Safin until Wimbledon at least. He bel
ieves the Russian, who lost to Federer in the Australian Open final in February
, can be the best.
"Marat has so much raw talent, his potential is limitless," the Swede said at R
oland Garros where Safin is playing the French Open.
"His personality is very different to that of Roger's but he's great. He listen
s to what I tell him. I really like him very much. Sometimes I wish he would be
a bit more motivated, because he has so much talent."
Apart from Federer and Safin, Lundgren has also coached former world number one
Marcelo Rios and the Swede sees much in common between the trio.
"I was only saying the same thing to myself the other day; that I had coached p
robably the three most talented players of their generation," he laughed.
"It's funny. They are different but they also have a lot of things in common. T
hey have so much talent that they all tend towards laziness. Because tennis com
es so naturally to them.
"With Marat it's mainly about getting him motivated. But he sometimes finds it
hard to have fun on court and tends to get bored. Then he simply doesn't' feel
like playing."
Safin, who reached world number one as a 20-year-old in 2000 after winning the
U.S. Open -- faces Argentine Agustin Calleri in the French first round on Tuesd
ay.
Lundgren knows it will be a test but believes the Russian can impress on the Fr
ench clay.
"The first round will be tough but I think he can do really well at this tourna
ment," he said.
"If he plays to his potential, he'll go far. Calleri certainly isn't an easy cu
stomer but he has been injured for a while and isn't fully fit. It's up to us t
o make the most of that."
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 203.219.101.22
ALL-RUSSIANS 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
