MELBOURNE (Reuters) -- Third seed Marat Safin cruised into the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Dutchman Raemon Sluiter on Tuesday.
The Russian showed no ill-effects from the shoulder problem that forced him to pull out of last week's Sydney International although he said he was using anti-inflammatory drugs to ease his pain.
He fired 13 aces past Sluiter, including one timed at 209 kph, to win in two and a half hours.
After securing a second round meeting with Spaniard Albert Montanes, Safin said: "It's okay, the pain is going away.
"It's much better and by the next match I think it will be perfect."
Safin was due to meet eventual champion, Korean qualifier Lee Hyung-taik, in the quarter-finals in Sydney last week but pulled out on medical advice because of problems with his serving shoulder.
He flew straight to Melbourne to receive treatment in the hope of starting in the Australian Open and was eventually cleared to play.
Safin, who briefly held the number one ranking shortly after his breakthrough victory in the 2000 U.S. Open, lost last year's Australian Open final to Swede Thomas Johansson.
Now ranked third in the world, the 22-year-old Russian said he had a great chance of going one better this year.
"Last year is history already, it was a year ago" he said.
"I still think I have great potential to do well here. I want to do well here.
"I will be tough (to beat) and I will give trouble to everybody, that's for sure."
Safin said he thought the Melbourne Park Rebound Ace courts were playing faster than last year and that would suit his big serving game.
"It is definitely faster, the bounce is a little bit slower but that's good for me," he said.
gondolod, h mások el fogják olvasni, ha még a legnagyobb rajongó is csak nagyjából futotta át? :) jó rég írtál nekem smst, pedig az utolsóban sztem tök szépet írtam. :))
Could you describe your emotion on match point, just when you won the point?
MARAT SAFIN: I was praying to finish in three sets. Just when was everything finished, I was so happy. I didn't have to go to the fourth set because you never know how it can finish. He started to play well. Also, my physical conditions, I was getting tired already. I wanted to finish in three sets. I was lucky that I could make it.
What about your happiness?
MARAT SAFIN: "Happiness," what do you mean? We still have to win. It's okay to win one match. For me, for myself, it's great, but I hope it will help the team, you know, it will help to Misha to win the last match, just to win Davis Cup. Why not? It's the last point. Two Juniors are playing basically. We'll see (smiling).
Do you remember the last time you played so well and so consistently from the first to the last point?
MARAT SAFIN: Two days ago (laughter).
No, I think probably Bercy when I won here. I think I played a great match. Every match I was playing, I was full of confidence, even if I didn't make any good results before that tournament. Just, I don't know, nothing to lose. Playing outside of Russia, playing against a big team, against all the spectators, it just was great. I was inspired.
You have been pulling your team for the past three days. Can you describe what it's like? Is it difficult?
MARAT SAFIN: It's difficult. It's difficult emotionally because every match you play, it's difficult to play because you're not playing only for yourself, you're playing for the team, for the country. Everybody's watching you. They want you to win.
It's really difficult, you know, to fight against the player, against the crowd, against everything, like when you choke, which is normal, being nervous in a match, especially in the final.
But I'm happy. I want to win. It doesn't matter how tired you are, how bad you're playing, doesn't make any difference, just we want to win. It's the last match. It's also my last match of the year, it was. I'm happy to finish. I have done everything what I could do to help the team to win the Davis Cup.
How do you explain you recovered so well after the doubles yesterday?
MARAT SAFIN: Still young, youth, nothing else. I'm just 22 years old, and my body let me play so many hours without being tired. The masseur, he did a great job. Also the support, it means a lot. I mean, if it would go to five sets, to play a tough match, then it will be difficult. After two days in a row playing tough matches, emotionally and physically you are getting tired. Still, I'm 22, so it saves my life today.
What was the key of the match today?
MARAT SAFIN: Just start from the beginning playing your game without giving to Sebastien any chance to control the match, otherwise... He's a really smart player. He knows how to play in the tough moments. He knows how to read the other play player. He knows where to put the ball.
I was going for it. Why not? Some shots I had to go for it, just put pressure all the time on Sebastien, on the return, on his serve, just move him around the court, just going to the net.
You think that the easy success against him in Roland Garros helped you today?
MARAT SAFIN: Yes, of course. Last time we played in Roland Garros, I won. I just understood how I have to play against him. It also gave me some kind of confidence that I can beat him. Already I knew from the beginning what I have to do, when I have to do. I was also a little bit lucky at some point of the match.
When did you know that Kafelnikov would not play? Does it change anything in your mind?
MARAT SAFIN: Actually, from yesterday. We decided to put Mikhail because Yevgeny was tired after the doubles. He couldn't play today, so we decided to put the young player. Why not? We'll see if he can manage to win, at least show great tennis.
Did you have a conversation with Yevgeny yesterday after the doubles? Did you help him decide not to play?
MARAT SAFIN: No. We have enough people, smart people, in tennis. Shamil and some other coaches, we have Cherkasov with us, some other players, explayers, that understand tennis. They decided what to do.
Did Yevgeny volunteer not to play?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, because he said himself, "Whatever you decide, guys, I will respect it."
We saw Golanov beside you. How did he help you?
MARAT SAFIN: A lot. A lot of support is what I need. Some stage of the match, he gave me some good advices, not to go back in the third set, to keep advancing to the net, keep looking for the net, not giving up. Of course, there was a lot of support from the Russian team, from Yevgeny, from Dennis and from my captain. It helps me a lot.
You haven't lost that many matches in Bercy. Are you inspired by this place?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, it seems like I cannot lose a match here (smiling). I like that atmosphere. I like the situation of the court. I don't know. I always played well here. I always did a great job. I played my best tennis here in Bercy.
Could you tell us why you had a verbal abuse?
MARAT SAFIN: I had a verbal abuse?
A warning. What did you say?
MARAT SAFIN: I said what I thought about it. I didn't accuse anybody. I didn't want to offend anybody. I just didn't offend anybody. Just I gave my opinion. That's okay. I was pissed because you know also it was a very important ball for me. I was sure the ball was out. But just it happens. I didn't meant anything to the chair umpire at all.
Was it difficult to come back in the match?
MARAT SAFIN: No, it was disappointing because I needed so badly that point. But it's okay. Everybody's making mistakes. I'm not abusing him. I can't do anything. Just it was my opinion.
Now you are on holidays. What are your plans?
MARAT SAFIN: The year's finished. I was waiting for it so badly. I wanted to finish the year with a good match. I played it. Now I can go for vacations being relaxed for a couple of weeks.
I would like to ask to Youzhny if he's surprised of what he achieved today. How much are you surprised? Before the match, what was your feeling?
MIKHAIL YOUZHNY: You know, before this match, when I go to warm up, I didn't really know if I would play last match. But I was good. I try play my best tennis. First two sets, it was not so good, but after I play like I can play.
Can you say what was your emotion at the last point of the match?
MIKHAIL YOUZHNY: No. It was no emotion. I don't understand what's happens. I just know we're winning. I was very glad after the match.
Marat, how is the taste of this victory compared to the US Open?
MARAT SAFIN: It's two completely different stories. I mean, when I won the US Open, I couldn't believe that I could beat Pete Sampras in the finals. I was still too young to win that kind of tournament. I was so happy, but I didn't know how to enjoy it. Right away I had to fly to Tashkent to play another tournament.
This victory, you know, it's a team tournament. We won, we're basically the world champions this year. We have nothing, I don't have to go to any tournaments, I don't have to rush, I don't have to do anything next week, so I have to enjoy. I will enjoy, of course.
I want to congratulate all my team, all the players. They deserve it. Yevgeny, he played great. He saved so many times the Russian team. Our captain, he was great. He was perfect. He was supporting us during all the match. Thank you very much.
Of course, Mikhail for today's victory that basically nobody expect that he could win after two sets 2-Love down. He surprised I think even himself. He showed that he's a real man, he's a Russian man, he knows how to fight, he knows how to come out of such a difficult situation. Thanks a lot for the victory.
I'm so happy, I'm so glad. I cannot describe what I'm feeling right now. It's just something that is just so great, it's the best. Better than sex, you can say that (smiling).
Yevgeny, you were not very supportive during Mikhail's match. Can you tell us why? We saw you speaking a lot on the phone, not paying much attention.
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: To be honest, I was paying too much attention. Maybe I talk once or twice during the time.
Believe me, when you are trying to support your fellow teammate as much as you can, sometimes you're running out of energy. That's what's probably happened during my first match when Marat played. He played a tough match against Grosjean. Second match, I at least knew that we're going to be here for long, long match. That doesn't mean on my mimics that I wasn't supporting Mikhail. I was trying to do it as best as I could. Sometimes you're unable because you're sitting on the bench.
Yevgeny, you say a few weeks ago if you win the Davis Cup...
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So?
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: So the final statement will be made through next week.
Next week?
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes. Let me explain once again. It's very enjoyable moment for me right now. I do respect what I said before. Like I told you, the final decision will be made throughout next week.
You won the Davis Cup final with two very, very young players. What does it mean for the future, Youzhny and Safin, to have two players like this 20 and 20 years old?
MARAT SAFIN: 22 (laughter).
Is such a difficult question. We didn't think so far already what was going to happen in the future. We just want to enjoy the moment. I think it's great to have two young players, but still I don't think Yevgeny is still too old. 28 years old, it's just the beginning of your career (smiling).
I think he will stay for another year. He will join us on the team and bring a lot of support for the Russian tennis. He's very important for us and for tennis in Russia. I think he will make a decision to stay one more year, just enjoy the moment. Anyway, he has nothing to do because he dedicate himself during already more than 20 years for tennis. I think it's his life and his job, and he loves it. I think he will stay and welcome very much Mikhail with such great success, that he give the opportunity to whole Davis Cup.
We're looking forward for the future. Of course, you have to enjoy first of all this victory and then to think about next year, next matches of Davis Cup.
Yevgeny, was it a difficult situation to give your place to Misha or not?
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: It depends from which angle you're going to look at it. Probably my ego was saying that I should play, but realistically I felt like he was going to give the best effort than I could. You know, lately he was playing well, and I wasn't.
It was tough, but I did everything for the best interest of the team. You know, right now I'm proud what I have decided. It's definitely best team effort that we probably see.
You're not a little bit disappointed after all your efforts for the past in Russia? You've won, but is it disappointing to have not been actually playing at the final moment of victory?
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You could say that. Like I told, you know, my ego is now somewhere probably back in Siberia. It's in the best interests of the team I did. It's in the best interests of the team. You know, that's why it's a team competition. Sometimes you've got to put your personal ambition somewhere else, where no one wants to see that. That's what happened.
Nem akarok tovább kísérletezgetni, de elég érdekesen sikerült. A huszas hozzászólásban csak a nevet írtam be, és így más össze-visszaság lett, mint a 17,19-es hozzászólásban, amikor szöveget is írtam mellé.
Asszem az volt végül a döntő, hogy csak ékezetes betűket írtam utánna. De hogy miért van ez...
