MOSCOW, Feb 2

Russian media heaped praise on Marat Safin on Monday following his giant-killing run at the Australian Open which only ended in the final.

"Undefeated" read a front-page headline in the Sovietsky Sport newspaper despite Safin's straight-sets defeat by Switzerland's Roger Federer in Sunday's final.

"Safin's courageous comeback to the tennis elite overshadowed the sports side of yesterday's final."

"We are still thankful to you, Marat," echoed the country's other sports daily, Sport-Express.

Safin, plagued by injuries for most of 2003 as his rankings slipped to 86th, made a triumphant return at the first grand slam of the year.

The giant Russian also became a sentimental favourite among the Melbourne crowd with his dramatic run to the final.

Considered a huge underdog, Safin toppled then world number one Andy Roddick in spectacular style on his 24th birthday in the quarter-final and followed that with an equally gripping win over defending champion Andre Agassi in the last four.

"Safin has returned," Sovietsky Sport said.

"He overcame his injuries and two grand slam champions in 2003 -- Roddick and Agassi. He fought for more than 20 hours on the Melbourne courts. He didn't win the Australian Open but he became the champion in courage."

HEROIC FEAT

Having played 27 sets to get to the final, Safin simply ran out of gas against the stylish Federer.

"What Marat has done after all his problems last year is nothing short of a heroic feat, it's a miracle," said Russian tennis chief and his Davis Cup coach Shamil Tarpishchev.

The fact that Safin knocked out five Americans on his way to the final did not escape the Russian press.

"Safin-U.S.A 5-0," gloated Sovietsky Sport's front-page last Friday after Safin's epic five-set victory over Agassi, displaying Russia's glee at beating their bitter rivals.

Safin's fairytale comeback in Melbourne also helped ease the pain of Russian fans still in shock following Spartak Moscow captain Yegor Titov's failed drugs test, which jeopardised the country's chances of playing in the European soccer championship.

The whole country has been on edge since Wales asked European governing body UEFA to overturn Russia's 1-0 win in their Euro 2004 playoff and award them a retroactive 3-0 victory that could give them a place in the finals in Portugal.

Safin Gets His Game Back in Australia

By DENNIS PASSA
Associated Press Writer

Marat Safin was sitting in a boat in Northern California with his coach and a friend last year, a fishing rod in one hand and a beer in the other.

He had a cast on his wrist and he was wondering about his tennis career.

In 2003 the Russian had dropped out of the top 50 for the first time since 1997. He had played in only 13 tournaments. He was determined to set things right.

After Tuesday's five-set win over top-ranked Andy Roddick in the Australian Open quarterfinals, he appears on course. His goal is to regain the No. 1 ranking he held in November 2000.

Safin saw a doctor in Los Angeles who diagnosed the problem - small cuts in the ligaments and cartilage of the left wrist. A cast was put on and he took six weeks off.

"What I had to do was just wait, wait, wait," Safin said after his 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (0), 6-4 win over Roddick. "I had nothing to do. I was a little bit depressed, so I went camping."

"I took a car and drove to the gas station to buy a map. I was going to Oregon, but it was too far away. And I had really good time ... to think a little bit, no people. You need these kind of things. Just chill out."

Safin said the fishing was great - "just sitting with our beers, eight hours a day on a boat."

His victory over Roddick came on his 24th birthday. Safin has a hard time remembering the last time he was playing so well.

"Probably when I won Davis Cup," he said. "That was December of 2002. And since then I haven't really played any great matches because of some circumstances."

He was referring to injuries, predominantly the left wrist, but earlier in 2003 to the right shoulder. He saw a succession of doctors who couldn't tell him what was wrong. the he found the doctor in Los Angeles, who thought surgery was not possible.

Safin thought the layoff would hurt his game.

"You don't feel the moment," he said. "You don't feel when to go to the net, when to stay back, what to do, the serve, the returns, all these things, you basically have to start from the zero."

Against Roddick, a trainer had to rub his left thigh in the first game of the second set. But it didn't seem to bother him the rest of the way. Safin next faces Andre Agassi in the semifinals.

A finalist in Australia in 2002, Safin won over the crowd at Rod Laver Arena with his gutsy play. Before he walked off the court, and at the urging of television commentator John McEnroe, the fans sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

"I can't ask for anything else," Safin said. "It's probably the best birthday I ever had, especially when 15,000 people are singing."