| ..:: ARTICLES ::.. | Safin flying solo but still on course in Portugal
www.channelnewsasia.com
04.15.2004
ESTORIL, Portugal : With just over a week to go until he starts with a new coach, Marat Safin proved that he can win on his own as he reached the quarter-finals of the 748,850-Euro Estoril Open.
Safin, seeded eight here, overcame Frenchman Thierry Ascione 6-4, 6-4 to book a quarter-final clash against Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Russia's former world No. 1, often thought to consider mentors as expendable as the rackets he is frequently known to smash, is due to hook up with Roger Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren.
That trial partnership, to run through Wimbledon, will begin at the clay event in Barcelona where Safin reached the final a year ago.
But with this week his main conern, Safin on Thursday was concentrated on maintaining the kind of form which he hopes will come in handy against Robredo on Friday.
The Spanish fourth seed booked his place with a 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over Argentine Mariano Zabaleta.
Safin, playing his first week on the clay and keen to do well after missing half of last year with a wrist injury is determined not to let the Spaniard play his own game.
"I don't want to rally endlessly with him from the back of the court," said the Russian. "I will have to push things a bit.
"He will be my toughest opponent," he said after dispatching his second French opponent in succession and running his record against that nation to 15 wins from 17 matches. "I don't want to just play his game."
Safin's only stumble against world number 97 Ascione came as the Russian failed on a pair of set points in the opening set - the second lost on a double-fault.
But, comfortably in command, he lifted the set a game later in just over half an hour and was equally dominant in the second.
"This was a much better match than my first one," Safin said. "I'm feeling more comfortable on the court and gaining a little more confidence.
"I'm just trying to play good tennis."
Safin confirmed that he and Lundgren, who was cut loose by world number one Federer in December just weeks after guiding the Swiss to triumph at the Masters Cup in Houston, will have an experimental run through the clay and grass seasons.
"We'll see if it's working," said Safin. "It's more than a coach, you have to feel comfortable with him as a person.
"He'a a partner off the court and you'll be spending a lot of time with him."
Teenage sensation Rafael Nadal also powered into the quarter-finals.
The 17-year-old fought back from a second-set ankle taping after dropping serve for 0-1 to pound French youngster Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
Nadal, a left-handed power hitter with little fear on any surface, lines up a Friday quarter-final against Georgian surprise packet Irakli Labadze, who eliminated sixth seed Max Mirnyi 6-3, 6-3.
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