| ..:: ARTICLES ::.. | Labadze injury puts Safin into final
ESTORIL, Portugal (AFP)
04.17.2004
Labadze, leading 3-2 at the time, has been suffering all week after the problem first surfaced nearly a month ago on a serve during practise for the Miami Masters where he lost in the opening round.
The win puts Safin into the title match on Sunday at the Estadio Nacional against either fifth seed Juan Chela of Argentina or German qualifier Florian Mayer.
Safin said that while he wasn't keen to have won in this fashion, he'll take the victory as he tries to improve an 11-6 record this season.
The 24-year-old former world number one lost the Australian Open (news - web sites) final in January against Roger Federer and was unable to continue with a wrist injury against Carlos Moya nearly a year ago in the Barcelona final.
"It wasn't the best way to win, but this final is a great thing for me," said the Russian.
"I had a good warm-up and played a few games. That's enough for me today, I won't be going to the practise court. I'll just let the other two guys go out and do their job."
Labadze himself benefitted from an injury pull-out Friday when Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal was unable to take to the court after suffering with a suspected hairline ankle fracture.
"I would have had to pullout Friday, but he did, so I took it," said the Georgian who upset Andre Agassi in Shanghai in 2001 and who was facing longtime tennis friend Safin for the first time as a professional.
Safin, third in the season points race, said: "I've had a good week, the first one of the clay season, my game has been improving with every match."
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