Marat Safin has dumped groupies and found an alternative source of inspiration at the Australian Open - a mother's love. Safin hit the headlines in Melbourne two years ago when a bevy of mystery blonde admirers occupied his players box for every match of his march to the final, where he suffered a shock loss. But two years down the road and the Russian former world number one's entourage of glamorous admirers -- nicknamed the 'Safinettes' -- are nowhere to be seen. Instead, it is his mother, Rausa, who is occupying pride of place in the stands -- and Safin couldn't be happier.

"She's here just to enjoy the tennis of her son, just to be proud. I hope she's proud of me and what I'm doing," said Safin following his remarkable 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 1-6, 6-3 semi-final victory over Andre Agassi Thursday.

Safin was coached by his mother between the ages of six and 13, but she has had no involvement in his remarkable campaign other than to offer support.

"Just a mother," Safin said when asked what role she had played. "She gave me the basics in tennis definitely. But since I was 14 I've been travelling by myself, living by myself. So she's here just to basically to enjoy what I'm doing. "(If) she's enjoying, I'm more than happy. I don't want her to suffer, for her to get crazy in the matches because I'm losing, not winning, not playing bad or good. "No matter the results. She has to be happy ... I mean, what else can you ask? A few years ago she would never think about it."

Rausa Safin was renowned as a no-nonsense disciplinarian during her time as a coach in Moscow, where she was also responsible for grooming women's singles quarter-finalist here Anastasia Myskina.

But there is no chance of Rausa trying strong-arm tactics on her 6ft 5in son. Asked if his mother's presence made him behave on court, Safin replied: "Come on, I'm 24, man. A little bit too old to be taken care of."