| ..:: ARTICLES ::.. | Safin survives gutsy battle with Spaniard
2004-04-23
(Reuters)
By Eric Salliot
The Russian former world number one had been a strong favourite heading into the last eight clash, having won all five previous matches against the Spaniard, and did not disappoint.
"I wanted to finish the match quickly in the second set and that is when I started to make some mistakes," Safin said, explaining the brief dip in form.
"But then in the third set I got my confidence back and that was it."
U.S. Open champion in 2000, Safin was playing his first quarter-final of a Masters Series event since Bercy in 2002.
He missed much of last season through injury but returned to the circuit in fine fashion this year, reaching the final of the Australian Open in February.
Now ranked 25 in the world, Safin knows he has a big job ahead of him with either Guillermo Coria or David Nalbandian blocking his path to the final.
"I played more aggressive, attacking players earlier in the tournament, now I am facing the real claycourt specialists," he said. "It is not easy to change your game to do this. But I will try.
"Today was the first real claycourt test. I am happy I came through. But Coria or Nalbandian will be really tough."
Last year's runner-up Coria is the favourite for the title and he meets his fellow Argentine later on Friday.
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