MONACO, April 24 (Reuters) -

Russian Marat Safin was in good heart despite losing his Monte Carlo Masters semi-final 6-4 1-6 6-3 to Argentine clay specialist Guillermo Coria on Saturday.

Safin's run to the last four, following his appearance in the Estoril Open final last week, has given the 2000 U.S. Open champion plenty of confidence for next month's French Open.

"I had my chances but I was not very lucky in the first set with the lines and odd bounces," said the 24-year-old, who needed treatment on a blistered foot during the match.

"I always struggle against this type of player but I cannot complain about my season on clay so far.

"I'll catch him another time," added Safin, who reached the Australian Open final at the start of the year.

"I'm optimistic about the French because my preparation has been good and it's in five sets, which gives me more time to correct my faults.

"I'm really, really getting in shape."

telegraph.co.uk
By Clive White
(Filed: 25/04/2004)

Marat Safin, like another Russian millionaire earlier in the week, went for broke here yesterday and paid the price. Unlike Roman Abramovich, however, Safin had only himself to blame - he isn't hiring a coach until later this week.

Potentially, one of the best three or four players in the world, he lacks the patience for the slow burner of clay-court tennis and against someone with the patience of Job such as Guillermo Coria, that can be fatal.

The artful little Argentine, so redolent of football's Dennis Wise, is fast building an unparalleled reputation on clay - this was his 25th consecutive victory on the red stuff since he unexpectedly capitulated against Martin Verkerk at Roland Garros in the semi-finals of last year's French Open. And, even more remarkably, he has lost only four sets in the process.

The fourth was here in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday when Safin took the second set so emphatically - 6-1 - that one wondered whether Coria's run was about to bite the dust.

But he is so resourceful that he can never be discounted, even against someone as powerful as Safin, and came back to win 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in 1hr 51min, thereby making his second consecutive Monte Carlo final. In it he will meet today Rainer Schuettler, who could be roaring to victory here a month before fellow "Schu" takes his customary place on the winner's podium in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Yesterday the German tennis player, so impressive against Britain's Tim Henman in the quarter-finals, accounted for yet another fellow former world No 1 when he beat Carlos Moya 7-6, 6-4 with the sort of consistency which epitomised Coria's victory. Schuettler had previously disposed of Gustavo Kuerten and Lleyton Hewitt.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat Coria in last year's final, may still be the man to beat on clay, assuming he rediscovers his form. But if not, one need look no further than Coria for his successor at Roland Garros.

Safin has his own views on whether Coria is bred to triumph at the French. "For him, I think it's a little bit difficult," he said. "While he is really in shape, he doesn't serve big, really good, it's not like a powerful serve. He doesn't really get free points."

Untimely though such an observation was, tasting just a little bit of the sour grapes not normally found in these parts, he may have a point. But what Coria lacks in power he more than makes up for with a consistency which Safin can only dream about. The unseeded Russian's game was never more erratic than at the start of the match, which got under way against the noisy hubbub of the Monte Carlo Country Club diners.

Having opened with an emphatic service game, he allowed Coria to save three break points on his own opening service game. There is the distinct impression that rallies bore Safin and the sooner he can curtail them with a booming forehand or a double backhander which he sometimes literally jumps into the better. The trouble is the rallies are sometimes ended with the wrong outcome from his point of view.

After missing most of last year with a wrist injury, Safin's enthusiasm was rekindled by his remarkable comeback at the Australian Open, where he went all the way to the final before running out of steam against Roger Federer.

A subsequent closer and more frustrating loss to the world No 1 in Dubai convinced Safin that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em or at least join up with their old coach. Hence Safin's decision to link up with Peter Lundgren, Federer's old coach, for a trial this week in Barcelona.

Safin must hope that the Swede can rid him of his impetuosity which finally got the better of him in the eighth game of the third set, which he lost to love on his own service. It came courtesy of two sloppy forehands, a perfectly weighted drop shot by Coria and an errant backhand by Safin that so disgusted its executioner that he belted the ball over the clubhouse, earning a warning from the umpire. "I'll catch him another time," vowed Safin of his tormentor.

Clay king Coria beats Safin to reach Monte Carlo final
channelasia news

Argentina's Guillermo Coria stretched his winning streak on clay to 25 matches with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Russia's Marat Safin to reach his second successive final of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The 22-year-old third seed's win gave him a place in Sunday's final against either Spain's Carlos Moya, seeded five and the 1998 winner here, or Rainer Schuettler of Germany, the fourth seed.

Coria will be chasing his second title of the year and eighth of his career but despite his 25th win in a row, he is adamant that French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero is still the man to beat on clay.

"I have to continue to win because I lack the very important wins to consider myself the best on clay," said Coria whose last defeat on clay came in the semi-finals of the French Open last year.

"Juan Carlos has won more important tournaments."

Coria added that he has no fears about competing in a best-of-five set final on Sunday.

"I think it's better to have five sets because sometimes when you step on court you might be nervous and make mistakes. The five sets gives you the chance to come back. I am fit and ready to play."

Safin admitted that he found it difficult to counter Coria's clay court expertise.

"Players like Coria, the Argentinians and the Spanish, are difficult to play against," said Safin who had been aiming to reach his third final of the year after a 2003 decimated by a wrist injury.

"The only way to beat players like him is to step inside and to play fast. He can pass you but you need to look for the net and you need a fast game."

Safin believes that if the two meet again at the French Open next month, he would be favourite against the slightly-built Argentinian.

"He doesn't serve that big, he doesn't get a lot of free points, he has to work and run a lot. In five sets, I would be the favourite."

Australian Open runner-up Safin, who was also a finalist in Estoril last week, got off to a lacklustre start losing his serve to fall 2-1 down before Coria went on to take the first set when his opponent netted a backhand from the baseline.

The colourful Russian sent down 17 unforced errors compared to the Argentinian's five to hammer home his frustration.

But Safin was soon back in charge breaking in the second and sixth games with a flourishing, attacking game which had Coria constantly pinned far back behind the baseline.

Safin, with just five errors in the set, levelled the match after 68 minutes on court with a blistering ace.

He saved two break points in the fourth game of the decider but the errors were creeping back in and he was powerless to prevent Coria from breaking in the eighth game to lead 5-3 when he hit a lazy, long forehand.

Coria, who was a finalist at the last Masters event in Miami in March where he had to retire injured against Andy Roddick, wrapped up the match after 1hr 51min when Safin fired another forehand long.

The Argentinian finished with 12 winners and 20 errors while Safin, ever the more flamboyant, went down in flames with 39 unforced errors against 31 winners.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) —

Guillermo Coria reached his second straight final at the US$2.91 million Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday, beating Marat Safin 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

A runner-up last year, No.3 seed Coria now meets either No.4 Rainer Schuettler or No.5 Carlos Moya, who were playing later Saturday.

"He (Coria) is full of confidence," Safin said afterward. "I found it hard to play long rallies against him. The only way to beat him is to play fast all the time, and I wasn't able to do that."

The speedy Argentine is still unbeaten on clay since last June and won the last 25 matches on his favorite surface. But Safin made him sweat for his latest win.

"I've had a good start to the clay season," Safin said. "I can feel I'm playing really good right now. I'm definitely getting into shape for it (The French Open)."

The big Russian, a U.S. Open winner in 2000, hit form brilliantly in the second set and maintained his clean hitting until - serving at 3-4 down - he was broken to love and his confidence swiftly disappeared.

In its place, the moody outbursts and trademark grunts, and Safin was warned by the umpire in the eighth game of the final set.

Wasting a chance to pressure Coria's serve at 15-30, Safin smashed the ball high into the air and it sailed over a nearby clubhouse.

The ball was accompanied by a wild scream which pierced the tranquil surroundings overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Safin blamed the "bad bounce" on center court for a string of sloppy shots late in the match, when the ball appeared to ping randomly off his racket and rarely landed inside the line.

Coria set up his win with a delightful drop shot and broke Safin to serve out the match at 5-3.

In the opening two sets, Safin often came to the net - winning 22 points there - and overall hit far more winners: 31 compared to 12 for Coria.

"Coria doesn't get many free shots, so maybe it's better to play him over five sets," said Safin, who hit 39 unforced errors against 20.