Bjorkman Dashes Safin Comeback Hopes
October 14. 2003

By Kevin Fylan

Safin, enduring a tough route back from a series of injuries, clinched the first set in 41 minutes and moved confidently into a 2-0 lead in the second.

Safin became upset at a series of foot-fault calls, though, and Bjorkman capitalized on his opponent's loss of service rhythm to come back and level, a crosscourt forehand that clipped the net clinching a marathon second set in 68 minutes.

Bjorkman was a model of consistency in the decider and snatched victory in game 10, as Safin, serving at 4-5 down, put a forehand drive long on match-point.

Safin won his last match in Barcelona in mid-April as he beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in a semi-final. Since then, his season has been hell, with weeks of recovery time as he tried to come right form the problem. The former U.S. Open winner lost in a come-back attempt in late July in Los Angeles and was beaten last week as well. The 23-year-old holds Masters titles, both taken in Paris over Australians, Mark Philippoussis in 2000 and Lleyton Hewitt last November.

Bjorkman, a reigning Wimbledon doubles champion, improved his record to 25-18 for the season, reaching the Wimbledon singles quarter-finals and a final in Marseille.

Safin said that it's just a long road back to form. "You lose the eye, you lose the confidence, you lose everything," said the world number 38. "It's all step-by-step. "At least this match went three sets, I was close to winning it, but I have no confidence right now."

The Russian, who has played only twice since April because of wrist injury, began well by taking the first set and going up an early break in the second.

However, he became frustrated by a number of foot faults called against him and Bjorkman levelled the match.

Safin visibly tired in the decider and Bjorkman ran out a 4-6 7-5 6-4 victor.

The former US Open champion, made his comeback at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow at the beginning of the month, losing to Wayne Black in the first round.