TELECOM MASTERS ITALIA

May 3, 2005

Marat Safin

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

MARAT SAFIN: No, in my position right now I think I have to be happy that I came up from this difficult situation. I'm happy, actually, the way I played the second and third set, even though that I was not winning too many matches on clay. But for the first round here, losing the first set this way, I think it was pretty good.

MARAT SAFIN: I'm not (smiling)... I'm used to it, so you will not surprise me with anything. I heard during my career a lot of things, so it's not going to be anything new.

MARAT SAFIN: A couple of things that I was -- they were bothering me during, you know -- that I couldn't play some matches, you know, like wouldn't concentrate. Just I had to get rid of these kind of things. Now I feel much lighter, I feel much happier on the court. Actually, it's good changes.

MARAT SAFIN: No, I can't -- no, it's just private life.

MARAT SAFIN: No. I just, you know, I had my -- I made two finals of Australian Open, so basically I was one match away from winning a Grand Slam. It's not like it took me a little bit longer, because I lost two finals. Otherwise, if I would win all the finals, I would have four Grand Slams in my pocket. So you completely -- you talk about completely different things. I got injured a couple of times. So it's not like I was doing nothing and not, you know, dedicating myself enough. I had my problems. I couldn't find a person who would guide me as a coach, and I was struggling with some other things. But I had a decent career, and I have. I still have a few years to go - four, five years. I think that the way I'm playing right now, just for the past two years, I think it's pretty good. If I will continue this way, I will have a chance to win another few Grand Slams. Why not?

MARAT SAFIN: I have no base. I'm based where I'm playing. Like I said, like every time I'm saying, we have such a long season so basically you cannot be based anywhere. Last time I was home, it was one month and a half ago.

MARAT SAFIN: Huh?

MARAT SAFIN: Home, I have no home. My home is in the hotel right now. I don't know when I'm going to go back home, actually. I might go after Hamburg, or I might go only after Wimbledon. Then we have a Davis Cup and I have nowhere to stay. So basically every time, you know, I wake up in the morning and I finish a tournament and I have one week off, it's difficult to, you know -- I don't have anywhere to go. Can you believe it, huh?

MARAT SAFIN: Don't worry. There are some other people that take care of me. Don't worry.

MARAT SAFIN: I never did well here. I never played well. I never could pass even the third round or even second round. It's difficult to play here because some -- a few years the courts have been changing a little bit. There was too much clay, then there was no clay, then there was sliding a lot, and every time like was so difficult to adjust myself to the courts. Hopefully, I can do well this year. I like the tournament. I like the city. I enjoy it very much. I would love to, you know, also to find my confidence and make a great week and whatever, if I would pass a couple of more rounds and I have a chance of doing something great here, as winning a tournament.