TMS - LISBON

December 2, 2000

Marat Safin

MODERATOR: Questions for Marat.

MARAT SAFIN: I think it's not -- the year is not only one tournament, which it was here. Me, Guga, we played during all the year, from the beginning to the end. Of course, we get here, you are tired. Is not the same. You don't have the same feeling. Some things don't work. Probably is mental, technique is going somewhere. Impossible to play very well during all the year. It's not good to finish the year like this. I mean, Andre and Pete, they didn't play well. Pete, he didn't play at all after US Open, so he is fresh. He played a horrible match against Hewitt, but after he played a great game. Also Andre, he's been injured, as we know, since Lyon, so he had time to rest. That's why he's playing very well here. We just had no time to rest. Unfortunately, this week, it wasn't the best in my career, but I'm satisfied what I did during all the year. I'm satisfied with the game, with myself, with people, with everybody.

MARAT SAFIN: It happened today. Just a problem with the shoes. But it's not a big problem. It happens. But I'll be okay in two weeks. I think I can play tennis next year.

MARAT SAFIN: It was just a problem of shoes, too small. I don't know how to say it. From here, it's not wide enough (indicating at his heel). Not wide enough. That's the problem.

MARAT SAFIN: Anyway, nothing happened. Going to change the shoes. I will tell please to adidas to change the shoes. It will be great. I don't think they're going to complain about this. Just everybody -- to every player, you have to put the right shoes. Somebody has to wear different shoes. It will be okay. It was a small accident. It's over.

MARAT SAFIN: I will survive, for sure. It's going to be okay (smiling).

MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, but I didn't run so much like today (laughter).

MARAT SAFIN: Moscow. I want to go there. I will just spend a few days, few weeks with my family and with my friends, enjoy my life. It's getting better and better each time.

MARAT SAFIN: Unfortunately, not. I can't, for some reasons.

MARAT SAFIN: It's too far. It's too far. I am too lazy.

MARAT SAFIN: Enough. I lost very easy. Just probably if I -- if, if, if, all the time if. If I would break, I would change a little bit the game. Anyway, I didn't had any more chances than the second game in the first set. Andre, he played too good. He was too fast. He played very fast. He played great, what can I say? I can't play like this way, fighting for No. 1. Actually, No. 1 cannot play like this, without serve, without putting pressure in some moments. Is difficult to beat these kind of players. Probably I'm not satisfied with my game this afternoon. I'm happy and I'm satisfied enough with the game of this whole year. I served well, but something just changed in my serve. It doesn't matter. Just I didn't serve well. That's it. That was the problem. To play against these guys, you have to serve, that's it.

MARAT SAFIN: I don't think it's already nobody get nervous on the court. Everybody's playing here. Everybody has enough level to play and beat the top guys. I think yesterday I didn't play at all, for some reasons, I don't know. I still don't understand why I don't play. Today, he was too good. I didn't serve well. I don't think it's the problem of thinking that I can be No. 1. Everything going to come. The numbers are going to come. You have to show your game. If the game is there, the numbers will come from both sides. I hope Pete going to make my job.

MARAT SAFIN: No, I will watch it on TV. Let's see what going to happen. I mean, we'll see who is the best, if Guga going to win, good luck in the final. He deserve it. If he's No. 1, he won more things, more tournament. Just he's better than me, that's it. You have to accept.

MARAT SAFIN: Yes, uh-huh. I saw enough tennis already this year. I want to go home. I don't want to see any more tennis at least until next year.

MARAT SAFIN: Experience? Of course. I mean, the guys like Andre and Pete, they spend ten times here. They came away from Masters ten times. They like going to the hometown tournament. For them it's very easy to go out there and make a great game and play a hundred percent. We are the juniors, as everybody knows. We still juniors for Pete, for Andre. It's a little bit different, a little bit tough to go there because people, they expect a lot from you. They coming, they want to see real tennis. It's tough. Also the players are not that different. Is not anymore easy rounds. Everybody's here to win the tournament. Everybody going to fight and show his best game here. Of course, it's tough. But that's life. Nobody has an easy life.

MARAT SAFIN: I didn't serve well already for two or three weeks. I have to work more. At least there is something in your technique that you have to improve. I'm happy of it that I have to improve something, otherwise the game gets boring. I will improve it for next year.

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