Safin launches title defence in style

Defending champion Marat Safin made an impressive start to his campaign in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday but he said it would be a miracle if he won the title again.

"I'm OK now compared to how I was before," said Safin after his 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory over Sebastien De Chaunac of France."

Referring to his problems earlier this year, the Russian said: "I couldn't move. I was tired. Then I got injured and started to change my racket. Then I lost my confidence.

"It's all the time something happening to me. But right now it's the end of the season and I'm trying to make some good results. It's gonna be a miracle if I can win here because of the way I played all year.

"It's a joke. But I'm there and I'm trying. I think I can. Everything is possible."

Even in his less than perfect English, it's not hard to understand the frustration he has suffered since he won his first Grand Slam crown at the U.S. Open a year ago.

Safin became the third youngest U.S. Open champion ever at the age of 20 years and seven months. He also finished the year with a tour-best seven titles and became the youngest No. 2 ranked player since 19-year-old Boris Becker in 1986.

SEVEN TITLES

He was also the first player under the age of 21 to win as many as seven titles in a season since Swede Mats Wilander -- now Safin's coach -- in 1983.

Life was good for the Russian youngster until he hurt his back in February at the Dubai tournament.

Since then his best displays have been reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, where he fell to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic, and the semifinals at Indianapolis two weeks ago, where he lost to eventual champion Patrick Rafter.

"I'm feeling more confident on the court now," said Safin who is ranked No. 3 but without a title in 2001. "I think I can play my tennis now."

Asked to talk about the setbacks he has endured this year, Safin grinned and said: ""There's so many that you cannot...we don't have enough time".

Now he faces the pressure of defending his U.S. Open championship.

"It's great to be a Grand Slam winner but that's already history," he said. "You cannot live with only history. You have to prove that you are still there and that you are a great player and can win another one.

"But if I don't defend, what's going to happen? Nothing. I'll be 12th, 9th? So then next year I have nothing to defend. It's perfect. Still, I want to win again. It's a new year and I want to win again."