TNT Sports
Safin happy about form
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Published 13/06/2005 at 11:00 GMT+1
Marat Safin is in confident mood about his Wimbledon prospects having reached his first grass court final in Germany last week. The Australian Open champion, who lost the Halle final to two-times SW19 winner Roger Federer on Sunday, said the match had been his best performance on grass.
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"I'm more satisfied with my game than I was four years ago when I played in the quarter-finals against [Goran] Ivanisevic and now I'm playing much, much better," Safin said afterwards.
"I hope I will have enough confidence coming into Wimbledon and be able to continue playing such a high level of tennis. Then I think I will have a chance to do well there."
Federer said Safin's performance suggested the twice-major champion could be a major threat at the All England Club when the tournament begins next Monday.
"His chances are better than the last few years but it depends how he gets his act together," Federer said.
"I reckon he's going to fancy his chances more of doing well. He hasn't really shown how good he is on grass except maybe this week."
Safin was scheduled to travel to Milan on Monday to consult a doctor about a troublesome knee injury.
"There's not much you can do. There is no treatment for that. It won't get worse and it won't get better," the 25-year-old Russian said, adding that he planned to take four weeks off after Wimbledon to rest before the U.S. hard-court season.
"If I don't take care of my knee I won't manage to play on the hard surfaces."
Safin's coach Peter Lundgren, who previously worked with Federer, said the Russian had a chance of winning the title at the All England Club.
"It depends on the draw, how he feels in his leg and everything but the way he is playing he's got a good chance," Lundgren said.
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