Exhausted Safin overpowers Agassi
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Safin: "I played one of my best matches in my whole life."
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MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- Marat Safin said life couldn't get any better after beating champion Andre Agassi in the Australian Open semifinals -- and then remembered he still had a job to do.
His legs wobbling and temper fraying, the Russian giant outhustled Agassi 7-6 7-6 5-7 1-6 6-3 in a stamina-sapping encounter to set up a final against either Roger Federer or Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"It was a great experience for me to come back in the fifth set," said an exhausted Safin.
"I think I played one of my best matches in my whole life, probably. You have to play really great against Andre to beat him. I just couldn't feel any better."
The former world number one, whose ranking has slipped to 86 after an injury-riddled 2003, still has unfinished business at the Australian Open after losing to Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the 2002 final.
"Two years ago, I had problems with myself. I couldn't play my best tennis. I was too nervous, too much under pressure," said the big-hitting Russian.
"That's why I couldn't pull my best weapons in that final. But coming right now, I'm full of confidence and it's a completely different story."
Safin, who destroyed Pete Sampras to win the 2000 U.S. Open final, has already made a mockery of his current world ranking.
He insisted he had nothing to fear from either Wimbledon champion Federer or Ferrero, the 2003 French Open winner, in Sunday's final.
"Federer has great talent but Ferrero is also there. You have to be careful with both of them," shrugged Safin.
"But everything is going my way for the moment. I came here to try to win it and I'm almost there. Just one left to go."
Safin will be grateful for an extra day off after a gruelling run to the final which has included three five-setters.
"Tough matches, they take a lot of energy. Mentally, I'm a little bit tired. I mean, tomorrow I'm definitely not going to play tennis," said Safin, who celebrated his 24th birthday by knocking out top seed Andy Roddick on Tuesday.
"So basically an extra day is really, really helpful. It's not like I'm going to forget how to play tennis in two days."
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