Speedy Coria floors sluggish Safin
PERTH, Australia -- Red-hot favorites Russia tumbled out of contention in the mixed teams Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, as big-hitting star Marat Safin again flopped in their second straight loss.
The shock 2-1 defeat of the Russians, beaten by both unseeded Germany in their opening tie and now Argentina, was an ominous sign for Safin as he prepares for the Australian Open in Melbourne, starting on January 17.
The world number four has lost both of his singles rubbers in the tournament.
He and Anastasia Myskina have never won a mixed doubles rubber at the event in five attempts.
Safin appeared sluggish as he succumbed to the lightning pace of Argentina's world number seven Guillermo Coria 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, offering little more than token resistance in the second set.
With Myskina he went down 6-2, 6-0 in the deciding mixed doubles after Myskina had raised their hopes with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Gisela Dulko.
Coria's court speed proved the decisive factor against Safin, who only arrived at the tournament from Moscow 24 hours before his first match, and has looked well below his best.
"It wasn't my day today on the serve, Gisela was returning winners on my serve so it was kind of embarrassing for me," Safin joked.
"But I have to live with that, work on my serve and get ready for the Australian Open."
Safin conceded his game had simply not been good enough in the singles against an in-form opponent.
"I wasn't fast enough, I wasn't sharp enough ... he was great he was all over the court and he was moving well,"
But he maintained he was reasonably happy with his form after the Christmas lay-off and would improve.
"I am playing well, I am hitting the ball well. I am happy with the way I am playing and I will be ok for the Australian Open," he said.
"Everybody is starting from the first round. Hopefully I will have the first round a little bit easier than other people and it will give me a little more confidence to get back and win a couple of matches but I'm pretty confident -- I'm very confident.
Under control
"Win a couple of matches and everything is going to be under control."
Argentina, the third seeds, now have two wins in Group A along with Germany who have wins over Russia and Italy. The two nations will meet on Thursday.
French Open champion Myskina had put Russia in front when she crushed Hopman Cup debutante Dulko and she too was cautiously happy with her form.
"For my second match it's pretty good," said Myskina, who is aiming to become the first Russian woman to reach the number one ranking.
"But I still have to practice hard if I'm going to play my best tennis."
Dulko, who has yet to win a singles rubber, was dazzling in the mixed doubles, hitting winners all over the court.
"I really played well today, I'm really happy ... but I thought Marat was going to hit me with the serve," she laughed.