Safin serves notice he’s back in big time

EXUBERANT Russian Marat Safin announced his return as a major force in astonishing fashion yesterday with a thrilling five-set victory over world number one Andy Roddick to set up an enticing Australian Open semi-final clash with Andre Agassi.

It was a performance which showed in all its glory the 'New Marat' the player's own way of referring to the mature version of himself, as opposed to the playboy model he was in 2002 when he reached the final here but then blew his chance of the title when red-hot favourite.

This year there is no bevy of blondes in his camp. Safin is here with his mother and two coaches, determined to regenerate a career which stalled last year when he was forced to spend difficult months out with a wrist injury.