Safin serves notice he’s back in big time
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.
But it proved a blessing in disguise. He went camping in Yosemite National Park, spent relaxing days fishing and drinking wine and as his wrist recovered so his love for tennis returned.
The former world number one, currently ranked 86 after six successive first-round defeats last year, is back.
He was leaden-footed in the first set yesterday but took a painkiller for a sore groin and suddenly the sparks began to fly.
Safin, unseeded, reached the semi-final with a magnificent 2-6 6-3 7-5 6-7 (0/7) 6-4 victory and next he plays Agassi, who strolled through when Sebastien Grosjean retired with a groin strain.
Quite how Safin will fare against Agassi is anyone's guess. It has taken Safin 15 hours and six minutes to reach the semi-finals; Agassi just seven hours, 22 minutes.
That was helped by Grosjean's withdrawal yesterday after the fourth seed and defending champion had raced into a 6-2 2-0 lead.
"Let's be realistic. How many hours have I spent this week on the court? He hasn't even spent half of it," said Safin.
"He is a great player, and for me it will be nice to play with him in a semi-final. I will try to play my best tennis. I will have some beers to help the muscles relax, and let's see how fresh I'll be against Andre.
"No matter what happens, I know I am back."
Meanwhile, top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne was full of sympathy for Amelie Mauresmo after the fourth seed was forced to withdraw in tears from her Australian Open quarter-final against Fabiola Zuluaga.
Mauresmo had suffered a torn muscle in her back and was not fit enough to take the court, handing the Colombian her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Zuluaga will play Henin-Hardenne who turned in a battling display to beat American Lindsay Davenport in straight sets 7-5 6-3.
"I'm very disappointed for Amelie because she's a friend of mine, a very nice person and that's very sad what happened here," said Henin-Hardenne, who was practising alongside Mauresmo when she pulled up.
Zuluaga went off to practice and prepare to face Henin-Hardenne who turned in a brave performance, illustrating just how far she has developed as a player in the last 12 months.
Since beating Davenport in an epic quarter-final here last year, Henin-Hardenne has become a double Grand Slam champion and world number one on the back of her ability to remain calm at the clutch moments. She dropped 0-4 down in the first set but hit back to break Davenport on four successive occasions and serve out the set.
Henin-Hardenne then secured three breaks in the second set to seal the match and her place in a fifth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final.
Curtis, Bjorn set for more close encounters
Mark Garrod
Bangkok
BEN CURTIS and Thomas Bjorn, central characters in the dramatic climax to last year's Open championship, should get used to each other's company this year.
American Curtis, the first golfer in 90 years to win on his major debut, has joined the European Tour in what he calls a one-year experiment.
Bjorn, who lost at Sandwich from three shots ahead with four holes to play, has committed himself to playing more on the US Tour stage and like Curtis will be splitting his time between the two circuits.
The Dane accepts there is a Ryder Cup risk to his change of schedule, but as both prepared for the Johnnie Walker Classic starting in Bangkok tomorrow he said: "Hopefully I'm there and I want to be there, but there are other things I want to achieve. I've played in two Ryder Cups and they've been two of the best experiences of my golfing life. But it's not the essential thing for me to do any more I'm focusing on what I want to do, what I want to achieve in my career."
Bjorn is encouraged by the success world number three Ernie Els has had mixing the two tours, but knows there are many examples of players who have not been able to do it.
Paul Lawrie did not enjoy US Tour life after winning the 1999 Open and returned to Europe after one season, while Colin Montgomerie missed a succession of halfway cuts in the States early last year and does not plan to put himself through that again.
"When it comes to playing two tours, practising, anything, you've got to find the way that works for you," added Bjorn.
"My family won't go to America. Not because we don't like it there, but because we are very happy in England. I'll travel and they will stay where they are. I just thought it was time for me to try and play all of the bigger events in the world and not just sticking to one tour.
"It's very easy to get into the same kind of schedule each year and the same routine. Then it just goes a little bit stale. I just feel I need some new inspiration."
The inspiration, he hopes, which will lead to major glory rather than major heartache.
Curtis' challenge is to live up to the name he made for himself on one unforgettable afternoon. The 26-year-old has not had a top 10 finish on the US Tour before or since, and even as Open champion, playing for his country in the Ryder Cup comes second to laying the foundations of his career.
Hence the decision to try his luck around the globe more.
"I think it can help to play all kind of different conditions," said Curtis. "I didn't just win the Open, I won the World Open and it's an honour to showcase that. It's a one-year experiment to see how it goes and to test the water, but hopefully it will turn into a long-term deal."
Tournament favourite Els is trying for yet another successful defence of a title, having kept the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago.
As well as Bjorn and Curtis, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and US PGA champion Shaun Micheel are among those trying to stop the South African achieving what would be the 50th individual win of his professional career.
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