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THE SCOOP: U.S. OPEN, DAY 5

Safin not so sorrowful after winning three tiebreaks

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., AUG. 31 – Marat Safin is so desperate to rediscover his '00 serial killer game that he looks like he's about to pop a blood vessel when he misses a sitter. After he out-clutched big serving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) Thursday, Safin said he felt fortunate and needed to win a mid-sized battle against a tough foe. He sure did.

The big Russian has been little more than a large chunk of caviar for elite competitors this year. He overplayed last fall, fell prey to injury, lost his confidence and is still searching longingly for his once devastating baseline attack.

"I'm not so confident as I was last year," Safin said. "So I have to start
from the beginning, go to the basics, try to do something , improve my shots,
fight and be in the match every time. Because I'm not playing so great.
Last year, Safin won the Open partly largely because he was able to keep his
volatile temperament under control. Against Ljubicic, Safin smashed balls
into the net and smacked his racket on the ground.

"I can't compare myself with last year," he said. "Last year everything was
perfect. I was playing unbelievable. But now I'm struggling. … These kind of
matches are important. You can shout throw rackets, do whatever you can to
win them."

The 21-year-old needs to open himself up to feeling the magic that Ashe
Stadium can bestow on him. "Every time I go on to center court, I remember
the time I beat Pete Sampras, that maybe this day is going to be my day and
I'm going to start anew and I will get my confidence back, I will win here."

HENMAN VS. FELGATE
Ready for the Felgate diaries? Well than make sure to read the Brit papers the next two days as Tim Henman will face off against his ex-coach David Felgate's new pupil, Belgium's Xavier Malisse. "I think it something [the media] will focus on a little bit more," said Henman, who was coached by Felgate for nine years before splitting with him last March. "It's inevitable there will be a certain amount of talk. Being a pro, it's a match between myself and Malisse."

The 26-year-old Henman is currently being coached by American Larry Stefanki,
the the fast-talking former coach of former No. 1s (both in the playing and
brooding departments) Marcelo Rios and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Henman isn't
concerned that Felgate will be able to impart some of his most cherished
secrets to Malisse. "In this day and age and at this level, I don't think
there are too many secrets between the top guys because we see each other
play week in, week out. We practice with each other. I don't think Malisse is
going to be expecting me to stay on the baseline too much during the match."

The rising Malisse – who is very talented but is no boy genius – is praying
that Felgate's advice might be the difference.

"I hope it will help me," Malisse said. "But it still has to be played. I'm not going to really look at it as playing Tim. I'm just going to play my own game. Of course, I'm going to keep some things in mind, what David tells me."

NOTES ON A SCOREBOARD

Roger Federer Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Meilen Tu played a terrible mental match against Venus Williams, allowing her nerves to play havoc with her service toss. She's a much better player than she showed.

However, Williams is serving so well right now that it's hard to imagine anyone taking her down. … Swiss Roger Federer schooled young American Robby Ginepri, who is still very much a work in progress. Add Taylor Dent to that list, who may have been having back problems during his loss to Mariano Zabeleta, but was absolutely atrocious returning serve and off the ground. We're beginning to have serious doubts as to whether Taylor will ever become a big-time player. … No. 8 Amelie Mauresmo survived again and if she reaches the quarters as tennisreporters.net predicted, she'll give Jenny a lot of problems. … It's nice to see No. 17 Anke Huber playing inspired tennis in her last U.S. Open. It's too bad that the smiling German topspinner is retiring at age 25. Steffi should give her one of her Slam titles just for Anke having to endure a decade of being "The next Steffi Graf." In case you weren't looking, she wasn't, but had a very respectable career. Huber will play the now erratic Elena Dementieva and will give her all she can handle. … Other third round tennis wonk specials: Kim Clijsters-Henrieta Nagyova, Thomas Johansson-Marcelo Rios, Hicham Arazi-Marat Safin and Pat Rafter-Nicolas Lapentti.