Safin takes a break from coach Lundgren

STOCKHOLM: Former tennis world number one Marat Safin has decided to take a break from his Swedish coach Peter Lundgren.

"Marat is not quite himself any more, he doesn't really know where he stands," said Lundgren, who helped the Russian to win his second grand slam title in 2005, the Australian Open.

The 26-year-old Russian, who beat Lleyton Hewitt in that final, has not won a tournament since and is currently ranked 74 in the world.

"He told me: 'Peter, I have nothing against you but I have to go on my own for a while.' And I understand him perfectly," Lundgren told the Swedish daily Dagbladet on Thursday.

"We have taken a break now and we'll have to see what happens. Hopefully we'll be back in autumn with Marat in better shape. And I believe we'll start it off together then." Lundgren has previously coached world number one Roger Federer and the now retired Chilean Marcelo Rios.