The 27-year-old Russian believes he still has plenty to prove in the French capital where he was semi-finalist in 2002 and quarter-finalist in 2000.
PARIS: Marat Safin backed himself to become a French Open dangerman on Sunday and make up for a history of Roland Garros heartbreak.
The 27-year-old Russian, a former world number one, believes he still has plenty to prove in the French capital where he was semi-finalist in 2002 and quarter-finalist in 2000.
"In 2000, I lost to Magnus Norman in four sets, that was a tough one," recalled Safin on Sunday after easing past Spanish veteran Fernando Vicente 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first player into the second round of this year's Open.
"I was a little burned out. I had played well in Barcelona and Mallorca and made the final in Hamburg and Dusseldorf.
"In 2002, I should have beaten Ferrero in the semi-finals. I hadn't played well throughout the two weeks but I managed to get to the semi-finals.
"It was a terrible match. I had no coach to guide and support me. I was really on the way to a win then."
The Russian, seeded 22, has endured a mediocre year with a best performance of a semi-final in Las Vegas in March, since when he has failed to string two consecutive wins together.
"I think I can manage to pass a few rounds here and then I am going to be dangerous," he said.
"I can get some confidence, timing and a little rhythm. I love to come here. Clay is still my favourite surface. It's my place."
After 10 years as a professional, Safin still has plenty of targets to aim for.
One of them is to finally get to play Rafael Nadal, the double defending champion here.
Safin squandered a chance in Monte Carlo in April when he threw away match points in a second round defeat to Kristof Vliegen; a victory there would have paved the way for a match-up against the world number two.
"I wanted to play Rafa to try and test myself against him. It would have been a challenge."
However, he does have one thing in common with the Spaniard - he also has won two Grand Slam titles taking victory at the US Open in 2000 and Australia in 2005.
In the entire Roland Garros field, Safin finds himself in rare company as one of the few players to have captured more than one Grand Slam title.
Roger Federer has 10, Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt, two apiece.
"It's much better to win a Grand Slam at the age of 20 than not to win at all," said Safin who was 20 when he won in New York.
"The job is kind of half done because everybody here wants to win a Grand Slam. I won a major. It's a huge relief. It's a little easier to play because you don't have the pressure on you to do something."
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