Safin not enthused about competing at the Olympics
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-24 06:27

Former world No 1 Marat Safin said on Tuesday tennis does not need the Olympics.

After being knocked out in the first round at Wimbledon, the Russian said he would be going to compete in the Athens Olympics in August - but with a heavy heart.

"Tennis doesn't need the Olympic Games," he said. "We have four Grand Slams. We have the Masters Series. We have a lot of tournaments. We have a pretty tough schedule. And now we are going to have the Olympics.

"I have to go. But it is not my goal in life to win the Olympic Games."

"Ask Marc Rosset," he said of the Swiss player who won an Olympic gold at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. "He will tell you the same. He won it.

"He is not really proud of it and just saying 'I won the Olympic Games. It's great. It feels unbelievable' and it's the best thing that will happen in his life."

"Of course you are more playing for your country than for yourself," Safin said. "But I'm not excited at all to go there."

"I think for tennis players there is nothing bigger than the Grand Slams," added the 24-year-old, who said he had given up on Wimbledon after his shock first round defeat by compatriot Dmitry Tursunov on Tuesday.

"And nothing will be bigger than that, not even the Masters at the end of the year.

"Of course it's huge. But you are most known for Grand Slams. That's how it was, how it is and how it will be."

"If you are going to play well in the Olympic Games, you might not play very well in the US Open.

"And after two tough (Masters Series events), you have to fly to the Olympic Games and then prepare yourself well there. It's a really tough schedule."

"They have to change something for sure," he said. "Think a little about the players and try to make the schedule a little bit shorter so the players can perform well."

The Athens Games start on August 13. Tennis returned to the Olympics for the Seoul Games in 1988.

Close

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Price hikes not to stop until October         DPRK: Concrete plans can help nuclear talks         China set to clarify bankruptcy protection         Audit: US$170 million discovered misused         Boat sinks killing one, 43 lost         Migrant workers get injury insurance	Germany crash out of Euro 2004       Van Nistelrooy takes Dutch to quarters       Sweden and Denmark through to quarters       Italy crash out despite win over Bulgaria       Awesome Serena storms into 2nd round       Henman survives first-round scare