SYDNEY, 1 February 2005 — Marat Safin left Australia yesterday with another grand slam trophy in his arms and the tennis world at his feet.

The 25-year-old Russian’s victory over Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne on Sunday night added the Australian Open crown to the U.S. Open title he won in 2000.

Safin made a brief appearance in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda to show off his new trophy then took a tram ride through the city streets before packing his bags for the long trip back to Europe.

Having seemed destined for greatness when he stunned Pete Sampras to win the U.S. Open, the wait for a second major seemed to last an eternity.

He was beaten in the 2002 and 2004 Australian Open finals and had begun to doubt he would ever win another grand slam until rediscovering his self-belief in Melbourne this past fortnight.

His march to the final included an epic five-set win over the seemingly invincible Roger Federer in the semifinals and the big Russian says he now believes he can win more grand slam titles.

“Basically, I would love to win a couple more. I think I have a chance if I continue this way,” he said.

“If (coach) Peter Lundgren will stick around with me and wants to work with me for a bit longer, I think I can make it.”

Despite winning the title, Safin remained in fourth place on the world rankings behind Federer, Hewitt and Andy Roddick. Safin briefly held the top spot in 2000 and while he said he would like to regain it one day it wasn’t his top priority.

“Of course, if I have the opportunity to become number one in the world, I would love to achieve it,” he said.

“But I already have and I want to concentrate a little bit more on the grand slams.”

Safin made the French Open semifinals in 2002 and fancies his chances on the red clay of Paris more than on the green grass of Wimbledon.

Despite possessing a booming serve and excellent volley, Safin has only made it past the second round once in five attempts and has little hope of ever winning Wimbledon.

“I cannot play on that surface and I feel like I can’t waste my time, my energy,” he said.

“Some people can’t play on clay, some people can’t play on hard court. It’s psychological, of course, but I just don’t feel comfortable on that surface.

“I will play (Wimbledon) but not with many expectations.”

Bartoli Advances in Pattaya Tilt

In Pattaya, Thailand, second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France easily advanced yesterday into the second round of the US$170,000 WTA Volvo Women’s Open by taming Indonesian wild-card player Ayu Fanti Damayanti 6-3, 6-1.

In other first-day matches, Mara Santangelo of Italy sent fifth-seeded Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico packing, defeating the world No. 73 from San Juan 6-1, 6-2. Left-handed Magui Serna of Spain, meanwhile, mixed up slices and spins to beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 7-5, 7-5. Seventh-seeded Anna Lena Groenefeld of Germany also needed only two sets to beat Jennifer Hopkins of the United States 6-3, 6-2.

Hometown fans were disappointed when Russia’s Evgenia Linetskaya defeated Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. The 57th-ranked Tamarine, a 2003 semifinalist, squandered a 5-1 lead in the second set to allow her Russian opponent to come back and take the 2 hour and 33 minute marathon.

The highlight of Tuesday’s play will likely be the comeback appearance by former world No. 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland, who will play her first WTA match in more than two years against Marlene Weingartner of Germany.

The five-time Grand Slam champion Hingis last appeared on the circuit in October 2002 at Filderstadt, Germany, where Russia’s Elena Dementieva beat her 6-3, 6-1. The Swiss star has been recuperating from a severe ankle injury since.