Tennis-Beaten Safin content with progress

LAS VEGAS, March 3 (Reuters) Marat Safin lost in the Las Vegas Open semi-finals but was still content with his progress going into this month's back-to-back Masters Series events.

The Russian was beaten 7-5 6-1 by Australian second seed Lleyton Hewitt yesterday, but having struggled for form over the first two months of the year, Safin believes he is on the right track.

''It has been pretty good for me,'' Safin told reporters.

''I didn't play that well in San Jose but now I am hitting the ball pretty well, I just have to work on a couple of things and be a bit patient, not go for too much.

''I think the way I am hitting the ball is pretty good. I made the quarter-finals (In San Jose) and semi-finals (in Las Vegas). Maybe it is not unbelievable, but for me it is pretty good.'' Things looked promising for Safin when he broke Hewitt in the opening game of the match but the Russian said his opponent had served well when it mattered.

''I had my chances,'' he said. ''But he came up with good shots at the important moments and he was serving well. I was trying to play maybe too fast, that's why I made a few mistakes.'' Good performances in Indian Wells and Miami this month would see Safin return to the world's top 20 from his present ranking of 24.

The Russian said he would be relaxing before making the journey to California for the first of the two Masters Series events.

''I will take two days off and just enjoy Vegas,'' he said.

REUTERS SSC VC1122