Safin slates Olympic event

Safin has worked his way back into the world's top 20 this year

Russia's Marat Safin has said tennis has no place in the Olympic Games.

The 2000 US Open champion inisists the only reason he is going to Athens is because he's representing his country.

He believes the Olympics should be left for amateurs and minor sports that need exposure, with pro tennis circuit crowded enough as it is.

"I have to do it but it's not my goal in life to win the Olympic Games," he explained. "The Olympics is not for tennis and tennis doesn't it."

Safin added that previous winners of the singles gold did not consider their win as a highlight in their careers.

He said Marc Rosset of Switzerland was "not really proud" of the Olympic gold medal he won at Barcelona in 1992 and fellow Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov "is probably the same" about his success in Sydney four years ago.