Safin falls out of love

By Jonathan Overend BBC tennis reporter in Miami

Quote of the week about tennis: "It's not interesting, because it's boring."

Don't you hate sweeping generalisations? Try to ignore it, tennis friends. We've heard it a hundred times before.

But the rant continues: "The people don't know who is who and they don't really care who is who. They don't get the hours on TV because it's not entertaining anymore."

Crikey, he sounds like one of those old-timers who loves harping back to the ''good old days'' while grumbling about a ''lack of characters''.

"You think they really care about Safin in a match in Indian Wells first round? Nobody cares", this jaded purveyor of negativity continues.

Marat Safin says he does not enjoy watching tennis

If you ask me, I reckon it's one of my mates. This is classic Friday-night-down-the-pub wind up material.

Except - and here's the bombshell - the speaker is Marat Safin himself. The former US Open champion says he never watches tennis because it doesn't interest him.

This is the same Marat Safin who was involved in two of the matches of the year so far [five setters with Agassi and Roddick at the Australian Open] and who commands a hefty wage from the sport he apparently can't stand.

Safin should ask the eight-year-old, who was leaping up and down during his thrilling match with Vince Spadea here in Miami, whether tennis is boring. He defeated his own theory during that one.

His honesty is amusingly refreshing - he's always been more quotable than most - but the tennis authorities should expect better from such a crucial ambassador of the game.

"I don't know whose fault it is but it's definitely not mine," adds Safin.

"Here's a person from the ATP [standing next to him at the press conference].

"You can blame them for not promoting tennis the way it should be promoted and not getting enough hours on the TV."

The media man in question did an excellent job holding his tongue at this point. It's the leading players who can best promote the sport, not a PR sat by a phone in a Florida office.

These are special players who play the game in a way that's a lot of fun Andre Agassi

Safin had been asked, specifically, about Spanish players - the guys with baseline glue on their shoes and heavy topspin on their groundstrokes.

This is where he has a point.

The style of several European and South American players is rather tedious and, while it's hardly their problem (you don't gain a point for artistic impression), there's nothing remotely entertaining about watching an all-day slug-fest with minimal footwork.

Tennis needs more players who feel part of the entertainment business. Andre Agassi picks out Hicham Arazi and Fabrice Santoro as his favourite pair to watch.

Arazi has great movement and a searing backhand, Santoro conjures impossible angles with his two-handed technique on both sides.

"These are special players who play the game in a way that's a lot of fun," says Agassi.

I would go for Younes El Aynaoui and Nicolas Escude. El Aynaoui the tall, multi-lingual, crown prince of the court who has a game as exuberant as his wild hair-style. Escude; the serve-volleying Frenchman. Paradoxical but true.

Keep an eye on Jurgen Melzer, the Austrian who beat Henman here, and Nicolas Mahut, another aggressive Frenchman. New players with refreshing styles are emerging. Perhaps not world-beaters, but good for the sport.

And forget styles for a minute, there are eight current tour players who have held the world number one ranking; Agassi, Federer, Ferrero, Hewitt, Kuerten, Moya, Roddick and Safin.

This is potentially a golden age for men's tennis and, while Safin is right to call for greater promotion, he should recognise his role. Talk the game up, Marat, instead of running it down.