Safin bruised after Moscow fight

Former world number one Marat Safin took to the court in Perth on Sunday sporting cuts and bruises on his face as the result of a fight in Moscow.

The Russian, playing at the Hopman Cup, admitted after his win over Simone Bolelli, "I got in trouble in Moscow."

He added: "It's OK, I can survive. Just some small problem that I wasn't in the right place at the right time. Yes, I won the fight. I'm good, I'm OK."

Safin, 28, arrived on Saturday night and asked for a tournament doctor.

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Tournament director, Paul McNamee, said: "I wasn't sure why he was arriving so late, why he was requesting to play a day later, but now I know why.

"I saw him in the lobby and he didn't look good. He said, 'I need two things, I need to see a doctor and I need to practice.'

"So I got the doctor and he gave him some treatment and then Safin went and practiced."

Despite the bruises, world number 29 Safin combined with his sister, Dinara Safina, to give Russia a win over Italy.

Safin hit 14 aces on his way to a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Bolelli, after Safina beat Flavia Pennetta 7-5 6-3.

"My serve saved my game today," said Safin. "I couldn't ask for a better start than that."

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