Surface tension means Safin can't win Wimbledon

Marat Safin, the new Australian Open men's champion, admitted today he is unlikely ever to win at Wimbledon.

Safin hit the headlines last year when he revealed how much he dislikes playing on grass. His views have not changed but after ending Lleyton Hewitt's bid to become a local hero with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory in Melbourne, the Russian was keen to put the record straight.

He said: "Wimbledon is not my favourite Grand Slam but the people, they interpret what I said to such an extreme way. I was so famous because I said something which has nothing to do with the tournament. I just said that I don't like the surface.

"I cannot play on that surface and I feel like I can't waste my time, my energy on that surface. That's all. I didn't say anything wrong. I didn't say anything bad about the Wimbledon. I am feeling that grass is not my surface.

"For some people, they cannot play on clay. Some people, they cannot play on hard court. So me, I cannot play on grass. Of course, it is more a psychological thing but I don't feel comfortable on that surface."

Despite his reservations, Safin, whose best Wimbledon to date was a quarter-final showing in 2001, will be taking part in the tournament in June.

He added: "Every year I am coming, spending time on the practice court and trying to play on that surface. But all of a sudden you come play the first round and lose to the guys who didn't even get into the main draw."

Hewitt's consolation is to marry "Home and Away" TV soap actress Bec Cartwright. He proposed after losing on Sunday.

Hewitt, 23, had been due to marry Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters next month but she called the wedding off three months ago to end their four-year relationship.