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Federer still best

AFP, Paris
Reborn Russian star Marat Safin basked in the glory of clinching his third Paris Masters tide but insisted that world number one Roger Federer is still in a league of his own and is on his way to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.
The 24-year-old Safin will finish 2004. as the world number four, having started the year at 86, and has transformed himself into one of the tour’s hottest players adding the Paris crown to the Beijing and Madrid Masters rides he has won since September.
But he insists that Federer, the current holder of the Australian, US Open and Wimbledon tides, will remain the man to beat in 2005.
"Nobody looks forward to playing against Federer under any cir-cumstances," said Safin, who beat Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek on Sunday to add the2004 edirion to his Paris wins of2000 and 2002.
Only Boris Becker — in 1986,1989 and 1992 — can boast a similar record.
"The way Federer is playing right now is just too good. Fie is very solid, stable and this year he has just been so much better than other players — much, much better."
Safin lost in straight sets to Federer in the final of the Australian Open in January - one of five career defeats he has suffered at the hands of the Swiss ace against just one win which came two long years ago.
Even world number two Andy Roddick has yet to find the key to unlocking the Federer secret — the American has lost eight of his nine career meetings with the world number one, including all three in 2004.
"Roddick has improved a lot,"
said Safin.
"But even he couldn't do much against Federer. He beat him quite easily this year.
"To beat Roger, you have to be in really good condition. Next year I will try and do my best to compete with him. It will be quite an effort for me and a challenge.
"If he continues the way he has been playing, he can be one of the greatest of all time.”
Safin does have a secret weapon in his armoury in the shape of Peter Lundgren who coached Federer to his breakthrough Grand Slam victory at Wimbledon in 2003.
Safin admitted that the calming influence of Lundgren is beginning to have an effect on his occasional timebomb temper.
"He tries to make me more focused on the court, try not to get too crazy, not to snap," he said.