Safin parts company with coach Wilander

Marat Safin has confirmed that his coaching partnership with Swedish tennis legend Mats Wilander is over.

The 22-year-old Australian Open finalist teamed up with Wilander in March 2001 but the Swede's busy life means he no longer has time to coach the Russian player.

"I think everybody understands that Mats is playing tournaments on the Senior Tour and that he has a family." Safin said.

"It's a bit difficult to have a coach for all the year. That's what I need, a coach that can spend with me like 30, 40 weeks a year. He could not make it for those reasons."

Safin said he would remain on good terms with Wilander -- who during a dazzling playing career won seven Grand Slams and 26 other titles -- but had no regrets about parting company with him.

"I think it was the right solution just to finish but I'm still maintaining contact with him. We are good friends and that's more important than to have a business together I think," he said.

Safin made his mark on the men's circuit by winning the U.S. Open in 2000 but since then he has gone through a roster of coaches, including Britain's Tony Pickard and fellow Russians Andrei Chesnokov and Alexander Volkov.

His friend and manager Amit Naor has taken over coaching duties for the time being although the Israeli has limited experience working on court with top players.

"I'm trying to work with him. For the moment it's going well. I don't want to change anything," Safin said.

The Russian will be in action this coming week at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California.

The $2,950,000 event is the first Masters Series tournament of the year. Safin faces Spain's Alberto Martin in the first round.