The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Bangkok

Volatile Russian Marat Safin has decided to play in the Thailand Open next week instead of for his country in their Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina.

The former world number one said that going to Buenos Aires for the tie from September 19-21 and then to Bangkok the following day would be too much and his priority right now was improving his world ranking. He is currently 38.

"Marat will not be going to Argentina for Davis Cup," said a statement on the 28- year-old's website.

"He needs to keep getting points before the end of the year and he felt the trip from Buenos Aires to Bangkok would be very long and tiring and could make it difficult for him to play well in Bangkok in order to get points.

"He talked to (Russian captain) Shamil Tarpischev and asked to be released from the team for Davis Cup which Tarpischev agreed to.

"Marat's thoughts will be with the Russian team and he wishes them all the best of luck and to play well and win."

Russia are already without Mikhail Youzhny due to illness with the squad now headed by Nikolay Davydenko, Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov.

Tarpishchev had earlier named Igor Kunitsyn as a reserve.

The 576,000-dollar Thailand Open is headlined by Australian Open champion and world number three Novak Djokovic.