"I learnt a lot of stuff," said the Russian as he reflected on a 2004 trying to struggle back to the top.

"I burnt myself too many times. I had this belief that people are good, but then I realise that you can't trust anybody. You have to say you find yourself in the newspapers and sometimes I read articles which are ridiculous.

"I used to say I have to explain everything, and I opened my mouth and explained more than I should. I will not do it any more.

"People try to sell sensation, and claim I said this and that. It's not good but now I know you have to be careful what you say."

Safin has been particularly annoyed at allegations that, during his lengthy spell out of the top 20, he had been indulging in alcohol abuse.

He also denied that, as reports recently claimed, he had been criticising his sister Dinara Safina.

"I only said she had to do it for herself. That is advice, not criticism," he said.

Safin, who is seeded to meet Federer again in the final here next weekend, has a none-too-easy first round against Nicolas Kiefer, the former world number four from Germany.