Borrowing trouble, socks and a whole new wardrobe

The prodigy’s problem was, he never imagined two rain delays that would halt the fifth set, leaving him soaked in drizzle and sweat and in need of extra clothing.

“I’m not disciplined enough,” Safin admits.

During the first rain delay, which lasted 85 minutes, Safin realised he did not have a pair of clean socks to wear when the match resumed. So he borrowed a pair from US Olympian Jeff Tarango.

“I take shower, have new clothes, new stuff. I just forgot my socks in the hotel,” Safin said. “I came with one pair of socks, which was for practice. I didn’t have any socks left. I asked Jeff. He gave me socks.”

Everything was fine until the second set of showers hitwith him leading 5-4 in the final tie-breaker.

Unlike most players, who can relax and watch television during the break, Safin and part-time coach Alexander Volkov had to hustle during the break of one hour and 45 minutes to find clean clothes to resume play again.

“I don’t think the people will like it if somebody smells bad on the court,” Safin said.

Just when the prospects seemed good for Safin to return to the court, he found a bag of clothes that fit.

But it’s owner, German 14th seed Nicolas Kiefer, was nowhere to be found.

“I was trying to find the socks and shorts. Trying to find Kiefer at least,” Safin said. “He was there somewhere. I didn’t want to take his bag. I sent Alex to look for him to give me a shirt, some socks and shorts. I was lucky.”

Qualified cook: South Korean qualifier Hyung-Taik Lee prepared for his round of 16 match at the US Open with Pete Sampras on Sunday with some home cooking in the predominantly Korean neighborhood of Flushing, about 10 minutes from the National Tennis Center.

Lee, accompanied by his coach and a TV crew, visited two restaurants and mingled with residents of the area.

“The people there recognised him and asked for his autograph,” said Chris Kim, a Korean TV producer who is serving as Lee’s translator at the Open.

Lee dined on sushi, kalbi (Korean barbecue) and kimshi (pickled cabbage). He told Kim he always eats Kalbi before his matches. “He says it is where he gets his strength,” the producer said.

Banking on aces: Defending champion Serena Williams led the women’s field at the US Open to 507 aces through the first week, nearly as many as the 515 the women players had in this Grand Slam event a year ago.

Williams had 22 aces, one more than Magui Serna’s 21 and ahead of Lindsay Davenport’s 19.

Chase Manhattan Bank is donating $50 for each ace by a woman in the tournament to fund Chase Tennis Camps for Girls, a programme providing free tennis lessons for New York City girls ages 10-14. This year’s donation is at $25,350.

The bank donated $25,750 last year and has committed more than $75,000 since the programe began in 1997.

Trump card: Donald Trump is willing to put up $1 million for a winner-take-all modern battle of the sexes between John McEnroe and Venus Williams. For the moment, though, Venus’ father and coach, Richard Williams, says he’s not interested.

After reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open yesterday, Venus was asked about the Trump bid.

“Right now, I’m just really focusing on trying to win this US Open more than anything, just have a good result here, just competing with women,” she said. “At some later date, I’ll be ready to think about competing with men. At this point, I’m ready to just play the Open.”

McEnroe tried to stoke the fire.

“I knew Richard was a smart guy and this only reinforces that fact,” McEnroe said. “Richard knows it’s best to keep his daughters away from Johnny Mac.”

In 1973, Bobby Riggs challenged Billie Jean King to a man vs woman match that packed the Houston Astrodome. King won easily and Venus Williams remembered that.

“I think that back in the ’70s, Billie Jean King did it the right way,” she said.

Traffic to hell: New York’s normally chaotic traffic will be auto hell this week, just in time for the closing days of the $15-million US Open.

Commuters, fans and anyone else needing to get to Flushing Meadows from Manhatten can thank the United Nations, which is holding a millennium summit here through Friday.

More than 170 motorcades involving 1,300 vehicles are expected to jam the streets at all hours for the six days of the meeting featuring 191 heads of government and foreign ministers.

Tennis officials have already put out warnings saying public transport is the way to get to the Open.