‘Why can’t I swear without being fined?’

Prompted by a reporter’s question, Safin returned to his discussion of what’s wrong with his sport.

He said tennis has too many rules, which are sapping entertainment value for viewers.

The Russian, who is seldom shy about expressing his emotions on or off court, was fined $500 earlier in the tournament for throwing one of his rackets.

He suggested that former tennis stars such as Mats Wilander, John McEnroe and Yannick Noah be brought together for a discussion of how to fix tennis by revamping some of the rules.

Divided loyalties for Kim

KIM Clijsters might have been a bit divided over how to root when her fiancee Lleyton Hewitt faced Xavier Malisse.

Clijsters cheered for Malisse, a fellow Belgian, when he played 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa in the third round. But yesterday, she clapped only for Hewitt.

Hewitt, a former No. 1 and two-time major champion, cruised past fourth-round opponent Malisse 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Often, after hitting winners, Hewitt would glance over at Clijsters in the stands. Other times, he cheered himself on with cries of “come on!”

Clijsters, missing because of an injury, wore an orange scarf around her neck, dark glasses, and a wrist brace on her left arm.

The French Open runner-up in 2001 and 2003, Clijsters skipped this year’s tournament because of tendinitis in her left wrist.

During a first-set changeover yesterday, one fan shouted “Allez, Kim!” (“Go, Kim!”), and she waved politely.