Former champion Marat Safin laid into the "stupid rules" of tennis after a controversial foot-fault call almost derailed his progress into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday.

Leading American Vince Spadea two sets to one but trailing 4-5 and 40-40 in the fourth, Safin was foot-faulted on his second serve.

The resultant double-fault gave Spadea set point, which he clinched, but Safin bounced back well in the decider to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Winner of the 2000 US Open, the Russian was in a belligerent mood when he spoke to the media.

"It's stupid rules that somebody made in, I don't know, 1850," Safin said.

"Now they give me the problems with these things and it shouldn't be that way."

Safin said it was ridiculous for a foot-fault to be called from the other end of the court.

"How can the guy see with sunglasses from 35 meters away on a foot-fault? It doesn't make any sense," the 28-year-old said. "Why do you want to do that? What for?"

Safin said the rules should be changed.

"I'm 28," Safin said. "I've been already on tour for 10 years, and I want to enjoy my tennis. I don't want to fight anybody. I don't want any problems on the court. I just want to enjoy it.

"It's not like I'm playing because I'm starving to death and I need to do something original to earn money."

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily August 28, 2008)