Safin to make his return in Moscow next week

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Marat Safin will make his return to tennis at next week's Kremlin Cup, ending a self-imposed two-month layoff, tournament organisers said on Wednesday.

The former world number one, who has not played since losing in the second round of the U.S. Open, was given a wild card by the organisers of the $1 million indoor tournament, which starts in Moscow on Monday.

The Russian has struggled with form and injuries since winning his last title at the 2005 Australian Open.

He took a break from the game to refresh himself and was scaling mountains in the Himalayas last month.

"I felt like I needed to take my mind off tennis for a while," the 27-year-old Muscovite, who has yet to triumph at his hometown tournament, told reporters.

"Hopefully this will be my year, although I can't make any promises," said the 27th-ranked Safin, who lost to his Davis Cup team mate Nikolay Davydenko in last year's Kremlin Cup final.

The Russians are hoping Safin will be fit to lead them in the Davis Cup final against the United States to be played in Portland from November 30 to December 2.