Studio nightclub 25 threw a party during the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament's final week to which it was hoped all the leading players would attend. But like all parties, things turned out somewhat differently. Most of the big names obviously decided that putting their feet up would be wiser than a booze up. So who attended? Obviously the most intrepid of the players, and who else would one expect other than the two brightest Russian stars, Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov? What surprised all those present was that first president Boris Yeltsin's daughter, Tatyana Dyatchenko, also put in an appearance. Presumably deputizing for her father, arguably the tournament's most influential if unofficial sponsor. Dyatchenko, however, made a dash past the line-up of flashing press cameras with her face averted and then, almost as swiftly, took her leave.

One of the most intriguing guests I saw was the astrologer Tamara Globa. But like Dyatchenko, she mysteriously vanished almost as soon as she was first spotted. Perhaps she felt the party wasn't the right venue for indulging in predictions.

While being besieged by journalists, Marat Safin, who at first refused to be interviewed, commented that he had only come to see his friends. Then he relented a little and explained that "taking part in the Kremlin Cup is important for me. I want to show everyone the best that I can do." Although he spends most of his time in Valencia, Spain, home to a lot of friends and his tennis coach, he still thinks of Moscow as his home. "After all, I was born here," he said. Who did he think would win the cup? Safin was clearly at his diplomatic best when he replied: "I think that Kafelnikov and I will reach the final. Anyway, the strongest will be the winner. By the way, we treat each other kindly and respectfully."