Marat Safin

Marat Mikhailovich Safin (Russian Марат Михайлович Сафин, scientific transliteration Marat Safin Michajlovič, Tatar Marat Safin Möbin Uli; born January 27, 1980 in Moscow ) is a former Russian tennis player of Tatar origin.

Safin began his tennis career in 1997 and missed the 2000 season just under the top of world rankings at the end of the year, after he had led the world tennis rankings for nine weeks during the season. In his previous career Safin won 15 tournaments in singles, including the Australian Open in 2005 and the U.S. Open 2000. In recent years, Safin lost through several injuries connection to the top. At the end of the 2009 season, he finished his professional tennis career.

Childhood

Marat Safins mother Rausa Mohamedjhanowna Islanowa was a former top ten player in Russia, his father Mikhail Alexeyevich Safin ( Mubin Aliamtschewitsch ) resulted in a tennis club in Moscow, in the next Safin also future stars like Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva and Anastasia Myskina trained. His younger sister, Dinara Safina, also professional tennis player, was from April 2009 for 20 weeks number 1 in the WTA world rankings. At the age of 14 he moved to Valencia, Spain, as the training facilities in Russia were no longer sufficient.

Career

In 1997, he performed for the first time on the ATP men's tour and lost the Kremlin Cup in Moscow in the first round against the Dane Kenneth Carlsen. In 1998 he drew the general attention, when he defeated Andre Agassi and Gustavo Kuerten at the French Open in five sets. In 2000, he won his first Grand Slam tournament of the U.S. Open. He defeated the four-time U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras smooth in 3 sets with 6:4, 6:3 and 6:3. Tennis experts saw Safin in a new star in the tennis sky that would dominate the tennis world in the coming years. But a series of concentration errors and unstable games that were blamed his erratic temper tantrums, disproved this prediction. In addition, he has lost several injuries that affected his game so much that he most of the season was sidelined in 2003.

Safin reached three other Grand Slam finals, all at the Australian Open ( 2002, 2004 and 2005). Only in 2005 he was able to stretch the trophy in the air after he defeated home favorite Lleyton Hewitt in four sets with 1:6, 6:3, 6:4, 6:4. In the semifinals, Safin had previously defeated Roger Federer in a five-set thriller. Safin showed this unusual peace and superiority, ending Federer's winning streak. In his career Safin has won five ATP Masters title, 2000 in Toronto, in 2000, 2002 and 2004 in Paris and 2004 in Madrid. Safin also reached the semifinals in 2004 the Masters Cup in Houston, where he lost to Federer with 3:6 and 6:7 ( 18:20 ).

After the triumph of the Australian Open 2005 Safin led back his victory and his consistent performance on his new coach Peter Lundgren, who was coach until 2003 Federer. The following tournaments went nevertheless very successful, it was followed by many early defeats to the French Open. In June 2005, he was yet in the Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Halle in the final, where he lost to Federer.

Safin was popular, both among fans and among the commentators. For smashed racket he was notorious, and in 2004 he was at Roland Garros for the second-round victory against Felix Mantilla his pants down. His behavior and the support of its predominantly female fans made ​​Safin to a player who was able to a sport that had lost its popularity to breathe new life.

Marat Safin helped in 2002 with Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Mikhail Youzhny, Andrei Stoljarow and team captain Shamil Tarpishchev Russia for the first Davis Cup victory, as they defeated in the final round in Paris France with 3:2.

Although it is a serious knee injury in the rankings far back threw ( he missed the 2005 U.S. Open and the Australian Open in 2006) and Safins progress zunichtemachte, he came in 2006 back on the tour and played the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg. Even if it be a lack of success showed that a full return to its former state still needs some time, but he proved that he is still one of the most feared hard court player. Before the French public at the Davis Cup final against Richard Gasquet, he showed that he can control his temper and showed mental strength, brought his ground strokes into the field, placed 33 aces and finally won after 3 hours 45 minutes. His opponent was afterwards full of praise: " Safin was great. I have done what I could. I can hardly blame themselves. His serve is outrageous. He has an incredible amount of strength and talent. He's a really tough opponent. " On 17 August 2006, Safin parted after a disappointing year of his coach Peter Lundgren temporarily.

At the U.S. Open 2006 Safin played again like the old days when he could beat the 4 set to David Nalbandian in five sets in the second-round match and put back again unusual tranquility and mental strength to the day. In the fourth round he failed at the former world number two Tommy Haas, also in five sets. Safins current form improvement was maintained to continue, first in a 3-2 against the United States in the Davis Cup, and then with a good start to the indoor season at the Thailand Open where he lost to eventual winner James Blake in the semi-finals.

As a culmination of 2006 Safin joined together with Nikolay Davydenko, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny in the Davis Cup in 2006 against Argentina on. Prior to her home crowd won the Russians 3-2 and secured the second Davis Cup win after 2002.

After a fairly good season, 2006, Safin was back in the Top 30 since he retired briefly very early by his injuries and his weak appearance at major tournaments.

In 2007 he was ranked No. 24 and was traded as dark horses at the Australian Open 2007. He convinced in his first and second round matches, but then lost in the third round against Andy Roddick set to 3. Its shape improvement should stop only briefly in Las Vegas, he showed mental strength and came to the semifinals, where he clearly lost to eventual champion Lleyton Hewitt 7:5 and 6:1. At the Masters tournaments, he left early. In Monte Carlo he defeated Belgian Kristof Vliegen in the first set 6-0, he lost the second and third set, however, after the decisive leadership. More defeats followed very early in Miami, Indian Wells and Rome.

At the French Open in 2007 he was defeated in the second round, the Serb Janko Tipsarevic in three sets. In Wimbledon 2007, he resigned in three sets ( 1:6, 4:6 and 6:7 ( 4:7 ) ) against Roger Federer in the third round. At the U.S. Open this year, he retired in the second round of Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka against ( 3:6, 3:6, 3:6 ).

At the Australian Open 2008 Safin retired in a competitive match ( 4:6, 4:6, 6:2, 6:3, 2:6 ) against Marcos Baghdatis in the second round. At the French Open, he retired also in the second round against his compatriot Nikolay Davydenko in three sets clear from ( 6:7, 2:6, 2:6 ).

Only in Wimbledon Safin could return to its former strength, reaching here the best result of his career. Safin only lost in the semifinals Roger Federer in 3:6, 6:7 and 4:6. On his way there, he had beaten the world rankings Novak Djokovic Third in 6:4, 7:6 and 6:3 among others. In the tournaments after Wimbledon but Safin failed to match these successes and arbitration as well as in the 2008 U.S. Open in the second round against the Spaniard Tommy Robredo ( 6:4, 6:7, 4:6, 0:6 ) from.

At the end of the 2009 season after the Masters in Paris, he ended his pro career.

Political career

In the parliamentary elections in Russia in 2011 Safin was for United Russia, the party of Vladimir Putin, was elected as MP for the constituency of Nizhny Novgorod in the Duma.

Successes ATP Tour

Singles

Wins ( 15)

Final appearances (12 )

Doubles

Wins (2 )

Finals ( 4)

Grand Slam and Masters footprint

AF = VF = second round quarter-finals semi-finals HF = F = S = final victory NQ = not qualified digit = RR = Preliminary Round Robin