Marat Safin facts for kids
Marat Safin in 2006
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| Full name | Marat Mubinovich Safin |
|---|---|
| Native name | Марат Мубинович Сафин |
| Country (sports) |  Russia |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Born | 27 January 1980 Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Turned pro | 1997 |
| Retired | 11 November 2009 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$14,373,291 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2016 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 422–267 (61.2%) |
| Career titles | 15 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (20 November 2000) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (2005) |
| French Open | SF (2002) |
| Wimbledon | SF (2008) |
| US Open | W (2000) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | SF (2000, 2004) |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2004) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 96–120 (44.4%) |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 71 (22 April 2002) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2000, 2009) |
| French Open | 1R (2001) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2001) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (2002, 2006) |
| Hopman Cup | F (2009) |
Marat Mubinovich Safin (Russian: Мара́т Муби́нович Са́фин, IPA: [mɐˈrat ˈsafʲɪn]; Tatar: Марат Мөбин улы Сафин, romanized: Marat Möbin ulı Safin; born 27 January 1980) is a famous former tennis player from Russia. He was once ranked the world's number one player. People sometimes called him 'Safinator'.
Marat Safin became the top tennis player in the world on November 20, 2000. He held this top spot for nine weeks. When he reached number one, he was the youngest player to do so in the ATP era of tennis.
He won two major tennis tournaments called Grand Slams. His first big win was at the US Open in 2000, where he beat Pete Sampras. His second Grand Slam title was at the Australian Open in 2005, where he defeated Lleyton Hewitt.
Safin also helped his country, Russia, win the Davis Cup team competition twice, in 2002 and 2006. Even though he didn't like playing on grass courts, he was the first Russian man to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2008.
After he stopped playing tennis professionally in November 2009, he became a politician. In 2016, Marat Safin was honored by being added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He was the first Russian tennis player to receive this honor.
Marat Safin has a younger sister, Dinara Safina, who was also a world number one tennis player. They are the only brother and sister in tennis history to both be ranked number one in singles.
Contents
Early Life & Family
Marat Safin was born in Moscow, Russia. His parents, Mubin Safin and Rauza Islanova, were both tennis players and coaches. His family comes from a village called Bolshoye Rybushkino.
Marat can speak Russian, English, and Spanish. His younger sister, Dinara, also became a professional tennis player and was once ranked world number one. She also won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.
When Marat was young, he trained at the Spartak Tennis Club, which his father managed. At 14, he moved to Valencia, Spain. He went there to get better tennis training that wasn't available in Russia. He said that playing on clay courts in Spain was "better for the knees" because he grew very quickly.
Marat Safin's Tennis Career
Starting Out
Marat Safin began his professional tennis career in 1997. In 1998, he surprised many by beating famous players like Andre Agassi and Gustavo Kuerten at the French Open. He won his first major ATP title in Boston when he was just 19 years old.
Reaching World No. 1
Marat Safin became the world's number one player in 2000. He held this top spot for nine weeks. That same year, he won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. He was the first Russian man to win this tournament in singles. He beat the legendary Pete Sampras in the final without losing a set.
He reached three more Grand Slam finals, all at the Australian Open. He made it to the finals in 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, he finally won the Australian Open, beating Lleyton Hewitt. On his way to that win, he had an amazing five-set match against Roger Federer, who was the top-ranked player at the time. Safin called it "a brain fight." He also beat a young Novak Djokovic in the first round of that tournament.
Even though he didn't like playing on grass courts, Safin reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2008. This was his best result there. He beat Novak Djokovic again during that tournament.
Masters Series Wins
Marat Safin won five important tournaments called ATP Tennis Masters Series titles. He won his first in Toronto, Canada, in 2000. He also won three times in Paris, France (in 2000, 2002, and 2004), and once in Madrid, Spain, in 2004.
Davis Cup Victories
Safin played a big role in Russia's first-ever Davis Cup victory in 2002. They won a close match against France. He also helped Russia win the Davis Cup again in 2006. In that final, he won a doubles match and a singles match to help his team secure the win.
Challenges and Injuries
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Throughout his career, Marat Safin faced many injuries that made it hard for him to play consistently.
In 2003, he missed most of the season because of a wrist injury. In 2005, he had a knee injury. He tried to play through it with painkillers, but it affected his performance. He missed some big tournaments because of these issues.
In 2006, injuries continued to bother him. His ranking dropped very low. However, he started to recover and had some good matches later that year. He even beat seven top-ten players in 2006, which was a great achievement despite his injuries.
Later Career & Retirement
In 2007, Safin played at the Australian Open for the first time since winning it in 2005. He reached the third round. Later that year, he won a doubles title in Moscow, which was his first ATP title since his 2005 Australian Open win.
In 2008, Safin had a great run at Wimbledon. He was ranked much lower, but he surprised everyone by beating the world number three, Novak Djokovic. He reached the semifinals, which was his best result ever at Wimbledon. He was the first Russian man to reach a Wimbledon semifinal.
In 2009, Safin started his final season. He played in the Hopman Cup with his sister, Dinara. He reached the third round of the Australian Open before losing to Roger Federer. He played his last Grand Slam match at the US Open, losing in the first round.
Marat Safin's very last tournament as a professional tennis player was the 2009 Paris Masters. His career ended on November 11, 2009, after he lost in the second round. Many other tennis players joined him on the court for a special ceremony to celebrate his career.
Playing Style
Marat Safin was known for his powerful and aggressive playing style. He had a very strong serve and a great forehand shot. He also had one of the best two-handed backhands in tennis history. He was good at playing close to the net too.
Many people thought Safin was one of the most talented players of his time. However, his career was sometimes affected by injuries and a lack of consistent motivation.
Safin was also famous for showing his emotions during matches. He was known for breaking many rackets when he got frustrated! He once said he broke 1055 rackets during his career.
Life After Tennis
After retiring from tennis, Marat Safin became involved with the Russian Tennis Federation and the Russian Olympic Committee.
In 2011, he was elected to the Russian Parliament. He was a member of the United Russia Party, which is led by Vladimir Putin. He served in this role until 2017, when he chose to step down.
Personal Life
Marat Safin's parents are of Tatar background. In a 2008 interview, he mentioned his Muslim heritage. However, later he clarified that while he believes in a creator, he doesn't follow a specific religion.
See also
In Spanish: Marat Safin para niños
Images for kids
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Safin at the Nasdaq 100 Open 2006
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Safin practicing at the 2007 US Open
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Safin at Canadian Masters 2008
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Marat Safin 2008 US Open
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Safin hitting a backhand
