Marat Safin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Marat Safin
Singles
Marat Safin in 2006
Full name	Marat Mubinovich Safin
Native name	Марат Мубинович Сафин
Country (sports)	Russia
Residence	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Born	(1980-01-27) 27 January 1980 (age 45) 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)
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 Safin is a famous Russian former professional tennis player. He was once ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles. Safin won 15 major singles titles during his career. These included two Grand Slam tournaments: the US Open in 2000 and the Australian Open in 2005.

He also helped Russia win the Davis Cup team competition twice, in 2002 and 2006. Safin received several awards, including "Newcomer of the Year" in 1998. When he became world No. 1 in November 2000, he was one of the youngest players to reach that spot.

Safin retired from tennis in November 2009. In 2016, he became the first Russian tennis player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Marat is also the older brother of Dinara Safina, who was also a world No. 1 tennis player. They are the only brother-sister pair in tennis history to both achieve the No. 1 singles ranking. After his tennis career, Safin also worked as a politician for a few years.

Early Life and Training
Tennis Career Highlights
Playing Style
Post-Retirement Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Training

Marat Safin was born in Moscow, Russia, on January 27, 1980. His parents, Mubin Safin and Rauza Islanova, were both tennis players and coaches. His younger sister, Dinara Safina, also became a very successful tennis player.

When Marat was young, he trained at the Spartak Tennis Club, which his father managed. At 14, he moved to Valencia, Spain. This move allowed him to get advanced tennis training that was not available in Russia at the time. Safin mentioned that playing on clay courts in Spain was better for his knees as he grew very quickly.

Tennis Career Highlights

Marat Safin started his professional tennis journey in 1997. He quickly showed his talent.

Rising Star

In 1998, Safin surprised many by defeating top 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. In 1999, he reached the final of a big tournament in Paris, where he played a close match against the world No. 1, Andre Agassi.

Becoming World No. 1

Safin reached the No. 1 ranking in the world for 9 weeks in 2000. This was a huge year for him because he won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. He made history by becoming the first Russian man to win the US Open singles title. He achieved this by beating the legendary Pete Sampras in the final.

Safin reached three more Grand Slam finals, all at the Australian Open. He made it to the finals in 2002, 2004, and 2005. He finally won his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2005. On his way to that victory, he had an amazing five-set match against the top-ranked player, Roger Federer, in the semifinals. He also beat a young Novak Djokovic in the first round of that tournament.

Safin's best performance at Wimbledon was reaching the semifinals in 2008. He defeated Novak Djokovic in that tournament. Even though he often struggled on grass courts, he showed his skill by reaching the semifinals.

Masters Series Wins

Throughout his career, Safin won five ATP Tennis Masters Series titles. These are very important tournaments, just below the Grand Slams. He won his first Masters title in Toronto, Canada, in 2000. He also won three times in Paris, France (2000, 2002, and 2004), and once in Madrid, Spain, in 2004.

Team Success: Davis Cup

Safin played a key role in helping Russia win its first-ever Davis Cup in 2002. They had a thrilling 3-2 victory against France in the final. He also helped Russia win the Davis Cup again in 2006. His strong performances in both singles and doubles matches were crucial for his team's success.

Dealing with Injuries

Safin at the Nasdaq 100 Open 2006

Like many athletes, Safin faced several injuries during his career. In 2003, a wrist injury kept him out of most of the season. In 2005, he had a knee injury, which made it difficult to play. Despite these challenges, he continued to compete and show his fighting spirit. In 2006, his ranking dropped due to injuries, but he made a strong comeback later that year.

Later Career and Retirement

Safin practicing at the 2007 US Open

In 2007, Safin continued to play, reaching the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He also won a doubles title in Moscow. In 2008, he had a memorable run at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals for the first time. This was a great achievement, especially since he often found playing on grass challenging.

Safin at Canadian Masters 2008

Safin's final year on tour was 2009. He played in the Hopman Cup with his sister, Dinara. He also reached the quarterfinals of the LA Tennis Open. His last Grand Slam match was at the US Open.

Marat Safin 2008 US Open

Marat Safin's final tournament as a professional tennis player was the 2009 Paris Masters. His career officially ended on November 11, 2009, after his second-round match. Many fellow tennis players joined him on court for a special ceremony to celebrate his amazing career.

Playing Style

Safin hitting a backhand

Marat Safin was known for his powerful and aggressive playing style. He hit the ball very hard from both sides of the court. He had a strong and accurate serve, a great forehand, and one of the best two-handed backhands in tennis history. He was also good at playing close to the net.

Safin was considered one of the most talented players of his time. However, his career was sometimes affected by injuries and a lack of consistent motivation. He was also famous for his emotional reactions during matches, and he was known to break many rackets! He once said he broke over 1000 rackets in his career.

Post-Retirement Life

After retiring from professional tennis, Marat Safin remained involved in sports. He became an official for the Russian Tennis Federation and a member of the Russian Olympic Committee.

In December 2011, Safin was elected to the Russian Parliament as a member of the United Russia Party. He represented the Nizhny Novgorod region. He served in this role until May 2017, when he decided to step down. In the spring of 2025, Safin began coaching ATP player Andrey Rublev.