No regrets for retiring Safin

William Johnson, Chief Sports Writer

• Last Updated: November 13. 2009 12:28AM UAE / November 12. 2009 8:28PM GMT

Marat Safin is unlikely to figure prominently among the tennis greats of the 21st Century.

His record of two grand slams and 15 titles pales into insignificance alongside that of Roger Federer, for instance.

But the moody and enigmatic Russian will be fondly remembered by lovers of the sport all over the world for injecting his own personal brand of humour, drama and controversy into a profession where during his lifetime there have been countless automatons.

Safin, 29, who pulled down the final curtain on an eventful career with defeat by Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro at this week’s Paris Masters, was given a standing ovation by an appreciative Bercy crowd, and a guard of honour by a group of his fellow professionals who recognised the value of his unconventional contribution to the ATP Tour.

It has been a year-long countdown to retirement for Safin, who has waved emotional goodbyes to galleries all around the world on the way to his swansong at a fitting venue where he has triumphed three times.

Regarded as a star of the future when he comprehensively defeated the daunting Pete Sampras in straight sets in the final of the 2000 US Open, Safin underachieved to a disturbing level, adding only the 2005 Australian Open, during which he deposed Federer in a classic semi-final, to his major haul.

That stunning Melbourne triumph which indicated that a new beginning was in store proved the last false dawn of Safin’s injury-hit career and he failed to win another tournament as he began to make the wrong type of headlines because of a flamboyant off-court lifestyle.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” was Safin’s typically forthright farewell message as he put away rackets which have often suffered horrendous abuse for the final time.

“I’ve lived my life the way I wanted to, whether scaling the mountains, partying long into the night or having fun playing soccer.”

The Russian has kept the authorities constantly on their toes throughout his colourful career and was asked to explain his embarrassing facial appearance at the start of his final year when he arrived in Australia sporting two black eyes.

“I won the fight, I’m good, I’m okay,” was his response to reporters seeking details on a Moscow brawl the previous weekend. “It’s just a small problem,” Safin added unconvincingly.

“I wasn’t in the right place at the right time. I got in trouble in Moscow but I can survive.”

Safin also mischievously dropped his shorts at Roland Garros to celebrate the winning of the most punishing of rallies during a French Open marathon against Spain’s Felix Mantilla.

The gruelling point his defiant efforts had earned was immediately taken away by the imposition of a penalty point, leaving the Russian to jump on to another soap box. “All of the people who run the sport, they have no clue,” he said.

“It is a pity that tennis is really going down the drain.

“Every year it’s getting worse and worse. There has to be radical change, and I hope it will happen soon.”

The sport has indeed changed in the time Safin has been part of it and it will continue to change, but it will be a less entertaining business for his absence and, despite that comparatively meagre ration of honours, he will be a big loss to the tennis world.

Talking of big losses, Federer was on the wrong end of one on Safin’s final day while Rafael Nadal came extremely close following the Swiss through the exit door.

Federer succumbed to the inspired Frenchman Julien Benneteau 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, but Nadal saved five match points before prevailing against fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5.



wjohnson@thenational.ae