Marat Safin
Marat Safin
Marat Mubinovich Safinis a Russian retired tennis player and politician. Safin won two Grand Slam tournaments and reached the world no. 1 ranking during his career. He was also famous for his emotional outbursts and sometimes fiery temper on court. Safin is the older brother of former world No. 1 WTA player, Dinara Safina. They are the first and only brother–sister tandem in tennis history who have both achieved no. 1 rankings...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth27 January 1980
CityMoscow, Russia
CountryRussian Federation
I've played him many times, six times, but the way he is playing this year, with confidence, to beat him will be very tough. A little bit of luck would be great.
I've been playing non-stop for several weeks and obviously I'm getting tired both physically and mentally. I tried but it wasn't enough.
We have known each other since we were nine years old and we have played together in Russia, ... We played in the Under-16 European championships and he beat me in the quarterfinals. He's one of my best friends and I really like him. It will be nice to play him and hopefully get revenge.
I am happy. I mean, playing Fabrice is not so nice for me... he was leading 7-1 in matches we'd played, so I am happy to be back and to win.
But it was still a great match. I don't know the last time I played such great tennis. It was probably my best match ever on grass.
I would have loved to win here in Moscow playing for the first time in front of so many Russian fans and of course I'm disappointed by losing,
I didn't practice for one month and a half and I played three matches in a row and today I felt really, really tired on the court. I couldn't move properly and I couldn't find my game. My timing was not there. So it's really difficult to play against any player.
He played really well and his game caught me off guard a bit. But I was expecting him to give me a tough match because the French always raise their game when they're playing at home in Davis Cup.
If I can put pressure on his serve, I'd have a chance. It's going to be very hard because he has been playing amazingly.
He's the kind of player that you need to be really careful and really focus from the beginning of the match.
In the second set I was a little bit nervous because, I was playing too good, and I almost lost the second set. It's a little bit too early to say that I'm getting closer to my best shape. But at least I'm fighting.
The first set was a bit tough because I hadn't played a match for six months. You are unable to decide where you have to move, when you have to go to the net, whether to put pressure or stay back. I was a bit lost and tense because I knew that I had a chance.
You're playing or you're not playing. If you're playing, so just shut up and play.
I've felt it (shoulder soreness) since the first day I came, but more so now. Yesterday in the doubles I felt like I couldn't serve at all. I had a lot of pain. I decided to stop because without the serve it doesn't make any sense. It's better to stop and try to recover. If you play, you play 100 percent, not to suffer on the court...Hopefully I'll be ready for the Australian Open. I'll ask for a late start and try to recover. I can playing forehand, backhand, anything except serve.