| Marat Safin Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 88 kg |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1980 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Eye Color | Green |
Marat Safin is a Russian politician and former professional tennis player who was among the leading male tennis players in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He held the official ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World No. 1 singles ranking for 9 weeks between November 2000 and April 2001. Marat won 2 Grand Slam titles during his storied career, the 2000 US Open and the 2005 Australian Open, which is also remembered for his fierce temper and episodes of emotional outburst that saw him break his racquet in anger on the court on several occasions. He won the Davis Cup with the Russian team in 2002 and 2006, and post-retirement began a career in politics that saw him become a member of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly) in 2011 representing the constituency of Nizhny Novgorod, as a member of Vladimir Putin‘s United Russia Party. In 2016, he was inducted into the ‘International Tennis Hall of Fame’, the first Russian player to be bestowed with the honor.
Born Name
Marat Mubinovich Safin
Nick Name
The Cap’n, The Russian Terminator
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
Moscow, Russia
Residence
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Nationality
Education
Marat’s formal education took a backseat as he began competing in amateur level competitions from his mid-teens.
Occupation
Professional Tennis Player (Retired), Politician
Plays
Right-handed (Two-handed Backhand)
Turned Pro
1997
Family
- Father – Mubin “Mikhail” Safin (Former Tennis Player, Tennis Coach, Tennis Club Director)
- Mother – Rauza Islanova (Former Tennis Player, Tennis Coach)
- Siblings – Dinara Mubinovna Safina (Younger Sister) (Former Professional Tennis Player)
Manager
He is represented by Elite Management, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Build
Athletic
Height
6 ft 4 in or 193 cm
Weight
88 kg or 194 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Marat has dated –
- Anastasiya Osipova
- Elena Korikova
- Daria Zhukova (2003)
- Anna Druzyaka (2007-2012)
- Aida Garifullina (2016-2017)
Race / Ethnicity
White
He is of Tatar descent.
Hair Color
Light Brown
Eye Color
Green
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Toned physique
- Tousled hair
- Sports a rugged beard
- Has tattoos on both his shoulders
- Affable smile
Brand Endorsements
Marat has been sponsored by –
- Adidas
- Babolat
- Head (Racquet Manufacturer)
Religion
Islam
Marat Safin Favorite Things
- Soccer Club – Valencia CF, FC Spartak Moscow
- Basketball Player – Shaquille O’Neal
- Hobbies/Interests – Reading, Traveling, Watching Documentaries
- Relaxation Technique – Meditation
Source – Wikipedia, ATP Tour, Tennis World USA
Marat Safin Facts
- In his early teens, Marat used to train with future tennis stars such as Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, and Anastasia Myskina at the Spartak Tennis Club in Moscow, which was managed by his father. He moved to Valencia at the age of 14 to train under more advanced tennis programs.
- Marat shook up the tennis world in 1998 when he upset the defending champion, Gustavo Kuerten, in a grueling 2nd round 5-set match at the French Open. He achieved the rare distinction of having knocked out a defending champion in his debut Grand Slam tournament appearance and was named ‘ATP Newcomer of the Year’ that season.
- When Marat achieved the World No. 1 singles ranking on November 20, 2000, he was the tallest and the youngest ever player in tennis history to achieve the feat.
- He became the first Russian male tennis player to win the US Open singles title when he triumphed at the tournament’s 2000 edition. He was also the youngest Russian to have ever won a Grand Slam tournament.
- Marat and his younger sister Dinara Safina were the first brother-sister pair in tennis history to have both achieved the coveted World No. 1 singles ranking. The brother-sister duo even teamed up for the 2009 Hopman Cup, a mixed-gender international tournament, where they represented Russia and were losing finalists in the tournament.
- Although he was not very fond of playing in grass courts, he was the first Russian male to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2008.
- Along with his native Tatar language, Marat is fluent in Russian, English, and Spanish.
- After his retirement in 2009, apart from joining politics, Marat has served as an official for the Russian Tennis Federation and as a member of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Featured Image by Charlie Cowins / Flickr / CC BY-2.0
