Marat Safin's Career Has Concluded.

The fire-breathing, racket smashing, tennis career ofRussian Marat Safin is over.  The end came today in the Paris Masters when Juan Martin Del Potro defeated Safin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in their 2nd round matchup.

The loss signaled an end to a 12 year run as one of the best tennis players in the world.  Over his 12 years of playing on the ATP tour Marat won 2 majors, the 2000 U.S. Open, where he beat legendary Pete Sampras for the title, and the 2005 Australian Open in which he beat then #1 ranked Lleyton Hewitt for the championship in Hewitt's home country.  Safin also made it to 2 other Australian Open finals, losing both times.  He also has 5 Masters Series titles, and 15 singles titles.  A definite hall of fame career.

What I will remember about Marat Safin are his charasmatic swagger he brought to the court.  The guy was a true entertainer in an era where there are a lot of vanilla players on tour.  With almost every match you would see a combination of things.  He didn't always bring his A game, hell he may not bring his B game a lot, but he would be fun to watch.  You never know what you would get.  The kind gentle fun loving side like when he once hit a ball off a lady net judge just to come over and give her a kiss on the cheek.

Or the evil that was also engraved in his soul.  The racket smashing, grouchy, who would yell and scream at both himself, lines judges and chair umpires.  Not crossing the line though.  He rarely if ever used profanity in his tirades, nor did he threaten anyone, unlike some unclassy pieces of trash.

One of my favorite times he got all pissed off at a lines person and chair umpire when the chair ump overruled a call just for Marat to challenge it and be right according to the replay system.  His classic quote of "he can just sit back smoking a cigar with two chicks"? was excellent.  Maybe it was the Russian player complaining to the French chair ump in American slang.  Just another side of Marat Safin.

Then there was the "I don't give a shit" fun side to Marat Safin.  I came across this clip where it was probably the worst use of the challenge system in the short history that tennis has used it.  He knew it wasn't out, but motioned for a challenge anyways and sealed it with a wink.


The guy was interesting to follow.  He could play great amazing tennis in which he did many times and that led him to the pinnacle of the sport being ranked #1 for a short time.  But with his success many of the tennis journalists say that Marat Safin wasted much of his talent.  They think he should of been greater than what he was.  I guess I can agree with that.  He did have the talent to win probably 5-6-7 slams over his career, but what held him back is his want to do it.  But having knee problems didn't help his motivation.  Some of his knee problems were serious enough to make him miss extended playing time and Grand Slam tournaments.  But with or without injuries Marat went to the beat of his own drum.  And that is probably what made him beloved by millions around the world.  He was different.

Different enough that I remember a few years ago Safin was playing in a tournament, i'm not sure which.  But normally in the "players box" there are reserved seats for the players coach, family, or whoever else. Normally about 8 seats or so.  Well all I remember is the cameras and the commentators pointing out that in Marat's players box his coach, agent, family or anyone else weren't to be found.  Instead there was 6 good looking blonde girls sitting in there cheering him on.  I remember laughing my ass off at that.  Or this year Marat showing up at a tournament with a black eye.  He allegedly got the black eye when he got into a fight back home in Russia outside of a bar.

He was just Marat.  Known for saying what was on his mind and doing things his way.  Not always the right way, but the guy just didn't care.  How can you not respect that?

So I'll miss Marat Safin.  Mainly because I like a little humor and some off the wall craziness he supplied to what could be a long day of tennis.  I'm sure there are many ladies who will miss him more.  Safin is known for being one of the most handsome guys to ever play tennis. (yeah, I don't get it, but I'm not supposed to).  Just ask Tracy Austin who was just gushing over Marat at the 2008 U.S. Open after a ceremony for past champions.  It seemed Tracy was quite moist and the New York humidity wasn't to blame... So Marat you never did that to me, but I'll always look back and remember the fun you brought to tennis.