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A dejected Marat Safin looks on as he warmly cheered - Source: Reuters -
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Former world number one Marat Safin ended his playing career
with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 defeat by US Open champion Juan Martin del Porto
at the Paris Masters.
The 29-year-old Russian, who had saved three match points to
squeeze past French qualifier Thierry Ascione in the first round of
his final tournament on Monday, fought bravely against the
Argentine world number five.
"I knew there were not many chances I would beat him but I played
pretty well, had pretty close calls," said Safin, who was warmly
cheered on by the crowd at the Bercy hall and greeted with rounds
of the Mexican wave.
Showing glimpses of his old form, Safin, who has not won a title
since the 2005 Australian Open, challenged Del Porto by taking a
tight second set.
Safin, who held the number one spot for several weeks in 2000 and
2001 but has dropped out of the top 50, was broken in the third
game of the decisive set and his opponent then stayed in
control.
The Russian, who won the Paris event three times, saved a match
point at 5-3 down with a forehand winner but Del Potro then served
for the match, sealing victory with an ace.
"This is where it all started and this where it finishes," said
Safin, who burst into the limelight as a teenage qualifier at the
1998 French Open, posting wins over Andre Agassi and Gustavo
Kuerten.
"There was no better place to do this."
Rebellious spirit
The gifted but erratic Russian, who also won the 2000 US Open,
defeating Pete Sampras in a memorable final, was once regarded as
one of the world's most spectacular players and will also be
remembered for his rebellious spirit and dry humour.
The rise of Roger Federer, then Rafael Nadal, and a string of
injuries meant, however, that the hugely talented Safin could not
live up to high expectations.
"I was a decent player," he said. "Just in general, I've been great
to everybody, even if I had a few fights with chair umpires."
Safin said he was not sure what he would do next but was delighted
to be freed from the gruelling routine of competitive tennis.
"Now I have no schedule, no practices, no nothing," he said. "I
belong to myself. Tomorrow I'll wake up and see what I want to
do."
Asked if he could emulate Agassi by coming up with a book of
revelations, Safin said: "I'm not writing a book, no chance. All my
memories, all my secrets will stay with me."
