The Russian tennis star who reached world No. 1 and the State Duma
In short: Marat Safin achieved what few siblings ever do: both reaching the summit of professional tennis. Before entering politics as a member of the State Duma, the former world No. 1 secured two Grand Slam titles and helped lead Russia to historic Davis Cup victories.
Born in Moscow to Tatar parents, Safin's journey to tennis excellence involved a significant move to Valencia, Spain, at age 14. He sought advanced training programs unavailable in Russia, specifically choosing clay courts because they were better for his knees. This move proved pivotal, as he eventually became a well-known Valencia CF fan.
Safin's professional peak arrived in 2000, when he became the youngest world No. 1 in the Open Era at the time. That same year, he won the US Open by defeating Pete Sampras in straight sets, making him the first Russian man to win that tournament's men's singles draw. He held the top ranking for nine weeks during that season.
His career was marked by both dominance and physical struggle. He secured 15 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including the 2000 US Open and the 2005 Australian Open, where he defeated Lleyton Hewitt. However, a succession of injuries, including wrist and knee issues, frequently hindered his progress. He was even ranked as low as No. 104 in 2006 due to these setbacks.
Beyond the court, Safin's life took a political turn in 2011 when he joined the United Russia party and became a member of the State Duma. His tennis legacy is also a family affair; his sister, Dinara Safina, also reached world No. 1, making them the only brother-sister tandem in tennis history to both achieve that ranking.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Marat Safin
- Also: Wikidata — Marat Safin · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Marat Safin · CC0
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