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PERTH: Russian superstar Marat Safin arrived here
fresh from a New Year brawl to score a comfortable victory on Sunday
and confirm that 2009 would likely be his last year on the circuit.
Safin, who was sporting a black
eye and facial swelling after his encounter in Moscow—which he
said he had “won”—cruised past Italy’s Simone Bolelli at the
mixed teams Hopman Cup.
“I got in a little bit of
trouble in Moscow,” he said afterwards.
After the impressive opening
singles win, he confirmed he was expecting 2009 to be the last year
of a career that has netted two Grand Slam titles, two Davis Cups
and the No.1 ranking, and also left a long trail of broken racquets.
He was reportedly considering
retirement late last year after a poor finish to the season, only
getting beyond the second round twice in his last 10 tournaments of
2008, and said he was preparing to draw the curtain on his colorful
13-year professional career.
Although he wouldn’t elaborate
on his plans beyond tennis, the 28-year-old, who is representing
Russia here with his younger sister, Dinara Safinait, is understood
he will concentrate on business interests.
The charismatic and popular Safin,
who won the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open, said he was more
than ready for life after tennis.
“I like to play but I like to
enjoy my life,” he said.
Safin, who admitted a fairytale
third Grand Slam title might be beyond him given the quality of
players at the top of men’s tennis, said he simply hoped to enjoy
the final year of his career.
Life has never been boring for
the big Russian, once famed for his head-turning female entourage at
tournaments, and Safin arrived in Perth battered, bruised and weary
less than 24 hours before beating Italy’s Simone Bolelli in
straight sets, 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Despite just 15 minutes of
practice in Perth before his match, Safin was in good rhythm
throughout, sending down 14 aces against the Italian despite still
bearing the scars of a fistfight in Moscow over the New Year.
Safin had swelling under both
eyes, a prominent shiner beneath his left eye, a bruise on his left
cheek, a cut next to his right eye and his left eye was also
noticeably bloodshot.
--AFP
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