Help
5/28/09 8:04 PM | Johan Lindahl
Despite notoriously dropping his tennis shorts on the Chatrier showcourt in a famed incident some years ago at Roland Garros, Marat Safin emphatically rejects the label of Tennis Bad Boy.
"Well, I don't know bad boy," said the thoughtful Russian after exiting the French Open second round to local Josselin Ouanna. "I'm not a bad boy, but hopefully I can change."
Safin will be ending his colorful career after two Grand Slam titles and a major loss of momentum in recent season due to injury and his own natural curiosity of the "outside" world.
And the long-time playboy of the courts is determined to rev up his lifestyle when he finally packs in his racket. "Not a lot of tennis players have managed to have a great life afterwards with tennis," he said. "With all the respect, I want to try to be the guy who ends up doing something else and be good at it."
Safin already sports a colorful history, famed for criticizing food at Grand Slams to turning up at this year's Hopman Cup in Australia with a black eye, the results of a reported clash in a Moscow nightclub with a bigger bruiser.
His harems of comely female friends who often support him from player boxes around the world are also legendary. "So that's what I'm going to try," he said of the lifestyle change planned for the end of this season. "It's not an easy one, especially getting yourself so many years into tennis to change something else is going to be a tough one. I'll take my chances."
Tell a friend »
he was a tennis Rasputin, someone who loved and knew how to play tennis but not enough to commit to it 100%.
posmatrac , 5/28/09 9:53 PM
i meant not enough love ...
posmatrac , 5/28/09 10:07 PM
Ahem... Newsflash to Mister Safin! He reached the very highest point on the tennis peak! He was world number one, he has two Grand Slams, which by the way, are the biggest tournaments in the world, he has all the spotlight, and he has loads of fans and cash. If he's getting a bit bored with tennis, it's somewhat understandable after all this time, but then to look back and almost seem regretful that he didn't have a more interesting life??!! Sorry pal, it doesn't get a whole lot better than that! And as for most tennis players not having such great lives after tennis, did you ever consider that that's because they had life during their tennis years that can't be compared to?
Topspin , 5/29/09 9:26 AM
Tennis needs a player of Marat's character. He's so interesting IN and OUT of court...always entertaining to the last shot. I'm a big fan of his game...I just wish his "retirement" don't last that long!
Safina will take charge for now...she deserves a Grand Slam title!
agf25agf , 5/29/09 10:49 AM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
I will personally miss Safin, such a wasted talent, and sooo incredibly handsome, just love this guy, all the best to him in what ever he does........!
afrodite7 , 5/28/09 9:38 PM