Article

• Retired Safin in role reversal with return to tennis stage

  2/21/10 8:46 PM | Johan Lindahl
  Marat Safin's November retirement from tennis - with plans to get on with the next stage of his life - seems to have stalled, with the charismatic Russian coming back to the sport where he made his name.
  
  The 30-year-old double Grand Slam champion has signed for more exposure to the sport he allegedly left behind as he becomes a member of the field at a senior event to be held March 12-14 at the Maracanãzinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
  
  The Russian will be joined in the eight-man field by Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Mark Philippoussis, Cedric Pioline, Wayne Ferreira, Mikael Pernfors and Fernando Meligeni.
  
  Safin said his goodbyes three months ago at Paris Bercy, presumably at the end of his career on court.
  
  But that was then: "It is going to be a lot of fun to play in Brazil for the first time," said Safin. "It will be an interesting change to be one of the young guys on the tour again and I look forward to playing in front of the Brazilian tennis fans."
  
  Safin became the first Russian to win the US Open in 2000, beating Pete Sampras and backed it up five years later as he claimed the Australian Open crown. He won 15 career singles titles and guided Russia to Davis Cup titles in 2002 and 2006.
  
  Safin just barely qualifies for the "senior" label, on a circuit where players must be aged age 30 and over and must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team.
  
  
  
  

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