Translated material
Mercy in Bercy
Marat Safin played the last official match of his career
Having suffered a defeat in the second round of the Masters tournament in Paris, Russian Marat Safin put an end to his sports career. The thankless role of the offender was played by 21-year-old Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated the Russian - 6:4, 5:7, 6:4.Even before the start of the season, the 29-year-old Muscovite did not hide that the last tournament in his professional career would be the competition in Bercy in Paris. This is probably no coincidence, because it was here that Safin won tournament victories three times.
Two days earlier, having prevailed over the French qualifier Thierry Assion in the opening round, in the next round Safin yesterday confronted the fifth racket of the world, Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro. It was difficult to predict the outcome of the match, not only because the opponents had never met on the court before. There was one more circumstance that complicated the position of Safin’s competitor. After his triumph at the 2009 US Open, the Argentine had a long break from performing, and even after his success in New York, he did not shine on the courts. The tennis player himself explained this by saying that, oddly enough, he was not psychologically ready to win the Grand Slam tournament. And when he returned from America, physical fatigue was added to this. Del Potro had great difficulty finding time to communicate with his mother and sister, since he was immediately taken advantage of by journalists. Interviews, press conferences, and other social events took up a lot of time and effort, distracting me from tennis. According to the Argentine, during all this time he only managed to get enough sleep once, and only during the flight to the Tokyo tournament.
All these factors to some extent balanced the chances of Safin and del Potro. After all, the Russian, who actually finished out this season, had vast experience behind him - the title of the first racket of the world, two victories at Grand Slams, 13 championship titles. The only and most important thing that Safin lacked at the moment was motivation. If he still had a burning desire to win, then there would be no point in ending his sports career. But Safin seemed to be tired during his performances in sports. And the search for new motives, and even hiking in the mountains did not add new incentives. A year ago at the Kremlin Cup, Safin openly admitted that he did not see himself in the role of a 30-year-old man running around the court after a ball with a racket.
Nevertheless, the Parisian duel with del Potro was in no way like a one-goal match. In the first set, the Russian took the lead until the middle of the game, but missed the end and allowed the Argentine to win - 6:4. In the second, after losing the first game, del Potro took the lead - 3:1. But Safin was able to turn the tide. Having caught up and overtaken his opponent, the Russian took the last two games - 7:5. However, in the key third period of the game, Marat did not have enough strength - 4:6, and the Argentine advanced to the next round.
Despite the fact that Safin is not a supporter of solemn ceremonies (on this issue he agrees with Yevgeny Kafelnikov), the organizers of the competition still held it, presenting symbolic keys to Bercy. After the match between Safina and del Potro, Nikolai Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Ivo Karlovic, Gilles Simon, Tommy Robredo came onto the court... Video messages from Rafa Nadal and others, as well as highlights from Safin’s matches, were broadcast on the huge scoreboard. By the way, del Potro, following the tennis tradition when match winners leave autographs on a television camera, added two more words to his surname: “Gracias, Marat.” After all, Safin was once his idol.
Taking the microphone in his hands, a moved Marat said that he was pleased with how his sports career had turned out, that he understood how difficult it would be now, but hoped to find himself in the future. By the way, during the Kremlin Cup there was talk that Safin would be offered a position in the tournament management. And it is possible that, following the example of many domestic athletes, he will try himself in politics. True, the head of the All-Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, believes that it is too early to think about politics. Safin needs time to analyze, choose and decide everything.
Be that as it may, Safin’s sports career was truly a success. He belongs to the type of player who, regardless of the results of the matches, always remained the favorites of the public. Almost all of his fights turned into brilliant shows. But at the same time, he almost always remained a fighter. In team tournaments, he pulled out hopeless matches more than once. And when even the audience and journalists were exhausted, he continued to play and won. Off the court, the bright and emotional Safin has always been distinguished by sharp, but direct and open statements and judgments. He treated himself with humor. With respect - to your opponents. Safin was and remains a personality, and there is always a shortage of such people in sports. The organizers of the Paris competition added to the words of gratitude that shone on the huge scoreboard: “See you again, Marat!” I would like to believe, against all odds, that these words will someday come true.