“I don’t like any sport” – Marat Safin
Published: 19 August, 2009, 19:43
Edited: 15 September, 2009, 03:16
Marat Safin (AFP / Getty Images / Stephen Dunn)
Former World No. 1 Marat Safin says he doesn’t like any sport and he’s surprised he’s been playing tennis for so long.
The Russian tennis star, who’s planning to retire in three months after a 13-year-long career, confessed to Tennis Weekly that he only enjoys the life tennis let him live, but not the game itself.
"I don't like any sports. For example, I would not play soccer. I would not play hockey. Basketball I hate. I never watch any sports on TV. It's amazing, and I'm a tennis player. But I don't like it, the competition. For example, if I have to play soccer in my neighbourhood, I will play for ten minutes and then I get bored. I'm not a player," Marat Safin said.
He added that “it's a miracle" he spent so many years on the ATP Tour.
This supported Safin’s own insistence that he can’t be compared to players currently occupying the top three spots in the World Ranking.
He described Roger Federer’s tennis as “fantastic”, but added he can’t understand his desire to win more and more.
“Even though he's on top of his game, and has won many tournaments he is still driven by the desire to be the best of all time. Obviously he’s going to try and win a couple more. He's playing great tennis and he enjoys it on the court," the Russian player explained.
He also said Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal are real players, dedicated to the game.
"They love to play and participate in the game. It's like they enjoy the moment. They enjoy being on the court. Some people, they have more stress and they're not really enjoying it and they're not really having fun in the tough moments. But these guys, they enjoy it,” the World No. 61 said.
But the 29-year-old Marat himself is planning to enjoy other things after he retires his racket for good.
"At least I can do the things that I want to do. I don't have to go to Australia, so I can go to South America and spend some time in Patagonia. I have plenty of time. I never go to Hawaii, because we have only two months of rest. One month you have to practice, so we have nothing to do. We cannot allow ourselves to ski, to learn something new. I’ve been limited to what I do for 12 years," he said. .
Marat Safin has won 15 tournaments during his career, including two Grand Slams – US Open 2000 and Australian Open 2005. He held the No. 1 ATP ranking for 9 weeks in 2000.
He also won the Davis cup with the Russian team in 2002 and 2006.
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I like when people speak a true, not afraid anything, it is brave and creasy. I believe Marat, often people do things that give them chance to have a life style they desire, to travel, to meet many peoples and places. And this confession just saying that Safin is not deeply fricked out with sport and tennis. But may be it is true for everybody even for Federer? he is just enjoying what he is doing at the best, and in right moment he has enormous will to be number one, it is physiology? religion all together it is a sport. Anybody should be a sportsmen in at least in the area he/she enjoys.
I like when people tell the true, are not afraid of anything, it is brave. I believe Marat, often people do things that give them chance to have a life style they desire, to travel, to meet many people and places. And this confession just saying that Safin is not deeply freaked out with sport and tennis. But may be it is true for everybody even for Federer? he is just enjoying what he is doing at the best, and in right moment he has enormous will to be number one, it is physiology?
Marat, you'll be missed! Yes, well said Serge! many "drones" around the tennis circuit. Independent minds Are to be celebrated, always. Marat has also been a joy to watch- and noooo He doesn't have to be glued to the tennis court. Good Luck Marat Safin and Many joyful Blessings!