Safin: The most unruly man in tennis, happy birthday!

If Federer stands for grace and Nadal for toughness, Marat Safin is undoubtedly the most wild and free-spirited male player in tennis history, with a character and unpredictability that define his legacy. Today he turns 46, so let's celebrate his birthday together!

Born on January 27, 1980, in Moscow, Russia, Safin grew up in a tennis family. His father owned a small tennis club, and his mother coached him from ages 6 to 13. After turning 13, Safin left Russia to train more scientifically at a tennis academy in Valencia, Spain.

In 1997, at just 17 years old, Safin began competing professionally. That year, he mostly played in ATP Challenger tournaments, winning the Espinho title by defeating Stephen Hewitt in the final. By the end of the year, Safin had climbed to world No. 203 in the rankings.

Safin quickly established himself on the professional circuit. In his second year, 1998, he reached the fourth round of the French Open by consecutively defeating players like Agassi and Kafelnikov. He also made it to the fourth round of the US Open that year. These strong performances propelled him to finish the year ranked No. 49 worldwide.

In August 1999, Safin won his first ATP singles title at the Boston tournament. Later that year, he reached his first Masters final at the Paris Masters but lost 1-3 to the world No. 1 Agassi, narrowly missing out on his first Masters crown.

The year 2000 was arguably one of Safin’s best seasons. He won seven titles, including prestigious events like the US Open and the Toronto Masters. With 73 match wins that season, he became the youngest player since Becker to reach world No. 2.

In 2005, Safin captured his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. He saved match points to defeat then-world No. 1 Federer in the semifinals and came back from behind to beat Hewitt 3-1 in the final. This would be the last singles title of his career.

Standing 1.93 meters tall, with an exceptional one-handed backhand topspin and excellent net skills, plus a stylish one-legged jump double backhand, Safin’s on-court flair made him more captivating than most players. When people recall Safin, many iconic moments and highlights come to mind. What is your most vivid memory of Safin?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)