Marat'sFinal Five Tournament

[tinuviel]

Typical Marat - outspoken to the last. He certainly doesn't pull his punches does he??

We will miss these little outbursts. Today was his last ever 'official' match - but I think he has some expos coming up so he may not disappear altogether.

And I'm sure the world press will keep us informed of what he gets up to in retirement!!

[audrey]

Hi guys

Here's a video made by the ATP for Marat with some of the other players sending him their well wishes. Very sweet of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgaIKElSaKI

[tini]

Great match and I'm glad it ended like this, some brilliant tennis, fought till the end and an opponent who also really likes him!

The ceremony was great with all the other players and giving him the key to Bercy... I'm going to miss him so much (matches, interviews, pics etc.) but guess it will need the new season to fully realize that he won't be playing anymore

His final interview:
www.tennistv.com/tennistv/marat-safin-paris-20091111_2252221_1873070

[tinuviel]

OK So not really one of his final five tourneys - but this seemed the only place to post. Marat has had to withdraw from the Hong Kong event he was due to play with Sharapova. Hope his wrist is all right.

Organisers of the Hong Kong Tennis Classic were informed on Christmas Eve that Marat Safin was unable to take his place for Team Russia in the upcoming tournament. His agent said that Safin has been suffering from a wrist injury - which almost prevented him from playing in his farewell event in Paris - and the injury had still not healed properly. "Marat cannot aggravate it further by playing at this level."

Safin himself said,” I am really sorry I cannot play Hong Kong, I was very much looking forward to the event. I also apologise to my fans for not being able to take part, and hopefully I can play at a future tournament."

Tournament Director, Terry Catton regretted his withdrawal but announced that Safin's replacement is former World No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, now playing on the ATP Champions Tour. The Russian champion retired in 2003, and soon after turned his hand to professional poker, a game he also excelled at. His recent return to the Champions Tour earned him instant recognition, and he is now one of the Tours' top competitors. Catton said "Yevgeny has won two Grand Slam Singles titles and four Grand Slam Doubles titles, he is a former No. 1 and will be a first class replacement for Marat."

[tini]

Wonder if he will play this time, I mean how many exhos we heard about and he didn't go there at the end But hope so, at least we would get new pics
And could there please be an exho in Europe too ;D