A two-time Grand Slam champion has been sporting a really totally different look.
This former participant has been sporting a really totally different take a look at the Indian Wells Masters (Picture: Getty)
A two-time Grand Slam champion has been wanting unrecognisable in his new function on the Indian Wells Masters. The participant, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2008, triumphed on the US Open in 2000 and the Australian Open in 2005. He was ranked because the world’s greatest participant by the ATP for 9 weeks after successful his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.
He earned over £10million in prize cash all through his glittering profession earlier than retiring from skilled tennis in 2009. The 46-year-old later ventured into politics in his native Russia, turning into a member of the State Duma representing the United Russia occasion. He’s now a tennis coach and has been sporting a really totally different take a look at Indian Wells this week.
The participant in query is Marat Safin, who has been working with Andrey Rublev since final yr’s clay-court swing. Not like his taking part in days, he now sports activities a bushy beard and lengthy, flowing locks.
Recognized for his quick mood throughout his skilled profession, Safin has been tasked with serving to to handle Rublev’s fiery feelings on the courtroom.
The latter has been ranked as excessive as fifth by the ATP however is at present seventeenth. He was crushed in his first match at Indian Wells, dropping by the hands of Gabriel Diallo in three units.
Rublev has since been taking part in doubles with Karen Khachanov, reaching the quarter-finals earlier than dropping to Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech.
Talking about his partnership with Safin final yr, Rublev mentioned: “He had his personal struggles that he went via and I used to be all the time afraid to ask [about] these issues, however I all the time needed to.
Marat Safin gained two Grand Slam titles earlier than retiring from tennis in 2009 (Picture: Getty)
“Once I discovered he was wanting perhaps to work in tennis, it was like: ‘OK, I’ve to at the least [try]’. It’s loopy as a result of now, with Marat and members of my crew, they’re killing me.
“I can’t bear in mind one other yr once they have performed this to me. It’s health to start with for two-and-a-half hours, then it’s tennis for 2 hours.
“He’s killing me. No errors from the baseline, excessive depth from the baseline till you make it. This push is all for me. It’s all the time about your self.”
Safin has additionally taken half in numerous legends occasions since returning to the tennis scene. He teamed up with Bethanie Mattek-Sands to tackle Pat Rafter and Kim Clijsters in a doubles contest on the US Open final yr.
Later, on the Australian Open in January, he joined forces with Lleyton Hewitt for a match in opposition to Rafter and Roger Federer.
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