Marat Safin won two Grand Slam titles and achieved the status of world number one during his 13-year career on the ATP Tour.
The Russian, who retired from his playing career at the age of 29, spent nine weeks as the world number one and won 15 ATP Tour titles.
Now, Safin is back on the Tour, this time as a coach. Safin began working with world number 16 Andrey Rublev in April.
The Russian’s return to the Tour has been well-received by American star Jessica Pegula, who has described the 45-year-old as ‘so entertaining.’
Jessica Pegula says Marat Safin is a ‘really funny personality’
Jessica Pegula’s WTA season has come to an end following her exit at the WTA Finals.
The American, a winner of three singles titles this year, lost in the WTA Finals semi-finals to Elena Rybakina, who went on to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Since the loss, Pegula has recorded the latest episode of The Players Box – a podcast she co-hosts alongside Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk.
During the latest episode, Pegula commented on Marat Safin’s return to the professional tennis scene.
“He has been like a funny person who has come back on tour, but he has been so entertaining,” Pegula began.
“He truly does not care. But he is so funny and is very engaging with everybody.
“He doesn’t just stand there and not talk to people. He is a really funny personality.
“I have had conversations with him and I’m just like I’m sitting here talking with Marat Safin.
“When you watched him when you were younger and all of a sudden he is just there and joking around and being really outgoing.
“It’s just an interesting, weird thing to me.”
Marat Safin’s historic US Open title
In 2000, Marat Safin won the first of his two Grand Slam titles at the US Open. By doing so, Safin became the first Russian winner of the US Open Men’s Singles title.
Safin, seeded sixth, defeated Sebastien Grosjean, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Todd Martin on her way to the final in New York.
In the final, Safin defeated Pete Sampras in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Four and a half years later, Safin won his second Grand Slam title, this time at the Australian Open.
The Russian played for four more years on the ATP Tour, retiring in 2009 at the age of 29.
