Safin's dramatic win extends career
Marat Safin: retirement plans on hold
Monday, 09, Nov 2009 11:08
By James Christie
Russian Marat Safin extended his career by saving three match points in his first round match at his last ever tournament.
Safin, whose career highlights include winning the US Open in 2000 and the Australian Open in 2005, will hang up his racket after his participation in the Paris Masters is over.
That moment appeared to have arrived when the 29-year-old faced three match points in the deciding set of his match with Thierry Ascione.
But the Russian Davis Cup star saved each match point with an ace and went on to win 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).
Explaining his decision to retire, he said: "It has become increasingly more difficult to pack my bags and leave home this season."
He will face Juan Martin del Potro, who recently beat Roger Federer in the final of this year's US Open, in the next round and isn't confident of his prospects.
The world number 65 said: "Do you really believe that I am going to beat him? I think the level he is playing at the moment that I have no chance."
Safin will have a tough task if he is to win the tournament as Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are also in the field.
In other tennis news, former Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi has talked up Andy Murray's chances of winning one of the sport's four major events.
He said: "I think he'll win multiple Grand Slams, it's been my prediction for a while."
The eight-time Grand Slam winner added: "My advice? To keep getting better. Every day's an opportunity to get one day better."