Marat Safin elected to Russian Federal Parliament
After a sporting career that was marked by aggression and fighting spirit, former Russian Tennis player Marat Safin has been elected into the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
After a sporting career that was marked by aggression and fighting spirit, former Russian Tennis player Marat Safin has been elected into the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
The two time Grand Slam winner has been elected for the Nyzhny Novgorod region, approximately 500 km from Moscow.
The former World No. 1, who holds the record for the most broken racquets(87) in a single season was known for his skills as much as his temper on the Tennis court.
A member of Vladimir Putin's United Russia party now, Safin had Tennis legend Pete Sampras' faith in the days leading up to his election, who was his opponent in Safin's first Grand Slam win in 2000.
Safin explained his decision to move to politics, "I could go and make commercials left and right and pretend like I am a celebrity, but that is not me. This is a completely new life, a new way of thinking, new way of doing things that's nothing to do with tennis or sports at all," said Safin, talking to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Safin retired from professional Tennis in the year 2009 and now joins Olympic gold medallist Svetlana Khorkina and former Chess World No. 1 Garri Kasparov.