Marat Safin: Best ATP Shots & Moments of Brilliance!

Some of the best shots and ATP moments of Russian Marat Safin's career...Subscribe to our channel for the best ATP tennis videos and tennis highlights: kzbin.info?sub_...
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[@tennistv]

We're gonna try and make this a weekly (or bi-weekly) vid - looking back at 00s and 90s players. Who would you like to see?

[@420benton2]

Kafelnikov.

[@TheColourwonders]

Becker

[@treacherous007]

Sampras, Agassi, Hewitt & Edberg

[@nolankelleher]

Roddick

[@EhDewd]

Nalbandian, Hewitt, Roddick, Sampras.

[@Nikoleparisien]

Russian genius. Fav player all time. Marat we love you

[@ErikCB912]

I really don’t understand why Safin’s backhand is never brought up as being one of the best 2 handed backhands ever. Everyone talks about Djokovic, Murray, and even Nalbandian’s backhand, but never Safin’s. One of the most underrated shots in the game.

[@danieljeongdesign]

Totally agree. His physical attributes combined with his technique made it one of the greatest backhands of all time. I think his serve is underrated too

[@quincherry4966]

Everyone talks about safins backhand as being one of the best

[@antjoca]

Can't agree. It's obviously one of the greatest ever, but everyone talks about it

[@dunsdonjone1537]

Connors borg agassi no slouches either

[@innosanto]

It is talked

[@RobertHurleyJr]

Love Safins energy, personality, attitude, swagger, tennis style, tennis game, humor and approach to life.

[@michaelp9061]

I see Safin I click like.

[@rafaelodossantos4210]

Are you gay? 😂

[@lukeseymourcasenas3743]

That backhand looks so effortlessly powerful. When he had his day, he could beat anyone.

[@Emil-Roma]

If you ask me, he's definitely up there in the best two-hander conversation. Alongside Djokovic, Agassi, and Nalbandian.

[@vab120]

“When he had his day” yeah... not so often unfortunately. How many opens did he miss? How many times were we disappointed? And I was a huge fan don’t get me wrong.

[@mateuszczujko3777]

@@vab120 Yeah, I totally agree. He was very talented. Also had huge problem with keeping high level of his game throughout career.

[@felixyatin8086]

Djokovic lose twice against him, no answer from Djokovic

[@user-pj8os2gy2r]

@@mateuszczujko3777 such a sexy guy has so many interesting things 2 do in life outside tennis. He is a hottie even now.

[@elnoone9893]

I can watch Marat playing 24hs a day and still is not enough, so talented

[@triplet5006]

Marat is the reason I started to love tennis

[@jorgelopez3909]

x2 bro

[@chiefinspector7280]

I'm glad you said tennis....

[@bnc1451]

Same here:)

[@ad0lfchrist]

i think lots of us kids from the 90s will say that. For me it started with Agassi but when Safin came on the scene it took tennis to a new level for me

[@ProKontra99]

Tak jak ja ! Od US Open 2000 ! To było coś niewiarygodnego.

[@mrpiccolofan2]

Grande Safin. When inspired he was almost unplayable.

[@inderlanders6887]

If talent was the sole reason for being the greatest of all time, Marat would've been right up there.

[@nathanjen3170]

Most naturally talented player of all time

[@georgebryant7721]

Come on... No one touches Fed, certainly in that department hahaha

[@davd1986]

@@georgebryant7721 As far as physical talent he was more talented than Federer.

[@georgebryant7721]

@@davd1986 Sorry, pal, but that's a load of bollocks. Fed's technique is untouchable.

[@praneelgottipati7301]

@@georgebryant7721 technique doesn’t equal talent

[@georgebryant7721]

@@praneelgottipati7301 It certainly contributes to *natural* talent

[@kama_trick]

Safin's backhand 💥

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

Marat was a beast, and tennis was so much more fun back then, in my opinion. Miss it.

[@jorgelopez3909]

amen bro

[@GoranGoranovic666]

One of the most talented player in history...

[@anirbandas673]

One of the greatest ...numbers don't to justice to the pleasure people got him watching his game..he had all the shots in the game

[@jorgelopez3909]

amen bro

[@Mzee1084]

One of the best two handed backhands we have ever seen. Such an incredible talent.

[@davd1986]

One of the greatest 'what if's' in tennis history. I think without injuries he could have been in the Agassi, Connors, Edberg, Becker, Lendl, Wilander range of 6-8 slams and perhaps more with his raw talent. One of the greatest backhands of all time, maybe the best backhand down the line, great forehand, superb movement for a guy that big and strong and very good touch around the net. Could have and should have won much more.

[@davd1986]

@@MSV19801 Old fan indeed. So nice to be able to go back and watch some highlights/full matches of players that were more offensive minded rather than just grinding and playing defense, waiting for errors. Nice to see you as well. I am doing well at the moment, you? You haven't posted anything in a while. Should we expect new videos in the future..? :)

[@randomcon123]

Think his footwork was his biggest hindrance along with his temper

[@mahalak4383]

I think he lack the temperament more than anything less..

[@taopaille-paille4992]

he was slightly too crazy mentally

[@collinwatts9390]

Wasn’t even injuries. Dude had no discipline. Partied and drank too much. But yes had that not been the case I agree with you

[@jonathanterrett]

Safin and Nalbandian much missed on the ATP tour if only both where more dedicated or stayed away from injuries but still solid careers of course

[@panneetantinukul5658]

Yes. They are much better than next gen today.

[@alexduio7639]

thats why nadal federer and djokovic are exceptionnal the same level not 5 years but 15!

[@nathan2497]

Both Safin and Nalbandian were excellent players both had terrific backhands and powerful groundstrokes

[@albertogarciaibarz5472]

Safin yeah, but I prefer Ferrero than Nalbandian. Ferrero is the most undervalued tennis player in the final of 90 and in the beginning of 2000.

[@mrpiccolofan2]

@@albertogarciaibarz5472 Totalmente de acuerdo

[@ArunKumar-gm8kp]

watching these highlights make me feel i should have watched MARAT SAFIN play during his playing days. what a repertoire of shots with brutal and skill full execution. Brutality is the word striking my mind when i see his game.

[@thatmusikman]

About high time the newer tennis audience got a glimpse of this mercurial genius

[@diegoenriquepenanorambuena5930]

that backhand is completly terrifying!

[@ManchesterUtdFan]

People look up to Fed, Nadal, Djok rightfully so, but Safin was my fav tennis player

[@nujeru99]

I have always been of the opinion that a Safin was the most naturally, physically gifted young male player of the 2000s generation. If he had the natural passion for the game that Nadal or Hewitt or Federer had...there’s no telling how much more he would’ve won

[@vinny6_9]

he definitely had passion, it just resulted in his erratic performance and anger outbursts. young fed was a firecracker also, but worked on his mental game, unlike safin who could never keep his demons at bay.

[@jajasatorashi136]

Why Put Hewitt along Federer or Nadal?

[@keeganandersson4281]

Safin had plenty of passion, arguably too much 😂 he couldn’t keep a lid on his emotions and that would cause his level of play to dip significantly

[@Lil7672]

Man marat has such natural talent for the game, id say only roger and nalbandian are comparable in terms of talent from that generation. He's won 2 slams tho so a pretty good career imo, definitely could've been one of the greats if he was mentally stronger

[@Alexandra_Indina]

it's not about his mental strength, but about his tough injuries he couldn't deal with...

[@Giov257]

He was too tall to maintain that level, because his joints were more fragile than his shorter opponents’ ones

[@Man_008]

My fav tennis player before Novak Djokovic. Safin's trademark was always his backhand on the jump. In fact, the player without obvious weaknesses

[@mix-reverso834]

He is a clown from russia

[@amolkaur2594]

@Arsen... with you on this.

[@mappingtheshit]

He was weak

[@astrojeet]

His only weakness was his head really. He was an all round fantastic talent. Great at the net, great backhand, serve, forehand, defense, movement. He had everything. But he had anxiety issues during tour and it showed when he played. It was really difficult after his injury. In his late 20s his knee was completely gone. Much like Federer he was pure raw talent. Federer got his head right early on his career after his coach passed away and we saw the legacy he left behind. Unfortunately, Safin couldn't reach that greatness.

[@mappingtheshit]

@@astrojeet if you weak in head, you are weak by definition

[@jonathanlee5314]

Safin is a monster athlete, great movement for his size, excellent timing and touch. I remember watching youtube videos of him practicing in the mid-2000s when I was learning the game. He would also get heated sometimes and destroy his racquets. Like breaking a freaking toothpick - the guy is an ox.

[@romeriaplaza5062]

My idol. Great player and perso as well unlike other tennis players on tour...

[@kingmajo87]

One of my tennis idols when myself was growing up with tennis. This cool attitude between the points, these clean, powerful groundstrokes, his brutal serve but at the same blessed with a great touch. Unfortunately he has just 2 Majors in his career.

[@Lil7672]

He's won 2 majors, been no.1 in the world, I'd say that's a pretty good career. Marat was like a nick kyrgios who actually won something

[@asherbernardinojr]

@@Lil7672 No way Kyrgios is near Safin....Kyrgios has a talent but not as well as Safin in nearly every department, backhand, net game, movement on court, serve....Kyrgios is obnoxious on court, Safin was badass, but likable...

[@jajasatorashi136]

​@@asherbernardinojrRight

[@MrReviewer-dp2xh]

@@asherbernardinojr Kyrgios has an amazing serve , heis a huge talent

[@shroom125]

Safin is so entertaining he covers 90% of why I like tennis.

[@ponkoEX]

Most eavorite player in tennis History . from japan

[@Lexa2107]

Марат наша гордость!) Всегда на АО был его день рождения и постоянно на эти дни приходились матчи то с Роддиком, то с Роджером

[@c_ropb1149]

эти АО незабываемы...

[@Kotik_kaifojorik]

Лучшие АО ….

[@BrotherTree1]

What a talent. Even though he had a humble 15 number of titles, most of them were big tournament ones.

[@dinh5532]

Safin's drive backhand was a thing of beauty!! And he looked so cute with that hat on at the end! What a stud.

[@parmindersingh6933]

I think in Every game there are some players who are so charismatic that everyone wants to watch them playing and surely Marat Safin is one of them.

[@viratbaivab2990]

9:19 such a shame I had never seen that shot before, probably the best passing shot ever.

[@bramvalkenburg5655]

Great ball., no doubt. I do think that guys his size or larger should not run around as much and just try to dictate te points. They're to injury sensitive.

[@mysticking7991]

He is a very handsome and talented man

[@kieunguyen-yf5hc]

Always been a Safin fan. Great 2 handed backhand stroke.

[@jonm2522]

Safins double backhand was more powerful than many mens forehand, just beautiful and effortless with the help of the legendary Head Pristige classic.

[@Emil-Roma]

Safin's shotmaking and clean ball striking is only surpassed by Federer's, and maybe Nalbandian's.

[@chrisansell2174]

and for a bonus, is always a welcome addition seeing clips of Chang get humiliated. Man that guy's game was insanely tough to watch for long stretches.

[@ertugrulkorpinar51]

Great firepower. Safins peak lvl was scary good

[@panneetantinukul5658]

Oh! I miss him. He's fun to watch.

[@josetriana6047]

Love this - Safin was such a baller. The temper, the backhand.

[@ampiristik]

Marat is so natural and open. Amazing

[@historian111z]

i named my 1st child after him.

[@brocanova]

Marat is Tennis God.

[@Fardado07]

Safin and Fed, too good

[@IAMMOVIN4WARD]

The brilliant Marat Safin!

[@leosmith27]

Looking back, I truly took for granted how well Safin moved....especially when you consider his height and size.

[@ManchesterUtdFan]

That backhand is PHENOMENAL. I did the double backhand and incorporated my technique BECAUSE of Safin. Truly a genius. Had he worked on his mental game he would be without a doubt the best tennis player ever.

[@geshakipach5791]

Марат 🔥🔥🔥💪

[@egorbychkov9135]

Different tennis players came to God and asked for a unique tennis skill. Andy Roddick was the first and the God told him: "You are tall and strong, so I will give you the best serve" Then came Lleyton Hewitt and the God told him: "You are fit and stubborn, so I will give you the best defence" A lot of players came one by one and each got something. And the very last one was Marat Safin. And the God asked him:"What took you so long? Where have you been? I have no more skills left that I could give you. Do you even want to play tennis?" And Safin replied: "Well...I don't really know...sometimes I feel like I do...and sometimes like I don't" "Ok" - the God said - "I don't have any unique skill for you, but on the days when you REALLY want to play tennis you will become me"

[@ronimogy1133]

Best comment ever, haha

[@jeffrey2870]

Lmao what a comment

[@binusd9817]

His power u can feel it watching the video raw power and very talented likeable character

[@CRZ26L]

Last years before tennis changed definitely and became a brutal sport played with too much violence..note how beautiful just listen the sound of the ball and the steps and not some guys screaming like Tarzan at every hit..

[@M_M_A_B_]

Marat you are the Best

[@joshuathompson8132]

He was basically Wawrinka before Wawrinka widely inconsistent but every now and then he would just bulldoze his way through a tournament no matter who he was playing against

[@ivo7418]

and he had a DBH not the beauty of Wawrinka, so he is Safinka?

[@thebigmonstaandy6644]

no.his footwork was much better and he played longer rallys as Stan.he is more like more agressiv,flatter version of Djokovic.

[@felipemaldonado8028]

Agreed, both Safin and Wawrinka are those kind of players that in a good day can beat anyone, and that's what makes them some dangerous. Sadly both very inconsistent.

[@kevinmaboa7821]

Wawrinka is more like mark philipoussis

[@TheSupinesmokey]

@@kevinmaboa7821 nope Philipoussis had the Sampras game just more power and less speed around the court

[@harinarasimhan87]

My dad' s favourite player.. I loved him too ❤️❤️

[@masters.1000]

Federer, Safin and Nalbandian should have been the original Big 3. The most talented group of players I've ever saw.

[@juanestebankruhsanmguel1960]

mcenroe was more talented than the 3 of them

[@masters.1000]

@@juanestebankruhsanmguel1960 McEnroe trained a lot. Safin was a drunk and Nalbandian a fatass, and despite that he defeated Federer and Nadal with ease.

[@YTviewer2099]

@@masters.1000 Lol with ease ? Where did you get that ? Nalbandian has a losing head to head record against either of them And most of his wins have been before they peaked : 5 of his 8 wins against Federer have been in 2002/2003 and both his wins against Nadal have been on hard courts in 2007 After that he pretty much only lost to them Agreed he was really talented and could have achieved more with proper fitness but his lack of proper fitness doesn't make him or Safin more talented than Roger or Rafa And btw even Safin has a losing head to head record against them but he was mostly playing them after his peak

[@jonathanterrett]

Alexander Kings who could forget safin beat prime Federer in Australian open semis 05 what a match one of his best matches of his life although Fed did have a match point

[@felixyatin8086]

They called "weak era" when Nadal, Safin, Nalbandian, Hewitt, Roddick, Davydenko, Gonzales compete in Fed's prime era (03'-07')

[@ibrahimiltifat7045]

Could watch him all day

[@6onxza]

He has to be one of the first players to hit the 2 handed backhand in open stance. Great player

[@hemabalakrishnan4297]

Such awesome shots...absolutely brilliant..

[@Zsword92]

Much talent and raw power

[@alan713812]

What a legend.

[@Muathalshareef2]

I love tennis because of him in 2005 when beat Federer .

[@jajasatorashi136]

Missing this phenomenal player.

[@user-vn6uy7zb5o]

Safin super player .I love him.

[@datanal]

probably the most talented player ever

[@sachinrajpal76]

What a god this guy is like if u agree

[@alvarosebastianvasquezcorn240]

Ese saltito a lo marcelo rios, que genio era safin para mi siempre lo e dicho rios y safin los mas talentosos del tennis!!

[@user-er6fw7yt7t]

Самый харизматичный теннисист в российской истории. Умел он привлечь к себе внимание. Лучший!

[@rbaki94]

God bless carpet and fast indoor courts

[@vincenthannah7209]

I always liked Marat. When he was on he could dominate anybody. Huge serve, huge ground strokes and a good mover especially for a man his size. I always thought he would win more majors. However, he always had a problem with motivation and focus.

[@vibewithme580]

Such an amazing tennis player

[@pradm5283]

Safin and Nalbandian have the most ferocious backhands in tennis history. Easy power.

[@keeganandersson4281]

Marat Safin is one of the few players who did actually win more than one grand slam title and STILL underachieved

[@darkking2567]

the most powerful and precise backhand in history....

[@klausuberhauser4303]

One of the best from so called "weak era".

[@user-jm6pd9jr9z]

من أسباب حبي للتنس مرات سافين ❤

[@anarkyster]

The Best Backhand to have ever graced a tennis court. A forgotten legend of the game!

[@SuperBosbon]

Jugadorazo Marat!

[@felipemaldonado8028]

While watching the first 20 seconds of the video, I was thinking: he moves so well for being that tall. And then the commentator says the same haha. Really miss Safin, in my top 5 of retired players (that I watched), where I also include Nalbandian, Gonzalez, Davydenko and Soderling. If I have to compare Marat against a current player, it would be Stan (my favourite player btw). Someone can beat anyone in a good day, with an impressive backhand, but sadly is very inconsistent (even thoughout the same tournament).

[@fp4193]

Players focused on the rivals back then… nowadays focused on cheering fans, what an amazing era it was

[@luisguillermodanieli9125]

Safin, Roddick, Hewitt de mis jugadores favoritos de principios de la década del 2000

[@junzzz963]

One of the most talented tennis player ... double handed back hand was one of the best..good complete player

[@thefridgeman]

A real playa! No one else had so many birds in their box at tournaments!

[@sconvolto89]

What a player!

[@jayzemmour8431]

safin should have won 5 GS : what a generation with roddick blake ferrero agassi nalbandian.... .

[@magisterialanubis06]

one of the elegant two-handers

[@Rhapsody79]

Brilliant and talented player with tremendous charisma plus an incredible and powerful two-handed backhand. If he had had greater psychological stability, he would have achieved a great tennis career.

[@Alexandra_Indina]

He had a great career. N1 and Majors. This is a GREAT career.

[@zainabalhassan5592]

I love his play and atitude

[@AlexIsUber]

1:58 this point. Sledgehammer backhand

[@gregoirefuoc6222]

Bestest 2 handback of the World ❤😂🎉😢😮😅😊😊

[@piyushprateek457]

Safin made the game look so easy when he was at his best.

[@ivancastillo6343]

That exact mix between talent and power. Together with Nalbandian, the best two-backhanders ever :)

[@igorpezzaalvedro8412]

Impossible not, It's Amazing!!!

[@pgatovcranbrook2033]

the hottest tennis player of all time

[@buttim1]

One of the best backhand history

[@SaraM0rphine]

3:55 one of a kind!

[@KnowTrentTimoy]

The thing with "the moments of brilliance" scenario is that you don't really know that shot is going to be that good/great until your either forced to make it or you have several options thereby giving it an "all or nothing" attempt at the choice selection you eventually make.

[@dewman7477]

This guy was the Wawrinka of Federer generation. Mad inconsistent but had a very high peak. He beat Sampras in a US Open slam final in 2000 and Federer in AO 2005 SF to win his AO title. He was just so talented that he could beat anybody when playing at a very peak high level. Imagine if he was just focused and consistent enough? Safin had a world class two handed backhand and baseline game. Only issue was his mind and injuries later in his career. But he was not a weak opponent. If Wawrinka can beat peak Djokovic and peak Nadal in a slam final and later Federer in RG 2015, Safin can definitely do that or better. Only reason Federer era was weak was because his peers were inconsistent and not dedicated or were battling injuries. But their peaks such as Nalbandian and Safin peak can cause damage.

[@0ldMatty2]

This dude was one of the most talented players of all time, should have won many more slams. Beat Federer in his prime in what was perhaps the best match ever