Safin: I am retiring but not in Beijing

Russia's crown prince of tennis, Marat Safin, is still going to retire ... just not in Beijing.

After winning his opening match against Jose Acasuso of Argentina, 6-4, 6-2, at the China Open yesterday, the former world No 1 confirmed he will end his tennis career in Paris next month and said he had no intention of holding a farewell party in Beijing.

"No, I'm not retiring (here in Beijing)," Safin said after the match. "I still have four more tournaments to go which are Shanghai, Moscow, St Petersburg and Paris. I will retire in Paris."

His decision may disappoint the event's organizers as they announced the tournament would hold a farewell party for him at the conclusion of his China Open campaign in the capital.

"I don't like this whole thing about my retirement and a big party with everybody saying 'bye bye' and 'thank you', it is not really for me," said Safin, who is ranked No 59 in the world.

"I will make my own private party where I can say goodbye to everybody."

Twenty-nine may seem a young age for retirement, but not to Safin.

"Well, I was four when I started, so it has been 25 years. It's the same thing as other people when they retire at 50. They start (work) when they are 25 and retire when they are 50. So, basically, we do the same thing," he said.

Safin's match yesterday attracted the biggest crowd at the National Tennis Center so far.

Many of the Russian's fans were holding posters and shouting "we believe in Marat", "Safin, you're the man" and "I love Safin" in the stands. The national flag of Russia was also prominent.

The fans' enthusiasm seemed to spur Safin as he outplayed his opponent in straight sets in just an hour.

Although retirement is close, Safin has promised to focus on the rest of his matches.

"It is pretty tough to motivate yourself knowing you will retire in a few months but, on the court, I want to win, it's a natural feeling," he said.

His agent, Amit Naor, told the China Open's official website late yesterday that Safin would show up for any farewell party in Beijing.

(China Daily 10/07/2009 page12)