Profile Text
Safin in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Marat Mubinovich Safin/Марат Мубинович Сафин
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia, USSR (now Russia)
Date of Birth: 27 January, 1980
Ethnicity: Tatar
Marat Safin is a Russian politician and professional tennis player. He achieved the world No. 1 singles ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) on 20 November, 2000. He is a member of the Duma (Russian Parliament), for the United Russia Party, from Nizhny Novgorod. He is nicknamed “Safinator.” He is 6′4″.
Marat was born in Moscow, to ethnic Tatar parents, Rauza Islanova (Rauza Muhamedzhanovna Islanova), a tennis coach and player, and Mubin “Mikhail” Safin, who managed a local Spartak Tennis Club. He began playing tennis at six with his parents. His mother served as his coach from six to thirteen.
Marat has a younger sister, Dinara Safina, who was a No. 1 Russian tennis player. The two are the only brother and sister tandem in tennis history who have achieved No. 1.
Marat speaks Russian, English, and Spanish. He is a Muslim.