Breaking News: Former world No. 1 who crushed Djokovic, overlooked Nadal and retired at 29 admits: ‘I never liked playing tennis’…see more

Marat Safin, one of the most enigmatic players in tennis history, shone brightly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, during the rise of the Big Three—Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. Safin captured two Grand Slam titles, held the No.

1 ranking, and famously smashed over 1,000 rackets during his career. Despite his incredible talent, Safin’s tennis journey was far from conventional. Forced into the sport by his parents, he retired at just 29 years old.

Post-retirement, Safin ventured into politics and distanced himself from tennis, later revealing that he never truly enjoyed the game. Safin entered the ATP circuit in 1997, but it was in 2000 that he made his breakthrough.

That year, he reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and captured his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.