World Events

Stars

China

Basketball

Soccer

Tennis

N.America

Olympics

Safin may retire after China Open

By Yan Weijue (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-04 15:44

Beijing: Former world No1 Marat Safin was given a wild card slot on Thursday for the 2009 China Open tennis tournament, which will be held in Beijing from October 2nd to October 11th.

Former world No.1 Marat Safin gets the first wild card slot for the 2009 China Open tennis tournament, Thursday, September 3, 2009. [chinaopen.com.cn]

Safin, who is retiring this year, played in what he said was his last grand slam tournament in New York at the US Open, where he lost Wednesday in the first round to Jurgen Melzer. The Russian may announce his official retirement during the ten-day China Open tournament.

There are still two more wild card slots available, but the tournament's organizing committee has not announced who they will go to. Safin's sister, Dinara Safina, the current world No1 in women's tennis, will also compete in Beijing.

Over the course of his career, Safin developed a reputation as one of the most colorful and emotional players on the tour. He won the men's final in the first China Open in 2004 and was best known for beating Pete Sampras at the US Open in 2000.

China Open is Asia's top tennis tournament, becoming the only one in Asia which includes men's, women's and junior's events. Top tennis players such as Williams sisters and Nadal will participate this year.