Australian Open: exactly 22 years since the day Marat Safin played the final “drunk” and with three blondes cheering in his box

It happened 22 years ago. Few, however, forget the final of the 2002 edition of Australian Open. It was the only coronation in a Grand Slam of Thomas Johansson, who has won only nine tournaments in his professional career. For many, the Swede, who reached 7th place in the ATP rankings and some time later became an important leader in paddle tennis at the world level, was the worst winner of a greater in the modern era.

But that arbitrary figure remained in the background because on the other side of the net, at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, it was Marat Safinwho ended up becoming the great protagonist of the story.

Why? Because the Russian, already number one in the world for a few weeks, He had one of the worst performances of his career and particular support in the garage reserved for his family. There wasn’t even his mother, Rauza Islanovahis first coach, nor his father, Mijailnor his sister, Dinara Safinaalso a legendary former tennis player, but three women with breathtaking physiques, with the appearance of models, who the press has christened “Safinette”.

The trio of youngsters were not only their chosen fans, but also became the axis of gratitude as the loser received the consolation prize. “Thanks to my family who are at the stadium. I regret having lost”he blurted out. His family were those three blondes.

At that Australian Open, Safin had emerged as the big favourite. Although he had fallen in the rankings, the Russian was still in the top ten, he had just reached the semi-finals US Open before and the path was opened for him after Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten, Andrea Agassi, Yevgeny Kafelnikov AND Sebastian Grosjean They said goodbye before the third round.

Thus the Muscovite eliminated the Frenchman Anthony Dupuis, the Belgian Christophe Rochus and his compatriot Mijail Youznhy in straight sets in his first three appearances. Already in the round of 16 he got rid of the legendary Pietro Sampras -it was the year of his farewell- and in the quarterfinals he eliminated the South African almost effortlessly Wayne Ferreira, who he abandoned in the first set. In the semi-final he finally eliminated the German Tommy Haas After an interesting comeback to take the train that would lead him to the definition against Johansson, the stone guest

But Safin didn’t arrive in the best way to the final against Johansson, who in the previous two weeks had had to struggle to overcome much less famous rivals. The fact is that the evening before the 1.95 meter giant had celebrated his 22nd birthday and, apparently, among the celebrations there were also the blondes from the preferential stalls who attracted everyone’s attention. The 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 7-6 (4) made it clear that Safin, a priori the undisputed favourite, had not arrived in the best shape he had. He only played one set at his level.

In fact, the Austrian tennis player Daniel Koellerereccentric like few others and banned for life from the professional circuit in 2011 for fixing matches, he did not mince his words and accused Safin of having played that final, at the very least, with a terrible hangover. “The first time I started drinking alcohol I was about 24 and I did it because I saw Marat Safin drinking before playing the Australian Open final. I thought if I was between 150 and 180 and I didn’t go up According to the My ranking, he’d be playing a final in Australia and he could barely walk on his own two feet, it couldn’t have been that bad. He lost that final. He couldn’t win because he was too drunk. “It was incredible. He celebrated it the night before as if it were his birthday. Safin “I had so much talent that I could do it. I even played drunk once, in the Bundesliga, but nobody knew it.”.

The point is that regardless of what Safin took or did not take, his gaze remained focused on that particular family box. “It’s been a really tiring two weeks and how can you not admire Marat Safin’s resistance. In his team, support group, harem or whatever you want to call it, there are eight blondes: one for each round of the tournament and another as a reserve.wrote the journalist who covered the match for the English newspaper The telegraph.

Safin, who did not need to be on good terms with anyone, gave his explanation: “Ok, I have a very nice bench. I go with my friends and have fun. For an opponent like Pete Sampras I have to adopt the right mentality and find motivation. That’s why I brought a lot of friends. When I’m having fun, I like tennis and “The only way to do that is to be with friends. They help me and give me confidence.”.

I didn’t agree with him Darren Cahillwhich today is the brain that trains the Italian Jannik Sinner and who accompanied Safin in that tournament. The Australian, who had previously led Lleyton Hewitt to the top and immediately ran off to work Andrea Agassihe remembered that moment and the reaction it aroused in his wife Victoria, when he decided not to prolong the working relationship with the Russian.

“I remember Victoria saying to me, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’ This guy is so good! My friends buy tickets to all his matches. You should accept his offer of Marat.” I looked at her and asked, “Are you serious?” He was really serious. I agreed to become their consultant in Australia in 2002. It was a very interesting experience. Three beautiful ladies were sitting in Marat’s box. Victoria watched the game too and I said, ‘Honey, do you really want to be a part of this? The three of them don’t seem to come from a very respectable profession.’ She replied, “Honey, call me girl number four” Cahill confessed.

Safin’s three blondes

The three teammates in the final of that Australian Open had their fifteen minutes of fame. They were two girls from Melbourne and a Russian model, Katya Bestojeva21 years old, who months later was also at his side in the Davis Cup final, won by Russia against France in Paris with two points provided by Safin in singles: the hero was Youznhy, winner of the final.

Another of the girls was called Diana Veskova, who was presented as a relative of the tennis player. In reality, as the journalists of the heart have reconstructed, she was a financial analyst and had entered Safin’s orbit with the help of the Australian. Marco Philippoussis.

The third era Anna Gorski and he was 22 years old at the time. He was studying marketing at Monash University in Melbourne and had met Safin on the training ground during the open session. She said it herself after becoming the center of attention. “We met here and got along well and hung out. We saw a bit of Melbourne, but it’s not very exciting.”.

And the dialogue continued.

-That? Safin had three blondes in tow all week and you weren’t amused? – the journalist asked him with a more than evident double meaning.

-He had fun. “I’m sure he had a great time,” Gorski responded.

Gorski is the only one who has surpassed those five minutes – or months – of fame. He ran a tennis academy in Dubai for several years and later returned to Melbourne. Their social networks have been inactive for four years.

Safin, who turned 44 this Saturday, retired in 2009. He took revenge in Melbourne in 2005, when he won the final against local Lleyton Hewitt in the most-watched tennis match on Australian television. A year earlier, on that same stage, he had seen Roger Federer scream for the first time in the land of kangaroos. But these are other stories.