Former world No.1 Marat Safin ends tennis career

Former tennis world number one Marat Safin ended his playing career on Wednesday. He lost to fifth-ranked Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round at the BNP Paribas Masters.

Photos: One of the best tennis players Marat Safin>>

Marat Safin of Russia, acknowledges applause during the BNP Masters indoor tennis tournament in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

Safin had declared that the Paris Masters would be his final professional tournament before retirement. Del Potro had the dubious honour of attempting to end the Russian's playing career. Safin started slowly, but improved as the match went on. He entertained the Parisian crowd with some great baseline winners, strong serving and a fine touch at the net. After getting himself out of trouble at love-thirty down when serving at 5-5, Safin went on to level the match at one set apiece.