‘Roger Federer is the most talented player of all time’ - Former World No. 1 Marat Safin

Former World No. 1 Marat Safin is the latest ex tennis professional to utter his praise for Roger Federer, whom he regards as the most talented player to ever grace the sport. The 35-year-old retired Russian tennis player was speaking from the Kia Motors Champions Cup in Seoul, Korea where he talked about the best players of this Era among other things.

Safin was asked about his thoughts on Federer, who is still playing great tennis at the age of 34. The Moscow native hinted that is it futile to make a comparison between Federer and any other player because the former is an all-around player.

“Roger, I think, is the most talented player of all time, but with a big difference,” Safin said. “He’s the most complete player, he has so many instruments, he can use so many instruments in tennis that not anyone can do it, he can do with the ball anything he wants and unfortunately, we are not so talented compared to him.”

Safin and Federer clashed on tour for 12 times, with the Swiss owning a 10-2 advantage in their head-to-head record. Safin’s victory over Federer came in semifinals of the 2005 Australian Open and in the quarterfinals of the ATP World Tour Masters 250 tournament at the 2002 Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Safin won his maiden grand slam title at the 2000 US Open, beating 14-time grand slam champion Pete Sampras in the finals 6-4 6-3 6-4. He claimed his second grand slam title at the 2005 Australian Open when he scored four-sets win over local favourite Lleyton Hewitt 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-4. Listen more of Safin’s interview with Tennis Podcast in association with The Telegraph as he talked about some of his best matches, his political career, and the best players of this Era.

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