Former Russian tennis ace Marat Safin always attracted the attention of the public with his unusual behavior, which was not far behind his extraordinary tennis skills.
He is the first Russian to become part of the tennis Hall of Fame, although he was known for coming to a match hungover.
He won two Grand Slam tournaments, was the first on the ATP list, earned about 15 million dollars in his career, and then started to engage in politics and was a deputy of the United Russia controlled by Vladimir Putin.
Everything changed in 2017 when he retired from the parliamentary seat and from public life.
Today he lives in seclusion, he says he has no friends or partner, which has additional meaning when it is known that he caused chaos at the Australian Open one year when he brought three of his partners to the box.
In an interview with the sports.ru portal, he talked about TV series, religion, his everyday life...
He says that he does nothing, that he likes to be alone, that he goes to bed early and that he likes to walk and travel.
He is no longer interested in tennis...
"Sometimes I go to some veteran tournaments, but even for that I have to prepare for 2, 3 weeks. I realized that it doesn't make sense to play anymore. Imagine, you work as a journalist, finish your career and then do the job you've been doing until now. Stupid , right?" explains Safin.
His favorite hobby is tourism, i.e. traveling. Machu Picchu left the strongest impression on him.
"They wash me because they conquered it. Especially Machu Picchu. There have always been some dilemmas as to whether people built it at all, and now it's clear to me too. Even the guides there doubt that it is the work of man. I believe there is another side to the story." , Safin said.
To that, the journalist asked him a sub-question: "Aliens?".
"I'm not going to answer 'YES', but when you see that building, then it's clear to you that it was built in the same way as the pyramids in Egypt. I don't believe that humans can build something like that. After all, I don't believe that we are alone in the universe ".
Safin points out that it is pointless to think that there is only this known world in the universe, but that there are many.
"After all, didn't Stephen Hawking prove it scientifically? I'm sure there are different life forms in the universe and it's completely stupid to think we're the only ones when we know there are several trillion galaxies".
When asked by a journalist if there is a world where Jesus and Muhammad exist, Safin replied that it is "another question", and when asked if he believes in religion, he replied:
"Religion doesn't exist. It's a fabrication created to control people. I don't want to offend anyone, but it's all clear to me. Does anyone really think that Jesus and Satan are sitting somewhere deciding what will happen 'down under'. Well, that is stupid!".
What makes him happy is...
"The possibility of choice. When you can do whatever you want, without depending on anyone".
And the money?
"I have never seen a happy man in a 'Maybach' or in a mansion with a million square meters. Money cannot buy happiness and health".
How much do you have?
"I have enough of it. Someone needs 10 billion dollars to live, another 10 million, and others much, much less".
Asked if that means he doesn't buy expensive clothes, he replied: "Why should I shop when there's great stuff at Zara, Mango, Pull and Bear? That's where I dress."
But you also have four cars?
"Two belong to my parents, one to my sister. Mine is the only Range Rover".
He says it annoys him when people poke their noses into other people's lives.
"I hate counting other people's money. Leave people alone, let them do whatever they want. Everyone shapes their own destiny. Many are jealous, they chase money, they want to get rich suddenly, and then they get sick. And you can't take money with you to the grave ".
On the remark that he was different in his youth, Safin snapped:
"It's not true! I always approached work seriously. I had a lot of responsibility, I had to feed my family. Nobody gave me money. People said I was lazy, that I didn't take tennis seriously, and my only problem was that I was injured destroyed. I would play one year and miss the next... My last injury was a broken leg and that's when I decided it was over. Who knows, if that hadn't happened, maybe I would still be playing."
The journalist noticed that Safin now looks much calmer than he did on the field, when he was like a crazed beast:
"A lot has changed. I'm more experienced, older, I've learned and understood some things in the meantime. I'm still learning".
He surprised with his answer to the question of whether he has many friends:
"I have no friends at all. I don't want friends. I enjoy being alone".
And the girl, the woman?
"I don't have a girlfriend or a wife for a long time. And I don't want to, I don't have any needs".
Don't want a serious relationship?
"I don't want any relationship".
But that is impossible...
“Why?” Safin asked.
Well, they all have some kind of physical needs, the journalist continued.
"No thanks. I don't want to be in a relationship period".
OK, but when you've been in a relationship with a girl for a week, does she realize that there's nothing out of the relationship?
"Oh, I can't last even a week. I love my life and I don't want to build a relationship with any woman. I have complete freedom and I want to do whatever I want. And no, none of them disappointed me, it just happened . I was in a long relationship and now I'm enjoying freedom. Peace, quiet... That's it!".
When asked by the journalist - what about sex? At least for one night?
"Well, you probably know that better than I do, you're young. Your blood boils 'down there', mine doesn't," Safin answered laconically.
He also claims that he does not have a daughter, denies that Eva Jakubovskaja is his.
"That's what people think, that's what the newspapers write. But what can I do... I can hardly stop them. I just know that I don't have a daughter".
And what if she says: "Marat is my dad".
"He won't say that".
So, Safin now lives as a recluse, by his own choice. He doesn't let anyone in the house. Almost nobody...
"My house is a sacred place. I don't want anyone to come inside except me. OK, my two cats laugh, they live with me. Basically, I adore animals, and I prefer cats to dogs. Cats calm me down, they feel human , when I feel bad they come to me and calm me down...", says Safin.
He goes on about his reclusive life:
"I'm only interested in social networks Instagram, and I also like to watch series. I can spend hours watching documentaries on YouTube. Just to correct you, it's not like I sit at home all day. I have some company from the village, sometimes I go with them for beer, tea or coffee. But I choose when I want to go out and when I want to go out. And no, they are not my friends. I have no friends".
Asked how he views tennis today, he repeats:
"I'm not interested at all. You may have noticed that there is not a single picture with a racket on my Instagram profile. I don't look at it, I don't dream about my matches, and I don't even talk about tennis. Maybe one day that will all change, but today is like I told you".
Finally, he had a message:
"I just want to be a free man!"
Bonus video:
