Post by Annie on Jun 11, 2005 17:56:03 GMT 3
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Did You Know...?
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PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
MARAT SAFIN Ma - rat Sa - feen
RAUSA ISLANOVA Row - sa Is - lan-ova
MIKHAIL SAFIN Mik - hile Sa - feen
DINARA SAFINA Di - na - ra Sa - feen - a / Sa - feena
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Marat has 4 tattoos:
One tattoo on his left bicep in black: It's the Chinese character 'Hou' which means 'Year of the Monkey' - the year Marat was born! He got it in Summer 2003.
Two tattoos on his right bicep in brown/black. The one on top is a human eye, and underneath is a barcode. (Not sure of the significance of either of these!) He got them at the same time between Miami 2004 and Estoril 2004. (Probably during his 1 week vacation in Miami after he lost at the tournament)
Last tattoo acquired is a huge sun on the back. It appeared during a long-time knee injury at the end of 2005.
Random thing: most Marat fans hate the eye & barcode and prefer the 'Hou' tattoo.
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Marat & Leonid on holiday in Dubai 2003 - translated by Maria.
"We had 3 days off -, tells Leonid Nerushenko, - "we were given a holiday before the next tour. I wake up after somebody’s anniversary party and my friend Marat Safin calls me. "Enough of work, get over here," he says. I ask him: “Where are you?” He says "In Dubai.” Like in a movie I absentmindedly packed my things, put on a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers and headed straight to the airport. I don’t remember how I got there and to the plane. When I arrived, Marat was training. We had a nice chat. Then in the evening I decided to check out some night club – I saw neon signs in the city. But he declined saying he has to get ready for the tournament. I thought why he wouldn’t come – it’s strict there, you can’t get drunk there even if you want to. I was so surprised when I learned that partying in their clubs is more fierce than in ours. And almost majority of the revelling girls were prostitutes from Tashkent earning money there. Some Russian-speaking people recognised me and started asking autographs. In short, we partied with sheikhs so that instead of staying for the two days I'd planned for, I stayed there for a week missing (some) concerts. There was even a discotheque called “Boudoir”. Like a boudoir. And for the first time I saw the cars of those sheikhs that cost 3 million dollars. In one supermarket I was almost escorted to a police station for speaking (too) loudly. They said you have to behave with strict politeness. 'You're not in Russia now!' they said. "
Russian businessman Ralif Safin, father of Russian singer Alsou (who also has a son called Marat....) presented Marat with a custom-made Mercedes from Stuttgart!
Marat grew up in Sokolninki, Moscow and went to school number 277. All Russian schools have numbers, but he only really went for exams and a few classes. He spent most of his time training.
He's been invited to Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion twice!
He was an excellent ice-hockey player as a child, and often played because the stadium was so close to his house.
Two of Marat's Hero's are Freud and Sherlock Holmes!!
He and Yevgeny Kafelnikov enjoy going to casino's together, or so Marat jokes!
His favourite cartoon is a Russian one, translated as 'Well, wait!'
According to his mum, Marat loves her home-made noodle soup.
We know Dinara gave Marat the ring he used to wear on his chain, but he also bought her a little necklace too!!
He and Dinara used to share a bedroom, but according to Marat, they never argued!
Marat rarely eats chocolate. Seems he's just not that fond of it.
He is actually allergic to wine, but according to Marat only certain wines affect him. So he does, ocassionally, drink it.
Marat has a large collection of watches. He also has a stamp collection from his childhood back in Moscow!! But Marat's biggest passion is cars. As a child, he could name any car he saw, and would often challenge anyone who thought they knew more than him!
Marat cried when Anna Kournikova beat him in a match when she was 9 and he was 10!
Marat said in an early interview that although he loves to collect watches, he usually wore cheap 'swatch' watches, and when 2 of them went missing for a few days, he nearly cried! They turned up in the gap between his bed and his matress!
At Bercy 2002 Marat had a Samsung T100 mobile, and Amit had a Motorola V66. Marat loved showing off his new toy!
Marat grew up with Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina and many of the other Russian players at Spartak Tennis Club in Moscow, which his dad owns.
Marat has only had two official girlfriends - Silvia Torrens Valero and Daria (Dasha) Zhukova. Silvia & Marat split up at the end of 2001. Marat first 'revealed' Dasha at the Australian Open 2004. The pail split up three years later. Dasha is currently dating a Russian billionaire Roman Abramovic.
Elena Dementieva was coached by Marat's mum, Rausa, and she said Marat was a big joker, who was always playing tricks.
