22 years to the day that Marat Safin played the final “drunk” and with three blondes cheering in his box

It happened 22 years ago. However, few forget the final of the 2002 edition of the Australian Open. It was the only coronation in a Grand Slam of Thomas Johansson, who only won nine tournaments in his professional career. For many, the Swede, who reached 7th in the ATP ranking and some time later became an important leader of paddle tennis worldwide, was the worst winner by one major in the modern era.

But that arbitrary data 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.

Because? Because the Russian, who had already been number one in the world for a few weeks, He had one of the worst performances of his career and a peculiar support in the box reserved for his family. Not even his mother was there, Rauza Islanovahis first coach, nor his father, Mijailnor his sister, Dinara Safinaalso a legendary former tennis player, but three women with stunning physiques, with the appearance of models, whom the press baptized “Safinettes”.

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

At that Australian Open, Safin had emerged as the great favorite. Even though he had fallen in the ranking, the Russian was still in the top ten, he had just made the semis in the US Open previous and the way had been opened for him after Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten, Andre Agassi, Yevgeny Kafelnikov y Sebastien Grosjean They said goodbye before the third round.

Thus, the Muscovite took out 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 Pete Sampras -it was the year of his farewell- and in the quarterfinals he dismissed the South African almost effortlessly Wayne Ferreira, who abandoned in the first set. In the semis, he finally took out the German Tommy Haas After an interesting comeback to take the train that would take him to the definition against Johansson, the stone guest

But Safin did not arrive in the best way to the final against Johansson, who had had to work hard to overcome much less renowned rivals in the previous two weeks. The thing is that the night before, the 1.95 meter giant had celebrated his 22nd birthday. And, apparently, the celebrations included the blondes from the preferential stalls who caught everyone’s attention. The 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 7-6 (4) made it clear that Safin, a priori the undisputed favorite, had not arrived in his best form. He played just one set at his level.

In fact, the Austrian tennis player Daniel Koellerereccentric like few others and expelled for life from the professional circuit in 2011 for fixing matches, did not mince 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 years old and I did it because I saw Marat Safin drinking before playing the final of the Australian Open. I thought that if I was between 150 and 180 and I didn’t go up in my ranking, he would He’s going to play in a final in Australia and he can barely walk on his two feet, it couldn’t be 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 that. I also played drunk once, in the Bundesliga, but nobody knew.”.

The point is that regardless of what Safin took or did not take, the gaze remained pointed at that particular family box. “They were two very exhausting weeks and how can we not admire Marat Safin’s resistance. In his team, support group, harem or whatever you want to call it, there are no less than eight blondes: one for each round of the tournament and another as a spare.wrote the reporter 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: “Okay, I have a very nice bench. I go with my friends and have fun. For an opponent like Pete Sampras I need to adopt the right mentality and find the motivation. That’s why I brought so many friends. When I have fun, I enjoy tennis and to “The only way to do it is to be with friends. They help me and fill me with confidence.”.

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 fled to work with Andre Agassirecalled that moment and the reaction it aroused in his wife, Victoria, when he decided not to extend the working relationship with the Russian.

“I remember Victoria telling me, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’ This guy is so good! My friends buy tickets to all his games. You should take Marat up on his offer.” I looked at her and asked, ‘Are you serious?’ She was really serious. I agreed to become her advisor in Australia 2002. It was a very interesting experience. Three beautiful ladies were sitting in Marat’s box. Victoria also watched the game and I said, ‘Honey, do you really want to be 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.

The three companions in the final of that Australian Open had their quarter of an hour of fame. They were two girls from Melbourne and a Russian model, Katya Bestoyeva21 years old, who months later was also by his side in the Davis Cup final, which Russia won against France in Paris with two points contributed by Safin as a singles player – the hero was Youznhy, winner of the final match.

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

The third era Anna Gorski and he was 22 years old at the time. She was studying marketing at Melbourne’s Monash University and had met Safin on the practice court during the open session. She told it herself after becoming the center of attention. “We met here and we got on well and just hung out. We’ve been seeing Melbourne a little bit, but it’s not very exciting”.

-That? Safin had three blondes in tow all week and you didn’t have a good time? -the journalist asked him with a more than obvious double meaning.

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

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

Safin, who turned 44 this Saturday, retired in 2009. He had 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 saw Roger Federer scream for the first time in the land of kangaroos. But those are other stories.