Marat Safin backs Roger Federer to extend their generation's legacy

At the beginning of the new Millenium, Roger Federer, Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt and Juan Carlos Ferrero were the young players to watch in the upcoming years.

All four players would win a Major title within the next couple of years and become the world's leading players. While the other three are already in a well-deserved retirement, Roger Federer is still among the world's leading players, winning Major titles in 2017 and 2018 and wasting another opportunity at Wimbledon 2019. The Swiss hasn't played since the last year's Australian Open, undergoing two knee surgeries in 2020 and preparing his return for Doha in a couple of weeks.

A couple of days ago, Dinara Safina shared a memory from 16 years ago when Marat Safin and Roger Federer played an epic Australian Open semi-final. Federer claimed the first Australian Open crown over Marat in 2004, and it was the Russian's turn to serve revenge a year later, ousting world no. 1 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7 in four hours and 28 minutes of thrilling tennis.

The encounter took place on Marat's 25th birthday, and he gave himself a special gift, especially after winning the title three days later. Roger did his best to come back from a 5-2 deficit in the fifth set before finishing on the wrong side of the scoreboard when Marat broke him in the 16th game and converted the seventh match point! The Russian saved a match point in the fourth set's 12th game, prevailed in the tie break and scored a late break in the decider to advance into the title clash.

"Sister, thanks for the memories. Rogelio, the last one standing from our Gen! Keep on kicking asses! Respect, brother," Marat Safin said.