Safin's career ends with loss in Paris

PARIS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Marat Safin, a former world No. 1 and a two-time Grand Slam event winner, ended his competitive tennis career Wednesday in Paris.

Safin said in January that the 2009 season would be his last on the ATP tour. On Wednesday, he was defeated 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by Juan Martin del Potro in a second-round match and was eliminated from the BNP Paribas Masters tournament.

"Today I will put all my memories, all my wins and losses in a small box," Safin said during a post-match ceremony during which he was given a special trophy. "Today a door is closed, hopefully another one will open."

Safin, a 29-year-old native of Moscow, turned professional in 1997 and won 15 ATP tournaments and more than $14 million over his career. His major titles came in the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open. He was ranked No. 1 in the world the first time on Nov. 20, 2000. He was No. 1 a total of nine weeks, the last coming in April 2001.

He is the older brother of Dinara Safina, who spent a good portion of the 2009 season ranked No. 1 on the women's tennis list. Safina is currently No. 2 among women's players.