MOSCOW, November 11 (RIA Novosti) - A farewell ceremony was held at the Paris Bercy stadium on Wednesday for former world Number 1 Marat Safin, who is leaving tennis after a defeat in his final match at the Paris Masters Series tennis tournament.
The Russian tennis player announced plans to retire earlier this year.
At the ceremony, Safin was given a symbolic key to the French stadium. Then a five-minute presentation of the most memorable episodes of his career was shown, followed by short video addresses from a number of players, including Swiss Roger Federer, ranked world Number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
Safin, 29, had earned over $14 million and won 15 titles over his playing career. He held the Number 1 ATP ranking for nine weeks in 2000 when he won his first Grand Slam tournament at the U.S. Open, becoming the only Russian in history to win this tournament in the Men's Singles draw.
In his final match on Wednesday, Safin lost 6-4 5-7 6-4 to Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro.
