![\"Marat](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/safin-us-open-2000-celebration.jpg\")
<\/p>\n ATP Tour
\n Spoiling Sampras’ Party! Flashback to Safin’s 2000 US Open triumph<\/p>\n
Former World No. 1 won first of his two major titles in New York<\/p>\n
September 05, 2025<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Stan Honda\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Marat Safin won the first of his two Grand Slam titles at the 2000 US Open.
\n By Alex Sharp<\/p>\n
Remember a time when the pursuit of a 14th Grand Slam singles title seemed completely mind-boggling? <\/p>\n
Twenty-five years ago, American all-time great Pete Sampras<\/a> was doing just that. Major No. 13 had just been collected on the All England Club\u2019s pristine Centre Court turf at Wimbledon<\/a> in 2000. <\/p>\n Then Marat Safin<\/a> joined the conversation. <\/p>\n Safin had burst into the limelight in 1998. There was a swashbuckling, mischievous charm to the 6-foot-4 firecracker. He brought his pendulum of ferocious shots and mood swings to Flushing Meadows for his main-draw debut. <\/p>\n Just like at Roland Garros<\/a> that year, Safin stormed into Round 4. In New York, Sampras emphatically halted the Safin express 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. <\/p>\n Then came the 2000 US Open<\/a>. Safin was in red-hot form with ATP Masters 1000 glory in Toronto as well as a final run over in Indianapolis, before heading to New York City. <\/p>\n That Toronto trophy tilt included a last-gasp 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8) epic against\u2026Sampras. They were sure to be reunited sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n Safin (seeded sixth) and Sampras (seeded fourth) entered the 2000 US Open<\/a> as major players in an astonishing era. Andre Agassi<\/a> was the top seed, with Gustavo Kuerten<\/a> and Lleyton Hewitt<\/a> also in the Top 10. <\/p>\n From Safin\u2019s perspective, the first week was a true tug of war. Two of his matches went the distance, including a 6-4, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 7-6(5) nailbiter with Sebastian Grosjean in Round 3. Due to a series of storms and rain delays, Safin was forced to borrow some clothes in the locker room. Nicolas Kiefer<\/a> offered up a new shirt and shorts to enable him to close out the victory. <\/p>\n Into the Round of 16, Safin\u2019s raw power, cannonball serve, and underrated touch were doing the damage. He swept aside 12th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero<\/a> for the loss of just five games. <\/p>\n Kiefer\u2019s kit kindness was rewarded with a set in their 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 quarter-final clash, prior to a heavy-hitting 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(1) duel with Todd Martin<\/a>. <\/p>\n A first Grand Slam final. Surely, he couldn\u2019t? A certain “Pistol Pete” lay ahead. The perception was that Sampras would extend his legacy with a 14th Grand Slam and his fifth at Flushing Meadows. <\/p>\n But Safin didn\u2019t read the script. <\/p>\n The 20-year-old red-lined, passing the net-storming Sampras 21 times, and he dissolved the only two break points the American managed to conjure up (both in his last service game, as nerves began to jangle). <\/p>\n The 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 scoreline suggests a one-sided encounter. It was domination from start to finish. What an all-time performance to blaze past an all-time great for Grand Slam glory. <\/p>\n “Never in my life have I played better,\u201d said Safin. \u201cI don’t really remember it. I only remember the last game.\u201d <\/p>\n Read the full story at USOpen.org<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"It](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757102712_860_it-all-adds-up-banner.jpg\"\/)
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