Safin plans to retire from tennis in 2010

Marat Safin said in a newspaper interview that he plans to retire from tennis in 2010.

Photo: Safin plans to retire from tennis in 2010

Safin plans to retire from tennis in 2010

"2010 will be my last season," the two-time Grand Slam champion said in an interview published Wednesday by sports daily L'Equipe. "I will be 30 years old and it will be time to move onto something completely different."

Safin has dropped to 63rd in the rankings after a serious knee injury, and split with coach Peter Lundgren before the U.S. Open in August.

"The season has been very tough for me," said Safin, who is playing at the Open de Moselle. "If I had won half the games I should have won, I would be in a completely different (ranking) position."

The Russian feels he is improving but needs to be "more aggressive" on court. His short-term goal is to return to the top 30 and be seeded for the Australian Open in January a major he won in 2005, reports AP.

The 2000 U.S. Open champion said he will play four more tournaments before preparing for the Dec. 1-3 Davis Cup final against Argentina.