Marat Safin brought three blonde beauties to his Australian Open final in 2002 (Image: Getty)
One Australian Open winner played drunk and brought three Russian stunners to his VIP box.
It happened back in 2002 when Marat Safin was taking on Thomas Johansson in the Melbourne showpiece.
Safin, who won his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in late 2000, was heavy favourite heading into the match against Johansson and even went 1-0 up against the Swede.
Johansson came back to win 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 7–6 (7–4), with Safin having played as if his mind was elsewhere.
There’s every chance it might’ve been, given the Russian had brought along three blonde beauties from his homeland along with him.
A place that is usually reserved for each player’s nearest and dearest was instead the subject of great interest to fans, the media and Safin himself.
Referencing the bombshell trio who had been watching along from the stands, a mischievous Safin said in an on-court interview: “I have to say thank you to all my family sitting over there.”
Safin had a reputation in the game as somewhat of a bad boy, so much so, he also allegedly turned up to the final drunk!
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Marat Safin (left) eventually won the Australian Open in 2005 (Image: Getty)
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It was a claim made by former colleague Daniel Koellerer, who suggested Safin ‘partied like he was already champion’ the night before the 2002 final.
Kellerer mused: “I saw Safin drinking before the AO final. I thought that if I can’t move from 150th place sober, and he plays the finals drunk, then alcohol isn’t so bad.
“Safin was so drunk the night before, as if he was celebrating his birthday. Or as if he had already celebrated winning the .”
Safin would eventually get his hands on an title, albeit three years after his first final appearance, defeating local lad Lleyton Hewitt to take his second and final Grand Slam title.
Earlier in the competition, he’d come up against a fresh-faced , who was appearing at his first Grand Slam as a professional.
Reminiscing on his match-up with Safin, the Serb said before this year’s tournament: “I’ve been here for 20 years, a nice number, I’ve had the greatest successes here.
“That year 2005 was the first time I played Grand Slam, I played against Marat Safin, he ended up winning the tournament.
“I believed I could win the Grand Slam, just three years later I was on the same course and took the title. It’s a real pleasure to come back here.”