Two Grand Slam titles, highest world ranking of No.1, two Davis Cup titles in 2002 and 2006 and five Masters series wins.

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It's fair to say that Marat Safin has done it all, but some will question whether he has not made full use of his immense talent.

When you consider that the Russian won the US Open in 2000 with an outstanding display to defeat the great Pete Sampras, and went on to reach the final of the Australian Open in 2002, 2004 and 2005 (when he won against home favourite Lleyton Hewitt), some will be tempted to ask what has happened since.

Safin has won 15 career titles, his last singles final coming in the Kremlin Cup in Moscow in 2008 where he lost to compatriot Igor Kunitsyn.

After winning the Australian Open in 2005, which many descibed as the most inspiring Grand Slam in the history of men’s tennis, what followed was a drought which mystified many tennis fans and pundits who saw Safin as a future all-time great.

Only one more semi-final Grand Slam appearance followed . This was at Wimbledon in 2008 on a surface which had been infamously unpopular with Marat, and he suffered defeat at the hands of the imperious Roger Federer.

Many see Safin’s lack of use of his undoubted potential as a travesty for tennis. His recent failings have been put down to injury and a lack of desire for the game which is frequently evident in his demeanour on the court.

It would be unfair to claim that Safin has not made great use of his talent and potential; he has achieved what most players could only dream of.

However, the question will hang over Marat’s career long after it is over at the end of this season. He is playing what will be his last competition of the year, the Paris Masters, due to his ATP ranking of 65.

Against French qualifier Thierry Ascoine, the erratic Russian was made to work hard in saving three match points on way to a 6-4 4-6 7-6 quarter-final victory.

It is impossible to predict whether Safin can round off his career with a title in his final tournament, but one thing's for sure; when he does hang up his racket and retire to his yacht, he will be waved an affectionate farewell by everyone connected with the gsme.

Although Safin has been far from his best since 2005, he is still one of the most respected professionals and an envied technician. His backhand is still among the most destructive on the tour.

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