Former world No.1 Marat Safin believes fellow countrywomen Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova can both challenge for a major title in 2018.
Speaking to wtatennis.com, Safin has praised Kuznetsova for her athletic ability. The 32-year-old is a two-time grand slam champion with her last triumph occurring at the 2009 US Open. Since then, Kuznetsova has been unable to progress beyond the quarter-final stage at any major tournament. The season she achieved a win-loss record of 11-4 in the four grand slam events, reaching the last eight at Wimbledon.
Discussing her chances of winning more big titles in the future, Safin has urged Kuznetsova to ‘push more’ in tournaments.
“Kuznetsova is still doing really well. She’s a really good athlete and a really, really great tennis player. And she’s also an amazing competitor. She is still playing great tennis and I’m sure she is going to have the opportunities to win more Grand Slams in the future. She should push more and then I think she can do it. I really hope she can do it,” said Safin.
Kuznetsova currently lies eighth in the world rankings. She is yet to win a title with her best performance being a runner-up at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Should she end the year without a trophy, it will be the first time since 2013.
Safin also believes that Sharapova will have opportunities to add to her major title collection in the future. Sharapova returned to the tour in April after serving a 15-month suspension for a doping violation. Since returning, she has achieved a win-loss record of 11-5 during a season that has been marred by injury. At the US Open she reached the fourth round before falling to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova.
“Can Sharapova win more Grand Slams? Why not? She is young and I’m sure she will have opportunities in the future.” He said.
Sharapova, who already has five grand slam titles to her name, is currently ranked 86th in the world. So far her only win over a top-10 player in 2017 was against Simona Halep in New York.
