Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 31 August - 13 September
 Safin waves to the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium after his defeat |
Former world number one Marat Safin brought the curtain down on his Grand Slam career with a first-round defeat by Jurgen Melzer at the US Open.
Safin, 29, who won the US Open in 2000, lost 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 on his final visit to Flushing Meadows before retirement.
The Russian said afterwards: "I definitely want to get out of tennis and try something completely different.
"I have plenty of time to think about it. It's been a long ride, so I need some time off."
Safin, now ranked 58th, waved to his fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium before leaving the court and is adamant he will call time on his career at the end of the year after playing in five more tournaments.
 | That was the last one. It could have been better ending but it was still OK. I have no regrets. I don't care about losses anymore Marat Safin |
"It's just enough", added Safin, whose other Grand Slam success came at the Australian Open in 2005.
"I achieved what I want to achieve and I want to continue doing something else.
"It's OK - it's the end. That was the last one. It could have been better ending but it was still OK. I have no regrets. I don't care about losses anymore.
Veteran Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, 36, also saw his Grand Slam career come to an end with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 defeat by 24th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.
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