Marcelo Rios was a genius on the court.

First 40 seconds: amazing Safin points. Score: 3-0 Rios.

Back when there was more of a variety of styles and players. And when all the courts weren't super slow.

You know what's the best thing on this video? That majestic Yonex racket from Rios. Probably the best racket ever.

This clay court is 50% faster than any hardcourt of today's tennis.

Marat Safin was my hero! He was a bit unlucky with all the injuries. Hugely talented. Should've won way more slams!

Marat's backhand is awesome!

It doesn't get better than this. Good old times.

Rios was a really talent guy, a unique player I’d say, but his problem always was in his head and attitude. He failed that smash and fell apart mentally. sometimes you could see him without the will to continue playing and he just stopped competing at the level he could perform

My two favorite players of all time. Impressive how resourceful they used to be, using the different angles of the court, something you don’t see nowadays. Good all times.

Such intensity from Safin, loved it. You can see the talent on display and the relentless ball striking. No wonder its hard to keep that level because its just like a ball machine putting back balls in play with increased pace every time the ball hits Safin's racket. Indeed 2 slams dont do his talent justice as on his day he could literally beat anyone. Most of all, the falir and personality of Marat is unrivaled amongst players of his age.

The best tennis player that I saw was Marcelo Ríos, Genious .The best talented player in the history.

Rios couldn't forget that point in the tiebreak of the first,but damn,Safin had a killer cross court backhand.

Well Rios was already on downhill and Safin on a big rise. The best part of this video is a legendary comentry duo of David Mercer & Frew McMillan. I grew up listening them on Eurosport.

2 amazing legends

Omg how good is Safin's backhand?!

Wow! ..Marat Safin surprised me in an interview saying how he idolized Rio's but it's also amazing how good Marat speaks spanish 😳🥴🤯😁

Que tiempos aquellos cuando teniamos al "chino " a Gonzalez y a Massu !!!

Trying to learn from the legends thanks tennistv for the video!!!

This clay court looks faster than the USO the last 10 years.

I could watch Safin walloping those backhands all day long

Marcelo Rios a legend.

Rios was talented but unlucky due to injury.

two of my favorite players ever

Dunno if it's an illusion, but this clay looks amazingly fast

Hard to believe with the talent Rios had that he only played in one GS final. Still that's one more than Kyrgios will play in 🙄

Rios is a legend. Safin said in an interview how he idolised him. Just like many players throughout all generations did. Rios has been one of the most talented players in history, not so successful, even though he reached the top as being N1 for a couple months, won 5 M1000, reached GS final and won 18 titles. His head was too crazy, and got some bad injuries, but his raw talent was unbelievable. No one did or have done the angles he produced both forehand and backhand. He even did a couple 360* turn strokes returns and sitting on court smashes. Everyone in the tennis world knows him and revere his gifted technical strokes and incredible touch. Other legends like Borg, McEnroe, Edberg, Sampras, Agassi, Kuerten, Federer, Djokovic and all the Spanish speakers country players have admired his talent.

Always amazed me how well Safin managed to play on clay, given his height and size, and how straight his shots were. Great talent.

The Rally , ball speed and power they generated on this match is unbelievable in this generation / Era way too advanced for circa Y2K and this is Clay court , playing like hard court 😮

Rios: tenis Safin: ping pong

I miss Safin ...😢

wow...what a pleasant sound of hitting the ball. watching the natural ease of brutal hitting from safin.... i feel nadal stands behind safin.

Agassi, Kafelnikov, Nalbandian & Safin are the best two Handed backhand

Nice video👌Im happy for the video tomorrow

wish we had more players like this outside the big three, excluding kyrgios. Many are so boring and play grinding points. i wanna watch some interesting tennis.

They were definitely geniuses on the court, but I'd say their combined IQ outside of tennis was 150. Both very dense individuals

They were two unreal talents who could have achieved a lot more, especially Rios. Back in those days you could get to world No 1 without winning a slam. It all changed thanks to the big three.

Love all-court tennis matches

Two legends. My two favorite players of all time. 🫁🫁

So incredible!!

Truly unreal

Rios looks like a mafia boss lol

Video sponsored by Safin

Marat Safin quizá el jugador mas talentoso de todos los tiempos.

Partidazo puro talento y pedazo de palos jajaja

RIOS#1 👏👏👏👏☝️👑🇨🇱

Very good

The point Safin plays at 2:57 could be the best point I've seen him play!

A lightweight genius vs strong heavyweight that moves fast. Safin did not give up on tough angled shots and hence his success albeit being short.

these two would beat all the players of today...

before Nadal's legendary forehand, there was Rios

Safin el unico europeo con temperamento que jugaba como sudamericano

So, next video is Safin Vs Kuerten final right?

Interesting thing is that when Safin played Nalby or Rios he didnt bother much about their exceptional talent. He just overpowered them and run them over like a truck. 😁

Perdió ríos ese partido ,pero prefiero si hoy en día ver un jugador haci verlo perder pero ver su juego su magia su fantasía ,no hay como el

Wait....clay court? ....god speed level

those rackets were like guns

2 guys who should’ve won a lot of slams

What a wasted talent Marat!! Would have been one of the goat if only he had willed!! One of the best DOUBLE-HANDED BACKHAND ever!! Agassi Borg Wilander Djokovic can get close for me

Safrin's backhand! Fuckin 'ell!

Both have incredible two handed bakhands ! But Safin hace a rifle

Y creer que de haber ganado el torneo, Safin hubiese terminado la temporado como N°1 del año 200 y no Kuerten.

Marcelo Ríos masacrado

It's funny when safin was inspired he could beat everyone when he wasnt inspired he could lose to everyone

Creo q Safin siempre le hizo buenos partidos al chino, le costaba mucho ganarle cuando lo hizo

Safin was a fucking genius.

MArcelo rios. Estatura 1,75 cms😮

1 minuto de video y solo jugadas de Safin?....mmm....

if they had stayed healthy and more focus on tennis , these 2 monstres xould have played with the big 3 easyyyyyy

Ahi tienen para los que dicen que jugaban mas lento que hoy

Con quel Safin era difficile vincere...

This two at their peaks would had smoked peak dopedal

va ganando 3 a o Ríos y ponen solo los puntos de safín

On of them could not beat chang , the other one could not beat santoro 😁

Safin le pagaba con un mazo la cagó

They haven’t slowed clay courts down, stop being nostalgia merchants

old tenis was slower? XD

Rios must be the biggest waste of talent in tennis history, with Safin not too far behind.

you need to upload full matches what the fuck is wrong with you guys request djo vs thiem miami

not first but early

lo llevaron de la mano a la escuela a rios... y tantos que lo idolatran si es muy malo

first

Chino Ríos valía callampa, nunca le pudo ganar a Safin y a varios más

Ya pu chino deja de hacerte campaña si ya eres pasado ademas nunca hiciste nada extraordinario fuiste numero 1 por 30 segundos cuando agassi ya usaba muletas. LA DURA NO. MAS