Tennis legend gives advice to senatorial candidate Pacquiao

Former world No.1 Marat Safin of the Japan Warriors during his Legends match against Carlos Moya of the Singapore Slammers in the 2015 IPTL on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Marat Safin and Manny Pacquiao may be two different sporting worlds apart, but the two legends in their own fields have something in common.

Like Pacquiao, tennis great Safin also tried his hand in politics and in fact was elected into the Russian Parliament in 2011.

Pacquiao serves as Sarangani Representative and is running for senator in the coming 2016 Elections.

Safin is in Manila for the second leg of the 2015 International Premier Tennis League as part of the Japan Warriors and was asked by a Filipino reporter for his advice to Pacquiao.

“Good luck to Manny. Don’t hit anybody in the Senate,” said Safin, a two-time Grand Slam winner before retiring in 2009, with a laugh. “But I feel he’ll be more effective over there than me because I cannot bring the racket over there but use his own hands.”

Kidding aside, the former world No.1 feels Pacquiao will be effective in his role if he earns a Senate seat in the May polls being someone who’s admired by millions of Filipinos especially the younger generation.

“I think in my opinion he’s doing the right thing because these kinds of people they can be heard and they can deliver things for the people in the right way,” said the 35-year-old Safin, who lost in the Legends match to Carlos Moya, 6-4. Plus the youth, the young generation, the tourism and many others are very important subjects for any country.”

“These kinds of people will be good and I wish him good luck, be patient, be patient.”