Time for final tricks from 'magician' Santoro

Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, once nicknamed "the magician" by Pete Sampras for his habit of mystifying bigger, stronger opponents, could perform one final, record-breaking trick before his remarkable career ends.

The Paris Masters, starting on Sunday, is likely to be the last tournament for the 36-year-old although he has not totally ruled out taking part in the Australian Open in January.

If he does compete at Melbourne Park, Santoro, who played the first of a record 67 grand slam tournaments at the 1989 French Open, would be the first player to have played grand slams over two decades.

"I don't know what I'll decide," he told Reuters in an interview. "My idea was always to finish my career at (Paris Masters venue) Bercy but at the same time, going to Melbourne would make me worthy of a Trivial Pursuit question."

For the time being, his mind is set on the Paris tournament and his last appearance before the French public.

"I want emotions, suspense, and, if possible (a final game against) a player I have sympathy for," he said.

That could be Russia's Marat Safin, ironically playing his last tournament this week in the French capital.

"That would be funny," Santoro said. "The best memory of my career remains my victory against him at the French Open when he was the World No 1."

MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT

One of the few major players on the men's circuit to hit both shots double-handed, Santoro has won many admirers over the years for his finesse and sense of strategy.

His famous third-round match against Safin, in fact the World No 2 then, at the 2001 French Open definitely ranks among his most memorable achievements.

Santoro, leading two sets to one and understandably feeling tired, gave away the fourth set, which the Russian won 6-0, before bouncing back in the fifth, taking it 6-1 to seal victory.

The Tahiti-born Frenchman has plenty of other great memories, notably two Davis Cup triumphs in 1991 and 2001, and also a few regrets, particularly the fact that he could never shine at Wimbledon.

"I was rarely injured in my career but when I was, it was always at Wimbledon where I had elbow, foot and then thigh problems," he said.

"The only year I played well there was 2001 and my wife called me before my third-round match against (Russian Mikhail) Youzhny to tell me she was having contractions.

"I played, or rather did not play, for two sets and then pulled out. I joined my wife 45 minutes before she gave birth to my daughter (Djenae)."

Santoro, whose plans include working as a radio pundit and taking over the management of the Metz ATP tournament, said he felt quite happy to be leaving the frantic world of competitive tennis.

"I spent 20 years of my life in a tumble dryer," he said. "I had satisfactions but also frustrations. Now I'll take time to live my life."