January 15, 2002 The Russian won with 22 percent of the vote on an ATPtennis.com poll.

Russian superstar Marat Safin tapped the honor as the ATP's Fans' Favorite Player, based on results from fans voting on an ATPtennis.com poll.

The 21-year-old blew away the competition, receiving 22 percent or 50,324 of the 228,746 votes cast on the Web site. He edged out Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, who came in second place with 38,886 votes or 17 percent of the total tally.

American Andre Agassi took third place with 14 percent, while Juan Carlos Ferrero claimed 10 percent and Pete Sampras rounded out the top five with 9 percent of the vote.

The rest of the players came in as follows: Goran Ivanisevic and Sebastien Grosjean with 6 percent; Andy Roddick with 4 percent; Tim Henman with 3 percent; and Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer and Tommy Haas tied with 1 percent.

Safin, who ended the year in 11th place in the ATP Champions Race 2001, won two titles in 2001, in Tashkent and St. Petersburg. He has claimed one Grand Slam title in his career, at the 2000 US Open.

The award was among several handed out at the ATP Player Meeting in Melbourne. Hewitt was selected as the 2001 ATP Player of the Year, while Ivanisevic was named the Most Improved Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

2001 ATP Award Winners
Player of the Year - Lleyton Hewitt
Most Improved Player - Goran Ivanisevic
Doubles Team of the Year - Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge
Comeback Player of the Year - Guillermo Canas
Newcomer of the Year - Andy Roddick
Fans' Favorite - Marat Safin
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship - Pat Rafter

www.atptennis.com