Mohamed Safwat

Mohamed Safwat (Arabic: محمد صفوت; born 19 September 1990) is an Egyptian tennis player. Safwat has been a regular player on the Egypt Davis Cup team since 2009. Safwat has won one singles and three titles in doubles on the ATP Challenger Tour. He is currently the Egyptian No. 1.

Mohamed Safwat
Country (sports) Egypt
ResidenceCairo, Egypt
Born (1990-09-19) 19 September 1990 (age 33)
Mansoura, Egypt
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Turned pro2008
PlaysRight-handed (Double-handed backhand)
Prize money$ 849,360
Singles
Career record13–25 (34.2% in ATP World Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 130 (10 February 2020)
Current rankingNo. 392 (16 October 2023)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (2020)
French Open1R (2018)
WimbledonQ3 (2016)
US Open1R (2020)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games1R (2021)
Doubles
Career record4–10 (28.6% in ATP World Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 225 (26 September 2016)
Current rankingNo. 872 (29 August 2022)
Team competitions
Davis Cup32–18
Last updated on: 18 October 2023.

Professional career

In 2016, Safwat became the first Egyptian player since 1997 to reach the final of a Challenger tournament when he reached the final in Kenitra, where he lost to Maximilian Marterer in straight sets.[1] He also reached the semifinals at the Challenger tournament in Launceston in 2017, eventually losing to Mitchell Krueger.

In 2018, Safwat beat No. 3 seed and top 100 player Jordan Thompson en route to his second Challenger singles final in Anning, where he lost to Prajnesh Gunneswaran.[2]

Safwat qualified for his first Grand Slam at the 2018 French Open as a lucky loser, where he lost to Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets.[3] He was the first man from Egypt to play in a Grand Slam tennis tournament's main singles draw in 22 years.[4]

In January 2020, Safwat qualified for a Grand Slam main draw for the first time in his career at the 2020 Australian Open by defeating three opponents in the qualifications at Melbourne Park. It made him the first Egyptian since Ismail El Shafei in 1978 to feature in an Australian Open main draw.

In February 2020, Safwat won his first singles Challenger title at the Launceston International beating local Alex Bolt in the final, thereby becoming the first Egyptian to win a Challenger title in singles since Tamer El-Sawy in 1996 and took him to a career-high of World No. 130 in the ATP rankings on 10 February 2020.

National representation

In 2018, Safwat was part of the Egyptian Davis Cup team to advance to the 3rd round of the Europe/Africa Zone II bracket for the first time since 1996.[5]

Safwat made history for Egyptian sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where he made his debut, as the first Egyptian man to qualify for the Olympics in 2021 after he won the 2019 African Games.[6][7][8]

Challenger and Futures finals

Singles: 55 (30–25)

Legend (singles)
ATP Challenger Tour (1–3)
ITF Futures Tour (29–22)
Titles by surface
Hard (16–13)
Clay (14–12)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Aug 2010Thailand F1, NonthaburiFuturesHard Simon Cauvard7–6(7–5), 6–3
Loss1–1Aug 2011Kazakhstan F5, AstanaFuturesHard Karan Rastogi2–6, 1–6
Win2–1Nov 2011Rwanda F1, KigaliFuturesClay Karim-Mohamed Maamoun6–3, 6–2
Loss2–2Jun 2012Spain F17, MelillaFuturesHard James McGee3–6, 5–7
Loss2–3Sep 2012Turkey F34, AntalyaFuturesHard Brydan Klein6–2, 6–7(7–9), 1–6
Win3–3Apr 2013Egypt F3, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Ivan Nedelko6–4, 6–2
Win4–3Apr 2013Egypt F4, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Gianluigi Quinzi6–2, 1–6, 6–3
Loss4–4Jun 2013Egypt F9, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Karim Hossam4–6, 5–7
Win5–4Jun 2013Egypt F10, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Marc Rath6–2, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
Win6–4Jul 2013Egypt F14, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Omar Giacalone6–2, 6–3
Win7–4Aug 2013Egypt F21, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Karim-Mohamed Maamoun6–4, 6–3
Win8–4Sep 2013Egypt F22, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Mazen Osama6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Win9–4Oct 2013Egypt F29, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Hicham Khaddari6–4, 6–2
Win10–4Nov 2013Egypt F32, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Axel Michon6–3, 7–5
Win11–4Dec 2013Egypt F35, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Peđa Krstin6–4, 7–6(7–1)
Win12–4Mar 2014Egypt F9, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Sherif Sabry6–3, 6–3
Loss12–5Mar 2014Egypt F10, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Jaroslav Pospíšil1–6, 2–6
Loss12–6Jun 2014Egypt F20, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Marc Giner4–6, 6–2, 2–6
Loss12–7Oct 2014Egypt F29, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Matwé Middelkoop5–7, 6–2, 3–6
Win13–7Nov 2014Turkey F38, AntalyaFuturesHard Marc Sieber7–5, 3–6, 6–4
Win14–7Nov 2014Egypt F33, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Tom Jomby6–4, 6–4
Win15–7Nov 2014Egypt F34, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Jaroslav Pospíšil5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Win16–7Jan 2015Egypt F2, CairoFuturesClay Kamil Majchrzak7–5, 6–3
Loss16–8Mar 2015Egypt F9, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Jan Šátral3–6, 4–6
Win17–8Mar 2015Egypt F10, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Jaroslav Pospíšil6–3, 6–7(2–7), 5–0 ret.
Loss17–9Mar 2015Egypt F11, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Jaroslav Pospíšil7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss17–10Apr 2015Egypt F15, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Dennis Novak2–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss17–11May 2015Egypt F16, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Marko Tepavac4–6, 4–6
Win18–11Jun 2015Egypt F22, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard David Pérez Sanz6–2, 6–3
Loss18–12Jun 2015Egypt F23, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard David Pérez Sanz5–7, 6–3, 1–6
Loss18–13Sep 2015Egypt F30, CairoFuturesClay Bastian Trinker6–7(5–7), 3–6
Win19–13Sep 2015Egypt F31, CairoFuturesClay Bastian Trinker7–6(7–3), 6–0
Loss19–14Sep 2015Egypt F32, CairoFuturesClay Adrien Puget6–7(1–7), 0–6
Win20–14Jan 2016Egypt F1, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Enrique López Pérez6–3, 7–5
Win20–14Jan 2016Egypt F2, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Julien Dubail6–2, 6–1
Loss20–15Apr 2016Egypt F12, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Marko Tepavac6–7(5–7), 4–6
Loss21–16Apr 2016Nigeria F1, AbujaFuturesHard Antal van der Duim5–7, 3–6
Win22–16Apr 2016Nigeria F2, AbujaFuturesHard Aldin Šetkić6–4, 4–2 ret.
Loss22–17May 2016Nigeria F4, AbujaFuturesHard David Pérez Sanz6–7(3–7), 4–6
Loss22–18Sep 2016Kenitra, MoroccoChallengerClay Maximilian Marterer2–6, 4–6
Win23–18Jul 2017Egypt F20, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Lorenzo Frigerio6–4, 7–5
Win24–18Aug 2017Italy F25, CornaianoFuturesClay Tomislav Brkić6–4, 6–3
Loss24–19Apr 2018Anning, China, P.R.ChallengerClay Prajnesh Gunneswaran7–5, 3–6, 1–6
Loss24–20Nov 2019Helsinki, FinlandChallengerHard (i) Emil Ruusuvuori3–6, 7–6(7–4), 2–6
Win25–20Feb 2020Lauceston, AustraliaChallengerHard Alex Bolt7–6(7–5), 6–1
Loss25–21Aug 2022M15 Cairo, EgyptFuturesClay Alex Barrena6–7(4–7), 1–6
Loss25–22Sep 2022M15 Cairo, EgyptFuturesClay Leonardo Aboian6–7(4–7), 2–6
Loss25–23Mar 2023M15 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptFuturesHard Robert Strombachs2–6, 3–6
Win26–23Apr 2023M15 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptFuturesHard Ilia Simakin6–4, 6–0
Loss26–24May 2023M15 Osijek, CroatiaFuturesClay Neil Oberleitner4–6, 3–6
Loss26–25Sep 2023M25 Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech RepublicFuturesClay Martin Krumich2–6, 0–6
Win27–25Oct 2023M15 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptFuturesHard Stuart Parker6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Win28–25Oct 2023M15 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptFuturesHard Stuart Parker7–5, 7–5
Win29–25Oct 2023M15 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptWorld Tennis TourHard Alex Knaff6–4, 6–4
Win30–25Apr 2024M25 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptWorld Tennis TourHard Robin Bertrand3–6, 6–2, 6–2

Doubles: 21 (13–8)

Legend (doubles)
ATP Challenger Tour (3–1)
ITF Futures Tour (10–7)
Titles by surface
Hard (6–6)
Clay (7–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1May 2011Turkey F17, AdanaFuturesClay Issam Haitham Taweel Sam Barry
Barry King
2–6, 2–6
Loss0–2Nov 2011Rwanda F2, KigaliFuturesClay Sherif Sabry Lukas Jastraunig
Gerald Melzer
2–6, 3–6
Loss0–3Oct 2012Turkey F40, AdanaFuturesHard Andrei Ciumac Jack Carpenter
George Morgan
3–6, 4–6
Win1–3Mar 2014Egypt F9, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Sherif Sabry Karim Hossam
Mazen Osama
6–2, 6–3
Win2–3Mar 2014Egypt F10, Sharm El SheikhFuturesClay Sherif Sabry Stefan Fiacan
Filip Horanský
4–6, 6–3, [10–6]
Win3–3Jun 2014Mohammedia, MoroccoChallengerClay Fabiano de Paula Richard Becker
Elie Rousset
6–2, 3–6, [10–6]
Win4–3Oct 2014Egypt F28, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Matwé Middelkoop Sherif Sabry
Libor Salaba
6–3, 6–4
Win5–3Oct 2014Egypt F29, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Matwé Middelkoop Libor Salaba
Jan Zieliński
7–6(7–1), 6–3
Win6–3Nov 2014Egypt F33, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Sherif Sabry Jan Blecha
Pascal Brunner
6–3, 6–1
Loss6–4Jun 2015Egypt F23, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Issam Haitham Taweel Karim-Mohamed Maamoun
David Pérez Sanz
5–7, 3–6
Win7–4Jul 2015Italy F17, SassuoloFuturesClay Tristan-Samuel Weissborn Alessandro Giannessi
Matteo Volante
4–6, 7–5, [10–8]
Win8–4Sep 2015Egypt F32, CairoFuturesClay Karim-Mohamed Maamoun Luca Margaroli
Adrien Puget
6–4, 7–5
Loss8–5Oct 2015Egypt F33, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Issam Haitham Taweel Scott Clayton
Jonny O'Mara
2–6, 4–6
Win9–5Oct 2015Casablanca, MoroccoChallengerClay Laurynas Grigelis Thiemo de Bakker
Stephan Fransen
6–4, 6–3
Loss9–6Jan 2016Egypt F1, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Lukas Mugevičius Darko Jandrić
Enrique López Pérez
3–6, 4–6
Win10–6Jan 2016Egypt F2, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Luca Margaroli Enrique López Pérez
Laurent Rochette
6–3, 3–6, [10–7]
Win11–6Feb 2016Egypt F6, Sharm El SheikhFuturesHard Karim-Mohamed Maamoun Federico Bonacia
Matteo Fago
6–3, 5–7, [10–8]
Loss11–7Apr 2016Nigeria F1, AbujaFuturesHard Karim-Mohamed Maamoun Nicolas Meister
Enrique López Pérez
3–6, 4–6
Win12–7Sep 2016Meknes, MoroccoChallengerClay Luca Margaroli Pedro Martínez
Oriol Roca Batalla
6–4, 6–4
Win13–7Nov 2017Finland F4, HelsinkiFuturesHard (i) Evgeny Karlovskiy Vladimir Polyakov
Evgenii Tiurnev
7–6(7–2), 6–4
Loss13–8Feb 2019Launceston, AustraliaChallengerHard Hiroki Moriya Max Purcell
Luke Saville
5–7, 4–6

Davis Cup ties played

22 ties played, 17 victories and 10 defeats in the singles ; 7 victories and 4 defeats in the doubles (from 2009 to end of 2018)

References