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 34)
Mansoura, Egypt
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Turned pro2008
PlaysRight-handed (Double-handed backhand)
Prize money$ 849,360
Singles
Career record16–26
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
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

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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

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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

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Singles: 55 (30–25)

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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)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 2010 Thailand F1, Nonthaburi Futures Hard   Simon Cauvard 7–6(7–5), 6–3
Loss 1–1 Aug 2011 Kazakhstan F5, Astana Futures Hard   Karan Rastogi 2–6, 1–6
Win 2–1 Nov 2011 Rwanda F1, Kigali Futures Clay   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun 6–3, 6–2
Loss 2–2 Jun 2012 Spain F17, Melilla Futures Hard   James McGee 3–6, 5–7
Loss 2–3 Sep 2012 Turkey F34, Antalya Futures Hard   Brydan Klein 6–2, 6–7(7–9), 1–6
Win 3–3 Apr 2013 Egypt F3, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Ivan Nedelko 6–4, 6–2
Win 4–3 Apr 2013 Egypt F4, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Gianluigi Quinzi 6–2, 1–6, 6–3
Loss 4–4 Jun 2013 Egypt F9, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Karim Hossam 4–6, 5–7
Win 5–4 Jun 2013 Egypt F10, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Marc Rath 6–2, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
Win 6–4 Jul 2013 Egypt F14, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Omar Giacalone 6–2, 6–3
Win 7–4 Aug 2013 Egypt F21, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun 6–4, 6–3
Win 8–4 Sep 2013 Egypt F22, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Mazen Osama 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Win 9–4 Oct 2013 Egypt F29, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Hicham Khaddari 6–4, 6–2
Win 10–4 Nov 2013 Egypt F32, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Axel Michon 6–3, 7–5
Win 11–4 Dec 2013 Egypt F35, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Peđa Krstin 6–4, 7–6(7–1)
Win 12–4 Mar 2014 Egypt F9, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Sherif Sabry 6–3, 6–3
Loss 12–5 Mar 2014 Egypt F10, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Jaroslav Pospíšil 1–6, 2–6
Loss 12–6 Jun 2014 Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Marc Giner 4–6, 6–2, 2–6
Loss 12–7 Oct 2014 Egypt F29, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Matwé Middelkoop 5–7, 6–2, 3–6
Win 13–7 Nov 2014 Turkey F38, Antalya Futures Hard   Marc Sieber 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
Win 14–7 Nov 2014 Egypt F33, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Tom Jomby 6–4, 6–4
Win 15–7 Nov 2014 Egypt F34, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Jaroslav Pospíšil 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Win 16–7 Jan 2015 Egypt F2, Cairo Futures Clay   Kamil Majchrzak 7–5, 6–3
Loss 16–8 Mar 2015 Egypt F9, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Jan Šátral 3–6, 4–6
Win 17–8 Mar 2015 Egypt F10, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Jaroslav Pospíšil 6–3, 6–7(2–7), 5–0 ret.
Loss 17–9 Mar 2015 Egypt F11, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Jaroslav Pospíšil 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 17–10 Apr 2015 Egypt F15, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Dennis Novak 2–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 17–11 May 2015 Egypt F16, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Marko Tepavac 4–6, 4–6
Win 18–11 Jun 2015 Egypt F22, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   David Pérez Sanz 6–2, 6–3
Loss 18–12 Jun 2015 Egypt F23, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   David Pérez Sanz 5–7, 6–3, 1–6
Loss 18–13 Sep 2015 Egypt F30, Cairo Futures Clay   Bastian Trinker 6–7(5–7), 3–6
Win 19–13 Sep 2015 Egypt F31, Cairo Futures Clay   Bastian Trinker 7–6(7–3), 6–0
Loss 19–14 Sep 2015 Egypt F32, Cairo Futures Clay   Adrien Puget 6–7(1–7), 0–6
Win 20–14 Jan 2016 Egypt F1, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Enrique López Pérez 6–3, 7–5
Win 20–14 Jan 2016 Egypt F2, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Julien Dubail 6–2, 6–1
Loss 20–15 Apr 2016 Egypt F12, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Marko Tepavac 6–7(5–7), 4–6
Loss 21–16 Apr 2016 Nigeria F1, Abuja Futures Hard   Antal van der Duim 5–7, 3–6
Win 22–16 Apr 2016 Nigeria F2, Abuja Futures Hard   Aldin Šetkić 6–4, 4–2 ret.
Loss 22–17 May 2016 Nigeria F4, Abuja Futures Hard   David Pérez Sanz 6–7(3–7), 4–6
Loss 22–18 Sep 2016 Kenitra, Morocco Challenger Clay   Maximilian Marterer 2–6, 4–6
Win 23–18 Jul 2017 Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Lorenzo Frigerio 6–4, 7–5
Win 24–18 Aug 2017 Italy F25, Cornaiano Futures Clay   Tomislav Brkić 6–4, 6–3
Loss 24–19 Apr 2018 Anning, China, P.R. Challenger Clay   Prajnesh Gunneswaran 7–5, 3–6, 1–6
Loss 24–20 Nov 2019 Helsinki, Finland Challenger Hard (i)   Emil Ruusuvuori 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 2–6
Win 25–20 Feb 2020 Lauceston, Australia Challenger Hard   Alex Bolt 7–6(7–5), 6–1
Loss 25–21 Aug 2022 M15 Cairo, Egypt Futures Clay   Alex Barrena 6–7(4–7), 1–6
Loss 25–22 Sep 2022 M15 Cairo, Egypt Futures Clay   Leonardo Aboian 6–7(4–7), 2–6
Loss 25–23 Mar 2023 M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Futures Hard   Robert Strombachs 2–6, 3–6
Win 26–23 Apr 2023 M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Futures Hard   Ilia Simakin 6–4, 6–0
Loss 26–24 May 2023 M15 Osijek, Croatia Futures Clay   Neil Oberleitner 4–6, 3–6
Loss 26–25 Sep 2023 M25 Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic Futures Clay   Martin Krumich 2–6, 0–6
Win 27–25 Oct 2023 M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Futures Hard   Stuart Parker 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Win 28–25 Oct 2023 M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Futures Hard   Stuart Parker 7–5, 7–5
Win 29–25 Oct 2023 M15 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt World Tennis Tour Hard   Alex Knaff 6–4, 6–4
Win 30–25 Apr 2024 M25 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt World Tennis Tour Hard   Robin Bertrand 3–6, 6–2, 6–2

Doubles: 21 (13–8)

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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)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 May 2011 Turkey F17, Adana Futures Clay   Issam Haitham Taweel   Sam Barry
  Barry King
2–6, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Nov 2011 Rwanda F2, Kigali Futures Clay   Sherif Sabry   Lukas Jastraunig
  Gerald Melzer
2–6, 3–6
Loss 0–3 Oct 2012 Turkey F40, Adana Futures Hard   Andrei Ciumac   Jack Carpenter
  George Morgan
3–6, 4–6
Win 1–3 Mar 2014 Egypt F9, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Sherif Sabry   Karim Hossam
  Mazen Osama
6–2, 6–3
Win 2–3 Mar 2014 Egypt F10, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Clay   Sherif Sabry   Stefan Fiacan
  Filip Horanský
4–6, 6–3, [10–6]
Win 3–3 Jun 2014 Mohammedia, Morocco Challenger Clay   Fabiano de Paula   Richard Becker
  Elie Rousset
6–2, 3–6, [10–6]
Win 4–3 Oct 2014 Egypt F28, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Matwé Middelkoop   Sherif Sabry
  Libor Salaba
6–3, 6–4
Win 5–3 Oct 2014 Egypt F29, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Matwé Middelkoop   Libor Salaba
  Jan Zieliński
7–6(7–1), 6–3
Win 6–3 Nov 2014 Egypt F33, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Sherif Sabry   Jan Blecha
  Pascal Brunner
6–3, 6–1
Loss 6–4 Jun 2015 Egypt F23, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Issam Haitham Taweel   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun
  David Pérez Sanz
5–7, 3–6
Win 7–4 Jul 2015 Italy F17, Sassuolo Futures Clay   Tristan-Samuel Weissborn   Alessandro Giannessi
  Matteo Volante
4–6, 7–5, [10–8]
Win 8–4 Sep 2015 Egypt F32, Cairo Futures Clay   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun   Luca Margaroli
  Adrien Puget
6–4, 7–5
Loss 8–5 Oct 2015 Egypt F33, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Issam Haitham Taweel   Scott Clayton
  Jonny O'Mara
2–6, 4–6
Win 9–5 Oct 2015 Casablanca, Morocco Challenger Clay   Laurynas Grigelis   Thiemo de Bakker
  Stephan Fransen
6–4, 6–3
Loss 9–6 Jan 2016 Egypt F1, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Lukas Mugevičius   Darko Jandrić
  Enrique López Pérez
3–6, 4–6
Win 10–6 Jan 2016 Egypt F2, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Luca Margaroli   Enrique López Pérez
  Laurent Rochette
6–3, 3–6, [10–7]
Win 11–6 Feb 2016 Egypt F6, Sharm El Sheikh Futures Hard   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun   Federico Bonacia
  Matteo Fago
6–3, 5–7, [10–8]
Loss 11–7 Apr 2016 Nigeria F1, Abuja Futures Hard   Karim-Mohamed Maamoun   Nicolas Meister
  Enrique López Pérez
3–6, 4–6
Win 12–7 Sep 2016 Meknes, Morocco Challenger Clay   Luca Margaroli   Pedro Martínez
  Oriol Roca Batalla
6–4, 6–4
Win 13–7 Nov 2017 Finland F4, Helsinki Futures Hard (i)   Evgeny Karlovskiy   Vladimir Polyakov
  Evgenii Tiurnev
7–6(7–2), 6–4
Loss 13–8 Feb 2019 Launceston, Australia Challenger Hard   Hiroki Moriya   Max Purcell
  Luke Saville
5–7, 4–6

Davis Cup ties played

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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

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  1. ^ Reem Abulleil (23 September 2016). "Egypt's Safwat reaches first career singles Challenger final". sport360.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Anning | Results | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATPWorldTour.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. ^ Jonathan Jurejko (27 May 2018). "French Open 2018: Grigor Dimitrov beats lucky loser Mohammed Safwat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Mohamed Safwat restores some Egyptian sporting pride at French Open". 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15.
  5. ^ "Tennis: Egypt to play Finland in Davis Cup - Omni Sports - Sports". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. ^ "Mohamed Safwat is Egypt's first tennis player to qualify for the Olympics". 19 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Olympic Dreams: Mohamed Safwat feeling good as he makes history in Egyptian tennis".
  8. ^ "Mayar Sherif and Mohamed Safwat Become First Ever Egyptian Olympic Tennis Competitors". Egyptian Streets. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
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