The only person who can beat Vladimir Putin

Dear opposition groups: If you want to unseat the Eternal President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, this guy is your best bet:

taken from Russia Beyond The Headlines

Marat Safin is a former tennis world number 1, winner of two Grand Slam titles and Roger Federer's could have been greatest rival. The guy has also been voted several times as the Sexiest Male Tennis Player in TennisReporters.net's Readers' Poll. (The website actually had to retire him and Ana Ivanovic from the poll for winning for five straight years.) Just late last year, he was also able to secure a seat as a representative at the Russian Parliament.

Even if Marat is still with Putin's United Russia Party, there are no permanent friends in politics and I think he could still very well be the male Katniss Everdeen of Russia for the following reasons:

From Getty Images

1) He's a doting brother to fellow tennis playing-sister, Dinara Safina. He'd probably volunteer as tribute should a Reaping take place to save his sister. A lot of women (myself included) would readily volunteer as his Peeta (or even Gale).

taken from Go To Tennis

2) You can talk to him and he'll listen.

From the Hopman Cup

3) He's willing to fight for you. Just look at the black eye and cut eye on this photo. He also smashes rackets when pissed off and frustrated. Don't we all like our leaders with a bit of a temper?

From Marat Safin Forum

4) Marat actually reads the news. Take that, Sarah Palin.

taken from The Downward Spiral

taken from The Guy From Russia

5) He could easily win in a Presidential battle of shirtless pics.

6) He's willing to poke fun at his good looks:

I have many ideas to offer in the economic and social fields. And I may be the prettiest boy in the Duma, but only because the others are all over 60.

Want a face for the rebellion? Marat Safin is your guy.