Safin prepared for the Australian Open at the invitational exhibition tournament, the AAMI Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.
Other players in the field were Roddick, Fernando González, Nikolay Davydenko, Marcos Baghdatis, Ivan Ljubičić, and Andy Murray.
Safin was victorious in his opening match, defeating Andy Murray.
before losing in his second match to Andy Roddick, 6–3, 6–3.

In the third-place play-off, Safin rebounded from the Roddick loss and overpowered the prior year's Australian Open runner up Fernando González.
Safin won his first-round match at the Australian Open against Ernests Gulbis in straight sets.
He was ousted in the second round after a grueling five-set match against Baghdatis.

In February, Safin was granted wildcards into the tournaments at Memphis and Las Vegas.
In Memphis, he was edged out by his 2002 Australian Open opponent, Thomas Johansson in the first round.
In Las Vegas, he was defeated by Lleyton Hewitt during the semifinals.
Safin was defeated by Hewitt once again.

In March, Safin lost in the first round of Indian Wells and Miami, to Jürgen Melzer and qualifier Bobby Reynolds, respectively.
In the Davis Cup between Russia and the Czech Republic, Safin defeated No.
9 Tomáš Berdych in a five-set encounter, after being two sets down.
This was the first time in his career that he had come back to win a match after being down two sets.

Safin's next tournament was in Valencia.
He defeated No.
20-ranked and fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.
In spite of the fact that Ferrero is from the Valencia region, Safin was the more popular player, having been based in Valencia for many years and being a well-known Valencia CF fan. –
local player Ferrero controversially favouring Real Madrid.
He played Dutch teenager Robin Haase in the next round.
He won the first set and was up 4–2 in the second set.
However, Haase broke back to take it to a tiebreak.
Safin had four match points, including one on his serve, but lost the tiebreak, and eventually the match.
In the Monte Carlo Masters, Safin defeated Xavier Malisse, but then lost to No.
5 David Ferrer.
He then entered the 2008 BMW Open in Munich, Germany, where he beat Carlos Berlocq in the first round.
In the second round, he edged out Michael Berrer, but lost to Fernando González in his first quarterfinal of the year, and the first since June 2007 at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. Safin entered the 2008 French Open but was eliminated in the second round by countryman and fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, in straight sets.

Ranked at No.
75, Safin entered the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated Fabio Fognini in the first round.
In the second round, he defeated No.
3 player and 2008 Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic.
Safin's victory came as a shock as Djokovic was described as a "serious contender" to win the tournament.
In the third round, he played and defeated Italian Andreas Seppi.
In the fourth round, he defeated Stanislas Wawrinka.
This was the first time he had reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam since the 2005 Australian Open.
Safin went on to defeat Feliciano López in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal clash with defending champion Roger Federer.
His run to the semifinals was his best record in Wimbledon and made him the first Russian man to ever reach a Wimbledon semifinal.
Safin attributed his great run at Wimbledon to the hard work he was putting in with coach Hernán Gumy.
Safin then played at the Swedish Open, on clay, in Båstad against Marc López, winning in the first round.
He lost his second-round match against Potito Starace.

Safin was awarded a wild card into the Rogers Cup Masters tournament in Toronto.
He beat Sam Querrey in the first round.
Because of rain delays, he had to play his next match against Stan Wawrinka on the same day.
He lost that match.
Safin was seeded fifth for his next tournament, the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles.
He defeated Americans John Isner and Wayne Odesnik in the first and second rounds, respectively, to advance to the quarterfinals, where he was defeated by Denis Gremel
Safin prepared for the Australian Open at the invitational exhibition tournament, the AAMI Kooyong Classic in Melbourne. Other players in the field were Roddick, Fernando González, Nikolay Davydenko, Marcos Baghdatis, Ivan Ljubičić, and Andy Murray. Safin was victorious in his opening match, defeating Andy Murray. before losing in his second match to Andy Roddick, 6–3, 6–3.
In the third-place play-off, Safin rebounded from the Roddick loss and overpowered the prior year's Australian Open runner up Fernando González. Safin won his first-round match at the Australian Open against Ernests Gulbis in straight sets. He was ousted in the second round after a grueling five-set match against Baghdatis.
In February, Safin was granted wildcards into the tournaments at Memphis and Las Vegas. In Memphis, he was edged out by his 2002 Australian Open opponent, Thomas Johansson in the first round. In Las Vegas, he was defeated by Lleyton Hewitt during the semifinals. Safin was defeated by Hewitt once again.
In March, Safin lost in the first round of Indian Wells and Miami, to Jürgen Melzer and qualifier Bobby Reynolds, respectively. In the Davis Cup between Russia and the Czech Republic, Safin defeated No. 9 Tomáš Berdych in a five-set encounter, after being two sets down. This was the first time in his career that he had come back to win a match after being down two sets.
Safin's next tournament was in Valencia. He defeated No. 20-ranked and fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. In spite of the fact that Ferrero is from the Valencia region, Safin was the more popular player, having been based in Valencia for many years and being a well-known Valencia CF fan. – local player Ferrero controversially favouring Real Madrid. He played Dutch teenager Robin Haase in the next round. He won the first set and was up 4–2 in the second set. However, Haase broke back to take it to a tiebreak. Safin had four match points, including one on his serve, but lost the tiebreak, and eventually the match. In the Monte Carlo Masters, Safin defeated Xavier Malisse, but then lost to No. 5 David Ferrer. He then entered the 2008 BMW Open in Munich, Germany, where he beat Carlos Berlocq in the first round. In the second round, he edged out Michael Berrer, but lost to Fernando González in his first quarterfinal of the year, and the first since June 2007 at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. Safin entered the 2008 French Open but was eliminated in the second round by countryman and fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, in straight sets.
Ranked at No. 75, Safin entered the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated Fabio Fognini in the first round. In the second round, he defeated No. 3 player and 2008 Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic. Safin's victory came as a shock as Djokovic was described as a "serious contender" to win the tournament. In the third round, he played and defeated Italian Andreas Seppi. In the fourth round, he defeated Stanislas Wawrinka. This was the first time he had reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam since the 2005 Australian Open. Safin went on to defeat Feliciano López in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal clash with defending champion Roger Federer. His run to the semifinals was his best record in Wimbledon and made him the first Russian man to ever reach a Wimbledon semifinal. Safin attributed his great run at Wimbledon to the hard work he was putting in with coach Hernán Gumy. Safin then played at the Swedish Open, on clay, in Båstad against Marc López, winning in the first round. He lost his second-round match against Potito Starace.
Safin was awarded a wild card into the Rogers Cup Masters tournament in Toronto. He beat Sam Querrey in the first round. Because of rain delays, he had to play his next match against Stan Wawrinka on the same day. He lost that match. Safin was seeded fifth for his next tournament, the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles. He defeated Americans John Isner and Wayne Odesnik in the first and second rounds, respectively, to advance to the quarterfinals, where he was defeated by Denis Gremel
Marat Safin