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| Marat Safin of Russia displays the
trophy after winning the final of the China Open in Beijing
September 19,
2004. (Reuters) |
Marat Safin powered to his first ATP title since the 2002 ATP Masters
Series tournament in Paris by edging over fellow Russian Mikhail Youzhny
7-6, 7-5 in the final of the China Open at Beijing Tennis Centre on
Sunday.
The victory pushed the 24-year-old fifth seed to the eighth spot in the
ATP 2004 race and three points ahead of Andre Agassi. It also earned him
US$69,200 in prize money.
With his 12th ATP title in hand, Safin said the victory helped him get
back confidence. "I played well today. I am really happy to have won the
title. It is the right time for my confidence."
The match was also the first all-Russian final on the ATP circuit since
Tashkent in 2001, when Safin defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-2, 6-2.
Unseeded Youzhny began
strongly and luckily, relying on two balls that hit the net and Safin's
two unforced errors to break Safin's serve before winning his own serve to
go 2-0 up.
 But Safin found his range later on, taking advantage of his
opponent's poor return to break back in the eighth game and then blasting
four aces and two on-the-net
winners in the decisive 13th game on the way to winning the opening set.
The second set went evenly as both held their own serves and made it
5-5. But it was Safin who broke his younger opponent in the following game
thanks to Youzhny's unforced error and one double fault. Safin then did
not give Youzhny any more chances, serving to win the match and completing
the victory on his first match point with his last and eighth ace of the
match.
It was the second meeting between the two with Safin won the previous
meeting at third round at the 2002 Australian Open in straight sets. But
this time, Youzhny came closer with some brilliant performances that made
the match wide open.
Youzhny, who appeared in his first ATP final since Saint Petersburg in
2002 and his third career final overall, smashed 27 winners against
Safin's 23 but committed 22 unforced errors that cost him the victory.
In the doubles final, Second seeds Justin Gimelstob/Graydon Oliver
rallied back from one set down to defeat fellow American Alex Bogomolov
Jr/Taylor Dent 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in two hours 19 minutes.
Earlier on Saturday, China's Zheng Jie was crowned in the ITF women's
circuit's final after overpowering fellow teammate Li Na 6-4, 6-4, a
confidence-boosting result before her WTA first-round encounter with
Russia's fifth seed Petrova, which will take place on Tuesday.
The ITF women's doubles championship went to another Chinese pair Yu
Ying/Yang Shujing.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-09-20 09:19