Safin ending career on high in Russia

Reuters - Fri, 30 Oct 18:41:00 2009

Marat Safin, playing in his penultimate tournament before retiring, beat Denis Istomin 6-0 7-6(4) to reach the St Petersburg Open semi-finals.

Russia's Marat Safin returns the ball to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during their tennis match at the St.. Petersburg Open, AP - 0

Safin raced through the first set in less than 25 minutes and took a 2-0 lead in the second before the 101st-ranked Uzbek put up more of a fight.

The 29-year-old Russian, who will end his tennis career at next month's Paris Masters, served for the match at 5-4, but Istomin broke back and forced a tiebreak.

The former world number one finally sealed victory with his 12th ace and will face Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky in Saturday's semi-finals.

World number 93 Stakhovsky beat Germany's Bjorn Phau 6-2 7-5 in the earlier quarter-final at the St Petersburg's Sports Complex.

"I guess, it was just too easy in the first set," said Safin, bidding for his third title in St Petersburg after winning the annual indoor tournament in 2000 and 2001.

"As a result, I lost concentration in the second set and when I lost my serve at 5-4, I started having some doubts whether I would be able to pull it through," he added.

"But I got lucky in the tiebreak as I was gifted a few points by my opponent."

Unseeded Russian Igor Kunitsyn beat second seed Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) in the last match and now faces eighth-seeded Argentine Horacio Zeballos, a 7-6(8) 6-4 winner over Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, in the other semi-final.

Watch the St Petersburg semi-finals LIVE from 11am on Saturday on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. You cannot count Gonzo, he dosen't break rackets he­ destroys them

    From Nicholas, on Sat 31 Oct 12:32PM

  2. nicholas you forgot Gonzalez he is best racketbreaker­ in my opinion

    From teramor, on Sat 31 Oct 12:20PM

  3. All time racket breaking champions in the following­ order
    1) Goran Ivanicesevic
    2) John Mcenroe
    3) Marat­ Safin
    Afraid Roger Federer just not in the same class

    From Nicholas, on Sat 31 Oct 11:35AM

  4. No one friggin breaks a racket like Safin .... no one­ ever will ...... Fed tried breaking the racket once and­ looked highly FAIL doing it.

    From freestyler_micraponer, on Sat 31 Oct 7:57AM

  5. I have always loved u Safin!

    From victorkewal007, on Sat 31 Oct 3:53AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    and an attitude of a toddler

    From Ray V, on Fri 30 Oct 8:44PM

  7. safin has great teeth

    From sean_jones1990, on Fri 30 Oct 7:13PM
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