The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Safin takes Paris Masters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004

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Sport - Tennis

Safin takes Paris Masters

PARIS, NOV. 8. Sixth-seeded Marat Safin of Russia comfortably beat Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 to win a record-equalling third Paris Masters title on Sunday, putting him level with Boris Becker.

Safin had 16 aces against Stepanek, who was appearing in his first ATP final and struggled with Safin's brutal backhand passing shots.

Safin, a former U.S. Open champion, has 14 career titles and will play in the Masters Cup in Houston later this month. He won the Paris Masters in 2000 and 2002, and was runner-up in 1999.

Becker won in 1986, '89 and '92.

"I played solid, a pretty good level of tennis this week," Safin said. "I will have a couple of days off now and go back to Moscow. No tennis. Just private stuff.

"I've been playing for the last five weeks and I want to sleep in my bed ... finally."

Meanwhile, in the WTA Tour, top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France shook off a slow start and beat Russia's Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to successfully defend her Advanta Championships title for her fifth tournament victory of the year at Villanova in Pennsylvania.

Mauresmo seems poised to make a splash in next week's season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles. The Frenchwoman has won two straight tournaments, including in Austria last week.

She considers herself the favourite heading to LA. "Yeah, I guess so, when you win these kind of titles," Mauresmo said. "I'm in shape, I feel confident on the court and my game is there."

This was her 15th career title, with others this year coming in Berlin, Rome and Montreal.

"Consistency's what I've been looking for, for years. I've finally reached that in 2004," she said. "I'll take it."

Mauresmo, who spent five weeks ranked No. 1 after the U.S. Open, dominated sixth-seeded Zvonareva in the final two sets at the hard-court tournament.

The results (all finals):

At Paris (Paris Masters): Marat Safin bt Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3. Doubles: Jonas Bjorkman/Todd Woodbridge bt Wayne Black/Kevin Ullyett 6-3, 6-4.

At Villanova, Pennsylvania (Advanta WTA Championships): Amelie Mauresmo bt Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

At Quebec City (Bell WTA Challenge): Martina Sucha bt Abigail Spears 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. — AP

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