Safin hits back to retain St Petersburg title

Defending champion Marat Safin overcame a slow start to beat unseeded Rainer Schuettler 3-6 6-3 6-3 on Sunday in the St Petersburg Open final.

It was Safin's second title of the year following his victory in Tashkent last month, and a major boost to his confidence ahead of next week's Paris Masters Series, where he will again be defending champion.

The win also improved the Russian's prospects of a place in next month's Masters Cup in Sydney.

Safin broke the German in the opening game but Schuettler dominated the rest of the first set, clinching it in 34 minutes with a forehand down the line.

The third seed turned the tables in the second set to level the match at one-all.

It was the first time in the tournament that Schuettler, who beat top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round and giant-killer Max Mirnyi in the quarter-finals, had dropped a set.

Safin made a decisive break in the third game of the final set for a two-one lead when the German mis-hit an easy forehand.

The Russian clinched the match at the first opportunity,breaking serve in the ninth game after Schuettler had hit a backhand into the net.

Safin said he would fight hard to defend his title in Paris and for the chance of reaching the Masters Cup.

"Probably, I have no chance but I would fight to the end even if I still have the smallest of chances," he said.

"I am flying tomorrow to Paris and I'm going to give everything I have to win there.

"It is my last tournament if I don't make it to Sydney and I really want to finish the year on a high but I'm already looking forward to next year which I want to finish as number one. That's my goal."

SO TIRED

Safin, who earlier this month vowed never to play in his native Moscow again, thanked the 10,000-strong St Petersburg crowd for their support.

"I would not have won without your support. I was so tired after yesterday as I had to stand 12 hours on the court because I played two matches last night, which both went to three sets," said Safin, who was also playing in a doubles final on Sunday.

"I lost too much energy and I could only sleep for eight hours so I could not run in the first set. Besides my knee was hurting," added the Russian.

"I think that if Rainer pushed a little bit harder in the second set I would have lost the match for sure."

Safin lost his nerve after being broken to love in the fourth game of the first set, smashing his racket and receiving a warning from the umpire.

In the second set Safin broke Schuettler in the second game for a 2-0 lead then saved two break points in the seventh game before levelling the match at 1-1.

"The break in the second set was not necessary, but the key was that Marat served much better in the second and third sets and that was the main reason for him to win," Schuettler said.