Match report

Marat Safin © Tennistalk.com
Kremlin Cup
Semi final
10/11/08 Tot
ru  Marat Safin Marat Safin won on walkover
de  Mischa Zverev -1
Mischa Zverev © Tennistalk.com

  • Safin receives free pass into final

    10/12/08 7:10 PM | David Cox
    Marat Safin enjoyed the easiest possible route to an all-Russian final, not even having to strike a ball to get past Mischa Zverev in Saturday's semi-finals.

    Zverev, who fought so hard the previous night to get past Victor Troicki, had to pull out beforehand with illness, a bit of a cruel blow for the German, who was enjoying one of the best weeks of his career.

    However, it takes Safin into his second Kremlin Cup final against compatriot Igor Kunitsyn, who dispatched Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-3. Conceding nearly 10 years to his 26-year-old opponent, Santoro looked a little flat-footed at times and never looked like breaking his obdurate opponent down.

    Kunitsyn eked out a hard-fought opening set in 52 minutes, but the second was far more straightforward. The Russian swept to a 5-2 lead with two breaks and although Santoro responded briefly, breaking back and saving two match points, Kunitsyn broke again to seal victory.

    Kunitsyn felt that his previous experience of playing Santoro (they'd faced twice before with a win apiece) helped a lot. “I knew that he would battle for every point and was ready for it,” he said. “We met twice this year and I knew how to play against him and my plan worked. It's great to play at home in the final and tomorrow I will do my best not to miss my chance to win in front of my home crowd.”

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