Safin 'fights like a dog'

Defending champion Marat Safin beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov in a thrilling three-set all-Russian semifinal at the St Petersburg Open on Saturday, winning 6-7 6-2 6-4.

In Sunday's final, Safin meets unseeded German Rainer Schuettler, who beat French qualifier Michael Llodra 6-3 6-4.

In a see-saw battle which lasted two hours and 33 minutes, Kafelnikov wasted seven set points before taking the opening set in a tie-breaker 7-4.

But Safin levelled at one set apiece and then scored a decisive break in the 10th game of the final set.

"I didn't really serve well today," said Safin despite firing 19 aces. "I had to play with my second serve for most of the time and Kafelnikov really returned well today but I fought like a dog. It was a great match. I am proud of myself."

Kafelnikov also complimented his opponent.

"I'm not disappointed at all," said the second seed, who also lost in last year's semifinal here to Dominik Hrbaty. "I'm happy for Marat. He deserved to win this match because he didn't let himself down after being unlucky to lose the first set."

Safin, seeded number three, drew the first blood by breaking Kafelnikov in the fifth game of the opening set for a 3-2 lead.

But the Olympic champion broke back in the eighth game to level at 4-4.

In the 10th game, Kafelnikov hit a sweet cross-court forehand to set up his first set point which Safin saved with a fine forehand of his own, bringing applause from his opponent.

Two games later, Safin saved another set point to force a tie-break, where he raced to a 3-0 lead before Kafelnikov scored six straight points and clinched the first set after 64 minutes.

FRUSTRATED SAFIN

Safin showed the first signs of frustration in the fourth game of the second set, throwing his racket to the ground. But he was able to find his range soon after, breaking Kafelnikov in two straight games to level the match at a set-all.

In the eighth game of the final set Kafelnikov had a double break point at 15-40, but saved both of them with two good first serves.

However two games later, he was in trouble again. This time, Safin closed out the match on his first opportunity when Kafelnikov hit an easy forehand into the net.

"I had so many chances in this match but was waiting for my opponent to make a mistake," said Kafelnikov. "I should have been more aggressive."

Meanwhile, Schuettler, who beat top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round and also knocked out giant-killer Max Mirnyi in the quarter-finals, said he was looking for revenge against Safin.

"I like this tournament a lot," said the German, who has not dropped a set on his way to the final.

"Last year, I lost in the quarter-finals to Safin 6-4 in the third set but I'll be back here next year win or lose for sure."