Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn in all-Russian Moscow final

Former world number one Marat Safin will have a chance on Sunday to win his first title in almost four years. Seventh-seeded Safin, whose last title came at the 2005 Australian Open, will face compatriot Igor Kunitsyn, who saw off French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-3.

"I knew that he (Santoro) would battle for every point and was ready for it," Kunitsyn 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."

Safin reached the Kremlin Cup final without hitting a ball, he was handed a walkover when his 21-year-old German opponent Mischa Zverev withdrew from their semi-final through illness.


(photo/YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images, AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)