ความคิดเห็นที่ 13
http://www.fft.fr/bnpparibasmasters/2004/news/dimanche07/finale0711_en.html
Majestic Safin crowned Paris king
Former world number one Marat Safin sealed his place amongst the pantheon of all-time Paris greats on Sunday after claiming his third BNP Paribas Masters.
The 24-year-old Russian, seeded sixth here, withstood a spirited challenge from Radek Stepanek before finally breaking down the resistance of the Czech qualifier 6/3, 7/6 (5), 6/3 in two hours and nineteen minutes.
The Russian thumped 16 aces to his opponent's 10, cracked 32 winners and made 18 unforced errors to 48 to Stepanek.
"I thought it would be easier in the second set. I paid the price. Had he won the second set, it would have been a complete different story," Safin said.
"I didn't want to go five sets, especially against him. Now, I want to go back home and sleep in my bed, finally."
Marat like "BB"
With his victory, Safin, a two-time winner here in Paris (2000 and 2002), has now matched German Boris Becker as the only other player to claim three trophies here. Becker had captured the titles in 1986, 1989 and 1992. The Russian also becomes the first player to claim back-to-back indoor Masters Series crowns after winning in Madrid two weeks ago.
Stepanek, 25, was the first qualifier to reach an ATP Masters Series final since Belarussian Max Mirnyi at the Stuttgart event in 2001.
Safin raced to a 3-0 lead, breaking his opponent in the second game with a high backhand volley. He squandered two set points at 5-2 with two return errors but made sure to close out the set on his serve.
Closed with a service winner
The 7-ranked Russian carried his winning form into the second set, breaking his opponent in the third game, only to trade his delivery for the first time in the following game.
A revived Stepanek, the world No63, who was playing in his first final ever, gave the crowd plenty to sheer about when he surged 3-2. Errors began creeping into the Russian's game as Safin staved off two break points in the sixth game.
Both men held stubbornly onto their deliveries until the tie-breaker. A high-flying Stepanek burst ahead 2-0, then again 4-2 but each time Safin stormed right back to level the score. At 6-5, Safin hit a solid return Stepanek couldn't handle to build a two sets to love lead.
The feisty Czech hung tough but capitulated in the eight game when he conceded his serve.
Safin served his way out of trouble when he faced two break points and closed out the contest with a service winner.
(Araz Gulekjian)
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bonita 
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