Kunitsyn sets up all-Russian final at Kremlin Cup

Oct 11, 2008 - 4:48 PM MOSCOW (Ticker) -- Igor Kunitsyn on Saturday guaranteed a Russian champion at the Kremlin Cup this year.

The unseeded Kunitsyn defeated Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, 6-4, 6-3, to set up a final against No. 7 compatriot Marat Safin, who won by walkover when Mischa Zverev withdrew ill.

Kunitsyn on Friday dominated Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes, to move into the semis here for the third time in four years.

Kunitsyn, ranked 71st in the world, will play in a final for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old twice was a semifinalist earlier this year and previously reached the semis of this event in 2005 and 2006.

Safin is 3-0 lifetime against Kunitsyn, including a 6-4, 6-3 triumph in the semifinals of this event two years ago.

Safin rode a powerful serve to knocked off the top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of this hardcourt event.

A former No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, Safin fired 17 aces to outlast the two-time defending champion, denying him a fourth shot at the title of this $1 million hardcourt tournament.

Safin also put an end to two winnings streaks by Davydenko. He ended a four-match skid against the world No. 5, which included a defeat here in the 2006 final.

The world No. 40, Safin improved to 3-4 overall in the series and ended Davydenko's string of 12 straight match victories.

Safin then defeated unseeded German Mischa Zverev in the semifinals.

First prize is $171,000.