SAFIN TO FACE KUNITSYN IN FINAL OF KREMLIN CUP

Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn will meet for the title at the Kremlin Cup on Sunday after both Russians posted semifinal wins on Saturday.

The seventh-seeded Safin was a walkover winner against Moscow-born German Mischa Zverev, who was unable to play because of an illness, while Kunitsyn notched a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over France's Fabrice Santoro.

Safin, who beat fellow Russian and two-time defending Moscow champion Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals on Friday, will play in the final of this event for the second time in three years. He lost to Davydenko in 2006.

The former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion hasn't won a tournament since capturing the last of his 15 titles at the 2005 Australian OpenHe was a surprise semifinalist this year at Wimbledon and is currently ranked 40th.

Kunitsyn, ranked 71st, will play in ATP final for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old native of Vladivostok 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.

The 2008 Moscow champ will collect a first prize of $171,000.

Marat Safin reached the final of Kremlin cup, Moscow

Safin's first Final of the year is finally here:)

Marat safin reached the final of The Kremlin cup in his homeland.

11.10.2008 Misha Zverev retired from the semifinals of the “Kremlin Cup”-2008

The semifinalist Misha Zverev retired from the tournament for health problems!

Therefore Marat Safin walks over to the final and awaits the winner of Fabrice Santoro and Igor Kunitsyn.

Marat Safin autograph session on 11.10.2008