Ukrainian qualifier Sergivy
Stakhovsky ended Marat Safin's goodbye tour in thrilling fashion, knocking out
the unseeded former world No. 1 in the three-set match to read the final at
the $750,000 St. Petersburg Open.
Safin, who was making his first semifinal appearance in 23 tournaments, had
fond memories of the SCC Peterburgsky hardcourts, claiming the title in 2000
and 2001. He drew from those memories to reach the semifinals, but fell 6-4,
4-6, 6-4 to the qualifier.
Safin plans to retire from the ATP World Tour at season's end.
In the other semifinal, eighth-seeded Argentine Horacio Zeballos moved into
the final with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 victory over Russian Igor Kunitsyn, who had
momentum from a three-set victory over second-seeded Romanian Victor Hanescu
in Friday's quarterfinals action.
Sunday's winner will collect $115,150.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
