Marat Safin won his third Paris Masters title with a 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 win over Radek Stepanek. The Czech was in his first final in eight years but had no reply to Safin's array of strokes.
He took the first set in 35 minutes and showed his class when came back from 4-2 down to win the next on a tiebreak.
Three love service games in a row followed by a break of serve put Safin in control of the third set and on his way to victory.
It was a third tournament victory of the year for the Russian, who began the year ranked 86th in the world but will now finish it as world number four.
Safin raced through the first set, breaking his opponent in the second game and having two set points in the eighth game, which he failed to convert.
A double backhand drive saw Safin clinch the first set, and he went 2-1 up in the second with a backhand that clipped the top of the net and looped over the head of a stranded Stepanek.
The Czech then staged somewhat of a comeback, taking the Russian to a tiebreak, but lost it when he put a backhand volley wide, and with that went his serious hopes of victory.
Safin began the third set strongly and having reached 5-3, then had to survive two break points before a long forehand return by Stepanek confirmed Safin's victory.
MMIX
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