24 April 2004	Saturday	03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

MONACO, April 23: Marat Safin reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time by overpowering Alberto Martin 6-3 3-6 6-1 on Friday.

The Russian will face Carlos Moya for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard destroyed Safin's compatriot Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 7-6.

In the bottom half of the draw, fourth seed Rainer Schuettler wasted no time dismissing a lightweight Tim Henman, the burly German hammering the sixth-seeded Briton 6-3 6-1 in just 62 minutes.

Schuettler will have a much harder task on Saturday when he lines up opposite third seed Guillermo Coria, last year's runner-up, who beat fellow Argentine and seventh seed David Nalbandian 6-4 6-3.

Safin had been a strong favourite heading into his last- eight clash, having won all five previous matches against the Spaniard, and did not disappoint. "I wanted to finish the match quickly in the second set and that is when I started to make some mistakes," Safin said. "But then in the third set I got my confidence back and that was it." U.S. Open champion in 2000, Safin was playing his first quarter-final at a Masters Series event since Bercy in 2002.

He missed much of last season through injury but returned to the circuit in fine fashion this year, reaching the final of the Australian Open. Now ranked 25th in the world, Safin knows he has a big job ahead of him with Coria or Nalbandian blocking his path to the final.

"I played more aggressive, attacking players earlier in the tournament, now I am facing the real claycourt specialists," he said. "It is not easy to change your game to do this. But I will try. "Today was the first real claycourt test. I am happy I came through."

Quarterfinals results

Marat Safin (RUS) bt Alberto Martin (SPA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1;

Carlos Moya (SPA) bt Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4);

Rainer Schuettler (GER) bt Tim Henman (GBR) 6-3, 6-1;

Guillermo Coria (ARG) bt David Nalbandian (ARG) 6-4, 6-3.

Saturday's semifinals

Safin v Coria

Schuettler v Moya. -Agencies