09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

PARIS, Nov 8: Russian Safin completes title hat trick when he lifted the 2.425-million-euros Paris Masters with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory against Radek Stepanek on Sunday.

Moscow's "Big Red" will take a huge dose of confidence into the eight-man Masters Cup, starting a Nov 15 in Houston, after achieving an unprecedented one-two punch, winning the Madrid Masters and followed on by Paris.

When he finally fronts up late in the week in Texas, Safin will be wearing the world number 4 ranking and riding a 10-match unbeaten streak at the Masters level.

"I feel like I played a little bit better than Madrid even," said the 24-year-old former world number 1, who completed his 50th victory of the season as he lifted his third title at the Bercy arena after 2000 and 2002.

Safin has exploded back into prominence over the past two months, breaking out of what he terms an annual mid-year slump over the summer by winning the trophy in September at Beijing.

The 24-year-old Russian, January's Australian Open finalist, now stands as one of the biggest threats in the game after coming back from the wrist injury that sidelined him for half of 2003.

The Paris victory, worth 445,500 euros, earned revenge against Stepanek, who upset the top-seed three weeks ago in Moscow, Safin's home event.

Safin made heavy weather of the final game while serving for victory in a tie-breaker.

Leading 5-3, the Russian saved one break point with a 213 kph ace and a second with a service winner. Steadying, Safin ended the contest when Stepanek floated a backhand long.

Stepanek was playing in his first career final after eight years on the circuit. He was bidding to become the first qualifier to win a Masters event since Spain's Albert Portas in 2001 in Hamburg.

"This is the greatest week in my career so far," said the journeyman," he said.

Mauresmo WINS

NEW YORK: Top seed Amelie Mauresmo rallied to beat Russia's sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva 3-6 6-2 6-2 to complete a successful defence of her Advanta championship title in Philadelphia on Sunday.

It was the Frenchwoman's fifth title this year, and the 15th of her career. It improved her record to 5-0 against Zvonareva.

Mauresmo, who won the Linz Open a week ago, will hope to maintain her sparkling form at next week's season-ending WTA championships in Los Angeles.

Zvonareva will also make the trip to Los Angeles for the lucrative $3 million event, having secured her place in the elite eight-player field earlier in the week.

Other players qualifying for the event include world number one Lindsay Davenport, U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, French Open winner Anastasia Myskina, twice grand slam finalist Elena Dementieva, Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova.-Agencies