Sixth-seeded Marat Safin won through to a grand slam semi-final for the first time in his career as he beat Nicolas Kiefer of Germany at the US Open in New York today. The 20-year-old Russian, playing in his third US Open, triumphed 7-5 4-6 7-6 6-3 in three hours five minutes.
Safin, a French Open quarter-finalist this year, trailed 5-2 early in the match before rallying to win five straight games to clinch the first set. He appeared to be gaining momentum but the erratic Russian then dropped serve in the 10th game of the second set to let 14th seed Kiefer level the match.
Playing solidly at times and over-hitting at others, Safin managed to open up a 5-3 lead in the third set but Kiefer hung on and stormed back to 5-5. The Russian went 6-4 up in the tie-break which he won on his second set point when Kiefer's forehand sailed wide.
Safin broke Kiefer a final time in the sixth game then had three match points on his opponent's serve but the German was not about to give up without a fight. He saved them all but surrendered on Safin's fourth match point in the following game on a winning 131mph second serve.(PA)
Filed by Johnny Proby
