Safin Seeking Second Consecutive Masters Series Title in ATP Paris Final

The No. 6-seeded Safin, who overcame a twisted ankle early in the match, defeated No. 13 Guillermo Canas 6-2, 7-6(5), while the Czech Stepanek outlasted fellow qualifier Max "The Beast" Mirnyi 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4.

While Safin has posted a sparkling 12-2 record including a title at the Masters Series-Madrid during the European indoor season, most conspicuous has been the records of the other Masters Cup qualifiers due to injury or disinterest: world No. 1 Roger Federer with an 0-0 win-loss, Carlos Moya 0-0, Guillermo Coria 0-0, and Andy Roddick 1-1.

Canas has risen from a No. 274 ranking in January to crack the Top 15, returning from a wrist injury.

"I managed to stay in the match and it was very close. It was all up to a couple of points and it's a pity some of them were disputable," Canas said.

Stepanek has won three doubles titles this year, but is still seeking his career-first singles title.

A win Sunday would put Safin in league with Boris Becker as the only players to win three titles at the event formerly known at the Paris-indoor.

The doubles final will be Zimbabwe's unseeded Black/Ullyett vs. (3) Bjorkman/Woodbridge.