Safin books final date

Marat Safin: First final for the Russian

M Safin (Rus) bt T Martin (US) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) & 7-6 (7-1)

Sixth seed Marat Safin reached his first Grand Slam final thanks to a straight sets win over last year's US Open runner-up Todd Martin.

The 20-year-old's superior ground strokes and youth took their toll as he beat the veteran American in straightforward fashion.

The Russian star will now face Pete Sampras in the final.

Safin, with an astute tactical display that belied his years, mixed huge serves with baseline power to beat a man 10 years his senior.

The conditions took their toll on 30-year-old Martin

In doing so he became the first Russian ever to reach the final of the US Open.

But Safin made it clear afterwards that he is so happy with his form at the moment that nothing short of overall victory in Sunday's final will constitute a successful trip to New York.

"It's nice to be in the final," he said. "But something is missing. I want to win."

Safin was in complete control from the start and coasted through the first set.

Martin rallied in the second, but his youthful opponent shrugged off a set point and claimed the tie-break 7-4.

Martin was left gasping for air on a humid afternoon at Flushing Meadows, as Safin ran him ragged with a series of lobs, drop-shots and passing strokes.

The American's energy levels were eventually spent and Safin cruised into the final with a resounding 7-1 triumph in the third-set tie-break.

"I was tired," Martin confessed, "but, gee, if I was at full speed the score could have been the same."