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Safin leads Russia to David Cup title

With the best of five series tied at two, Russian tennis player Marat Safin took the court against Argentinean Jose Acasuso and was "pretty scared," in his own words. He soon composed himself on the way to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory and the Davis Cup title. Safin lost his first singles match Friday. He blamed the home court, indoor carpet at Olympic Stadium in Moscow. On Sunday, the two-time Grand Slam champion served 16 aces and did not need any excuses.

Safin took the court after his fellow countryman Nikolay Davydenko lost to David Nalbandian 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, to tie the series at 2-2. "There were some very difficult moments today," Safin said. "It was tough to control the match. Everything worked out."

It is Russia`s second David Cup title, the previous one coming in 2002 in France. Before then, the Russians reached the finals twice only to lose to Sweden in 1994 and the United States a year later. Russia`s only other Davis Cup title came in 2002, in France. Argentina, for the second time, reaches the finals and returns empty handed. The Argentinean team lost to the United States in 1981, the only other final they have reached.