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Safine wins China Open first round

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-06 17:38

BEIJING - Marat Safin beat 51st-ranked Jose Acasuso in the first round of the China Open tennis tournament on Tuesday.

Marat Safin of Russia hits a shot during his first round match against Jose Acasuso of Argentina at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 6, 2009. [Agencies]

Safin broke Acasuso's second serve game and led 3-1. Neither side was able to break since, and Safin ended the first set 6-4.

In the second set, Safin managed to break at the first and seventh games to take down Acasuso 6-2.

The 29-year-old Russian, ranked 59th in the world, kept perfect form by powering a number of aces in his serve games. Breaking for three times, he didn't meet many difficulties on his way to victory.

At the news conference after the match, he said he is satisfied with his performance.

"I just tried to move on in a proper way," he said. "In the second set I avoided silly mistakes."

Safin also said that he planned to retire in Paris months later.