Safin saves three match points to win in Paris

By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) - Former world number one Marat Safin, in his final tournament before retiring, squeezed past French qualifier Thierry Ascione 6-4 4-6 7-6 in a Paris Masters first-round match Monday.

The gifted but erratic Russian, who has been hampered by injuries in recent years and has dropped out of the top 50, was made to work hard against a player ranked 168th in the world.

The 29-year-old Safin, who has lifted the Paris Masters trophy three times but is without a tournament win since the 2005 Australian Open, saved three match points with aces at 5-4 down in the final set.

He eventually went on to take the tiebreak 7-3 with a forehand volley on the first match point to seal victory after an hour and 52 minutes of relatively dull tennis.

"The tennis I'm playing at the moment is not the best of my career," Safin told reporters. "I always came here to win but this time, frankly, I don't think I can do that.

"I'll just try to finish on a high note and say goodbye to everybody."

One of the world's most spectacular players when on song, Safin faces a tough task in the second round against U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.

"The way I'm playing right now I don't think I stand a chance but I'll fight," Safin said.