Safin overpowers Levy for first series title

Marat Safin ended Harel Levy's surprising run at the Tennis Masters Series-Canada tournament in Toronto, overpowering the Israeli qualifier 6-2, 6-3 today for the title.

Marat Safin ended Harel Levy's surprising run at the Tennis Masters Series-Canada tournament in Toronto, overpowering the Israeli qualifier 6-2, 6-3 today for the title.

Safin needed only 54 minutes, not including two brief rain delays, to pick up his first Masters Series tournament victory and the $400,000 winner's check.

The eighth-seeded Russian, who upset Pete Sampras in the quarterfinals, struck 25 winners in the final to Levy's 14.

Levy more than doubled his career earnings with the dlrs 211,000 runner-up prize.

He was attempting to become the first qualifier to win this event and the first qualifier to capture any ATP tournament since Spain's Roberto Carretero won in Hamburg, Germany, four years ago.

Levy showed jitters in the opening set, losing his service three times and double-faulting on set point.

Safin gained control of the second set with a service break to go ahead 4-2. After each player held serve to 5-3, Safin recovered from a 0-40 hole in the ninth game by reeling off five straight points to end the match.

Results from the $2.45 million Tennis Masters Series-Canada ATP Tour hard-court tournament:

Singles - Championship (8) Marat Safin (Rus) def. Harel Levy (Isr) 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles - Championship (6) Sebastien Lareau and Daniel Nestor (Can) def. Joshua Eagle and Andrew Florent (Aus) 6-3, 7-6 (3).