Moya outguns big-serving Russian

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt takes on French Open champion Albert Costa in the second Red Group match later while Juan Carlos Ferrero opens up Gold Group action against Roger Federer.

Andre Agassi, the only player who can remove Hewitt from the world No 1 spot this week, must wait until Wednesday before he faces Czech Jiri Novak.

The top two players in each group go through to the semi-finals of the event, the richest held in China.

Fatigue, both mental and physical, got the better of Safin who still has a Davis Cup final ahead of him later this month when Russia take on France.

‘‘It is a long season. A really long season for me and it is tough,’’ he said. ‘‘You know it could go either way and this time he won. What can I say? That is life.’’

Early in the match the Russian’s immense power and sheer size left the contest resembling one of China’s great sporting passions — table tennis — as he flicked balls away for winner after winner.

But Moya held on, his green shirt slowly darkening under the strain of his exertions as he chased down Safin’s pummelled groundstrokes.

The Spaniard got the early break for a 3-2 lead but a series of sizzling winners and a double fault allowed the Russian to level.

Another break in the ninth game let Moya serve for the opening set and he made no mistake, wrapping it up in 48 minutes.

The Chinese are embracing the Tennis Masters Cup wholeheartedly, putting their unique stamp on the tournament and the crowd on the opening day of action were served up a treat on court.

Both players produced spectacular shots at times befitting their status as the world’s best, and the crowd roared on both men in the New Shanghai International Expo Centre.

Moya broke again in the ninth game of the second set but this time Safin punched bak, breaking to love to level. He could not hold his serve to consolidate, though, and a game later Moya served out for victory.