Marat Safin's late-season revival continued apace on home soil in Russia as he defeated Rainer Schuttler to win the St Petersburg Open.

The US Open semi-finalist was defending champion this week, as he is for next week's Paris Masters Series event, but struggled in the early stages and conceded the first set.

A break at the start of the second set changed the tempo of the match though and he took control to finish a 3-6 6-3 6-3 winner against the German.

So strong has Safin's finish to 2001 been that he believes a good start to next year could set him on the way to becoming world number one.

Relieved to get through the game, he said: "It was very difficult today.

"Yesterday I played six sets in singles and doubles. They were all very intense and I also hit my knee with the racquet so it's a little bit sore.

"I lost so much energy on court yesterday. Today I tried my best but I still could not run in the first set.

"It's good to finish the year like this, my goal for 2002 is to be number one."

Still hopeful of winning a place in the Masters Cup tournament, to be contested by the world's top eight next month, the current world number 11 is not overly confident.

"It's difficult. This is my last chance in Paris and it doesn't depend on me only but also on the other players trying to qualify Tommy Haas, Tim Henman, Sebastien Grosjean, Roger Federer," he said.

"Even if I win the tournament there, I might not qualify."