Number three seed Marat Safin showed he has completely recovered from his first round exit in the US Open as he defeated Argentinian David Nalbandian 6-2 6-4 6-3 to win the Madrid Tennis Masters on Sunday.

When he is at his best, there are few better then Safin and he himself has admitted that when he is not good, he is "terrible".

However, on Sunday the Russian was brilliant as he swept Nalbandian aside in one hour and 52 minutes.

Madrid may have been missing big names such as Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Carlos Moya and Andy Roddick, but that won't worry Safin, who has also done his chances of reaching the ATP Masters Cup in Houston no harm.

The Russian was able to maintain the formidable form he has shown all week in the final, while Nalbandian who had not dropped a set on his way into Sunday's match, was unable to reproduce the tennis which had taken him past Robin Soderling, Paradorn Srichaphan, Taylor Dent and Ivan Ljubicic.

Safin had looked back to his best when he beat number two seed Andre Agassi in straight sets on Saturday, and he was again unstoppable in the opening set.

He held his serve in the opening game, before breaking Nalbandian in the second game to take an early 2-0 lead.

Nalbandian then showed his character by breaking straight back, with a winning backhand, Safin bounced straight back to break his opponent again, this time to love.

After that flurry of activity the set went with serve until Safin got another break in the seventh game, and then held his serve to win the set 6-2 in 29 minutes.

Nalbandian needed to get back into the match quickly and did when he hit a backhand passing shot to break Safin's serve - take a 2-1 lead in the second set.

However, once again Safin bounced back, levelling matters in the sixth game of the set, holding his serve and waiting until an unforced error from Nalbandian, who hit a forehand overlong, gave him the second set 6-4.

Scenting victory, the Russian held serve in the first game of the third set and quickly took a 0-30 lead in the next game.

Nalbandian levelled the game, but mis-hit another forehand to give Safin break point, which he wasted by hitting a backhand into the net.

Safin defended two smashed on the next point, provoking another break point, but again failed to take it, but got the break on his third attempt after two more errors from Nalbandian - his 29th and 30th of the match.

Safin held his serve again to take a 3-0 lead, before Nalbandian did the same to make it 3-1, saving two break points in the sixth game that would have left Safin serving for the match.

It was to be a vain effort however, as was the match point he saved on his following serve as Safin drove on to win his next service game to love and seal a 6-2 6-4 6-3 win.