Igor Kunitsyn overcame a determined Marat Safin with a bruising 7-6(6) 6-7(4) 6-3 victory to win the Kremlin Cup in front of an enthralled capacity Moscow crowd enjoying the all-Russian contest.

71st ranked Kunitsyn who was 0-3 against Safin prior to this match, secured a decisive break of serve in the sixth game of the final set and held serve from there, clinching his maiden ATP title with a ace down the centre.

"This is beyond my wildest dreams," Kunitsyn said. "I'd never have expected to beat Marat in the final in Moscow," added the 27-year-old from Vladivostok, who took home $171,000 in winnings to more than double his earnings for the year.

A dejected Safin who has not won a title since the Australian Open in 2005 and also lost the final in Moscow 2 years ago to Nikolay Davydenko said: "I only have myself to blame. If I had won the first set, it would have been a different story but he gained confidence as the match went on, played well in the end and deserved his victory."