The crafty cook had served up a French feast in winning seven of his eight career matches with Safin prior to today's showdown at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

Famished for his first victory in nine months, an inspired Safin shredded Santoro as quickly as a cookie in a cuisinart, scoring a 6-3, 6-3 triumph in the International Tennis Federation's eight-team exhibition event. French woman Amelie Mauresmo beat Anastasia Myskina, 6-2, 7-6 in the women's singles and partnered with Santoro to score a 6-3, 6-4 win over Safin and Myskina to lift unseeded France to a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Russia at the Burswood Dome.

Though the Hopman Cup is an exhibition event, the victory was meaningful for Safin, who snapped his winless drought in emphatic fashion. It was Safin's first victory since he stomped Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-4, 6-3, on red clay in the Barcelona semifinals last April.

The former No. 1, who was sidelined for half the 2003 season with a wrist injury that plunged him into a period of self-doubt, has an optimistic outlook on the 2004 season. Safin has set his sights on returning to the top 10 and contending for another Grand Slam championship and was thrilled to finally beat his long-time nemesis.

"It feels great to be back," Safin told Reuters writer Ossian Shine. "I am happy. I mean, playing Fabrice is not so nice for me...he was leading 7-1 in matches we'd played, so I am happy to be back and to win."

The towering, talented, temperamental Safin remains one of the only professional players on the planet capable of dominating a match with both his serve and return. Safin's gift for the game is undeniable, but his commitment to crafting a championship career was questioned even before his injury when Safin seemed to take a page from the Yevgeny Kafelnikov manual of minimizing results by overplaying an extensive schedule rather than pacing himself to reach peak form in time for the majors.

A little more than three years ago, Safin looked utterly unbeatable in crushing 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras to win the 2000 U.S. Open — one of seven tournament titles he won that year — but he has seemed completely clueless on the court for sustained periods of play in winning only three tournament titles since.

Safin's Davis Cup captain Shamil Tarpischev said in the past the former No. 1 has all the qualities necessary to be a great champion — except for one essential element: desire.

"There's no doubt about that. He could be as dominant as Michael Jordan was or Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, you name it," Tarpischev told Reuters last April. "Unfortunately, he has the talent but not the desire to be the world number one."

Over the past two years, the 2002 Australian Open finalist has produced a 68-37 record, won one tournament title, reached four finals and has seen his ranking plummet to No. 77.

Convinced he has regained his commitment and health, Safin said today his time away from tournament tennis has left him hungry to regain a spot in the top 10.

"I have been resting for six months so it is time to play some tennis again — I want to be back," Safin told Reuters. "My ranking has dropped to 77 so it is a difficult time for me. But I will be trying my best to get back into the top 10."

PERTH, Australia, Jan 5 (Reuters)

A fully-fit Marat Safin conquered a personal jinx and hauled Russia back into their Hopman Cup clash against France on Monday, whipping Fabrice Santoro 6-3 6-3. Having missed most of last year with a wrist injury, not too much was expected of the Russian former world number one in his first match of 2004. But he proved beyond any doubt that he is back to his powerful best by smashing his bogeyman in 76 minutes.

It was a first victory in nine months for Safin who was clearly delighted with his performance. "It feels great to be back," he smiled courtside. "I am happy. I mean, playing Fabrice is not so nice for me... he was leading 7-1 in matches we'd played, so I am happy to be back and to win.

"I have been resting for six months so it is time to play some tennis again -- I want to be back. "My ranking has dropped to 77 so it is a difficult time for me but I will be trying my best to get back into the top 10," the former U.S. Open champion added.

On Monday's form, that return should not be too far away. Safin will team up with Anastasia Myskina later on Monday to take on Santoro and Amelie Mauresmo in the mixed doubles to decide the tie.