Safin Beats Philippoussis, Federer Advances at Wimbledon
latimes.com
From Associated Press
8:41 AM PDT, June 22, 2005
WIMBLEDON, England — Two tense tiebreakers, big-serving Mark Philippoussis and a broken net failed to faze Marat Safin.
The big Russian waited out a five-minute delay while the Centre Court net was replaced in the second set, and he then finished off Philippoussis 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4 today to reach the third round at Wimbledon for only the second time.
The net collapsed between points in the second set, prompting laughter from the crowd.
"I've been here a long time, since 1977, and I watched on TV as a kid," three-time champion John McEnroe said. "And I've never seen that happen."
Two-time defending champion Roger Federer also advanced, beating Ivo Minar 6-4, 6-4, 6-1. The top-ranked Federer held every service game and extended his grass-court winning streak to 31 matches, including 16 at the All England Club.
On the women's side, Kim Clijsters lost just three service points, two on double-faults, and beat Marissa Irvin 6-1, 6-1. No. 3-seeded Amelie Mauresmo and No. 9 Anastasia Myskina also won.
The No. 5-seeded Safin has long professed a disdain for grass, but he's playing the way he did in January when he won the Australian Open. He had only one break-point chance against Philippoussis but converted for a 4-3 lead in the final set, then served out the victory.
Philippoussis, the 2003 runner-up, lost despite hitting 46 unreturned serves, including 21 aces. Safin hit 43 unreturned serves and 20 aces.
Philippoussis, who has been plagued by injuries and needed a wild card to enter the tournament, required treatment from a trainer for an apparent ankle injury after the first set and appeared gimpy at times the rest of the way.
Until recently, Safin wasn't even sure he would play Wimbledon, but he was encouraged by reaching the final on grass two weeks ago in Halle, Germany. In five previous appearances at the All England Club, Safin's best showing came in 2001, when he reached the quarterfinals.
No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko was leading 7-6 (4), 2-1, when he retired because of a wrist injury against Jonas Bjorkman.
Americans Taylor Dent and Justin Gimelstob reached the third round to match their best Wimbledon showings. Gimelstob, who lost in qualifying and made the draw only because another player withdrew, beat No. 29 Nicolas Massu 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0).
Dent, seeded 24th, defeated fellow American Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Dent next plays unseeded Tomas Berdych and could benefit from a favorable draw.
"Don't jinx me. Don't jinx me," Dent said with a smile. "The problem is that all these guys are so good. There's no good draw in the men's game."
In a first-round match suspended in the fifth set Tuesday because of darkness, No. 9 Sebastien Grosjean beat Michael Llodra 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Mauresmo eliminated Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 6-1, 6-3. Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion, defeated Aiko Nakamura 6-4, 6-3.
No. 13 Elena Likhovtseva eliminated American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 7-6 (4). No. 17 Jelena Jankovic swept Mariana Diaz-Oliva 6-3, 7-5.
On the tournament's third consecutive warm, sunny day, Clijsters barely broke a sweat and advanced in 44 minutes. A four-time Grand Slam runner-up seeking her first major title, the Belgian has lost seven games in two matches.
"I'm very happy with this win, especially with the way I played," Clijsters said. "On a scale of 10, I would give myself an eight."
Seeded 15th but considered among the tournament favorites, Clijsters missed much of last year with a wrist injury and returned to the top 15 after winning the Eastbourne grass-court title last week. It was her 24th career title and her third this year.
Against Irvin, Clijsters was at her overpowering best on the final point of the first set. Moving steadily forward, she hit a swinging volley, a forehand volley and then an overhead slam for a winner.
When a poor choice of shots cost Clijsters a point in the second set, she bounced her racket strings off her head in dismay. But she had little to be upset about, committing just seven unforced errors, and won every service game at love in the second set.
"I felt like I was seeing the ball really well," Clijsters said. "It has been a long time since I felt like this, and it's a very good feeling to have. I'll try not to get all happy about it, work hard and try to maintain that feeling." |
