Tennis: Fun times for Safin, Federer rolls on

Marat Safin celebrates after defeating Mark Philippoussis in their second round match at Wimbledon. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - Marat Safin's new love affair with tennis on grass blossomed in the Wimbledon sunshine as the Russian bludgeoned past former finalist Mark Philippoussis.

His 7-6 7-6 6-4 victory kept him on course for a quarterfinal against Australian Lleyton Hewitt after the 2002 champion saw off Czech Jan Hernych 6-2 7-5 3-6 6-3.

World No 1 Roger Federer remains the man to beat, however, and the Swiss swatted aside Czech Ivo Minar 6-4 6-4 6-1 in 82 stress-free minutes.

Top seed Federer, aiming for a third successive Wimbledon title, extended his winning streak on grass to 31 matches to book a third-round match against Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.

In the women's draw, Kim Clijsters and world No 1 Lindsay Davenport stayed on collision course for a fourth round slugfest while French third seed Amelie Mauresmo also joined them in the third round.

Safin, the once self-confessed hater of Wimbledon's treacherous green lawns, survived three set points in the opening set of a sledgehammer duel against injury-prone wildcard Philippoussis, now ranked No 142 in the world.

From that moment on the burly Australian Open champion, who lost to Federer in the final at Halle last week, looked totally at home on a sunbathed centre court, sealing victory with his 20th booming ace.

"I couldn't feel comfortable on this surface before I played at Halle," said Safin, 25, who next faces dangerous Spaniard Felicano Lopez in the third round.

"It's really important to have fun on grass and all of a sudden it came to me and I feel pretty good. I don't know how to explain it."

Federer, who faces Nicolas Kiefer in the third round, was never seriously tested against the 99th-ranked Minar, appearing in the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time.

The smooth Swiss machine was not totally satisfied with his performance, however, and predicted that Safin, who beat him in the semifinals of the Australian Open, is a danger.

"When I had some openings I could have done better," Federer, 23, said.

"But I thought, I played all right. (Safin's) got a big game, he hasn't showed what he can do on grass yet, but maybe it's a good year for him."

Meanwhile, world No 2 Lleyton Hewitt fired his way into the third round of Wimbledon with a workmanlike 6-2 7-5 3-6 6-3 tennis win over Jan Hernych.

The beefed-up Australian, better known for his baseline tenacity, smacked 15 aces past the Czech as he advanced.

"Not too bad in patches," Hewitt said, appraising his performance.

"For me it's just nice to get through it and into the third round now. I feel pretty good.

"My body feels good. To get a tough one under my belt today that will hold me in good stead later in the tournament. That's what you've got to do."

Champion in 2002 before Roger Federer took a grip of the Wimbledon crown, Hewitt next faces Justin Gimelstob.

The American beat Olympic champion Nicolas Massu, of Chile, 6-3 4-6 7-6 7-6.

"Mate, Gimelstob played well ... that's a good win for him," Hewitt said.

"Yeah, his serve's obviously his biggest weapon. He's going to serve volley a hell of a lot.

"He plays with a lot of passion out there, as well. He's a guy that's always going to leave everything on the court.

"I'm going to have to return well and pass well and be very sharp out there. It's not going to be a long rallies against Justin."

Belgian former world No 1 Kim Clijsters, lurking dangerously as the 15th seed, needed just 44 minutes to scorch past American Marissa Irvin 6-1 6-1.

Looking toned and bronzed, she belted forehands and backhands past her dazed opponent, who was given a tennis masterclass.

"I'll give myself eight out of 10 for that today," said Clijsters, who next faces Italian Roberta Vinci.

"This is the best I've felt for a long time. Today I felt for the first time that the puzzle fitted."

Davenport showed little mercy as she demolished fellow American Jamea Jackson 6-0 6-3, trampling through a lopsided first set in 17 minutes.

Third seed Amelie Mauresmo also made impressive progress, despatching Spain's Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo 6-1 6-3.

"I played a great match, there's not much more to say about it," said Mauresmo, who plays American Shenay Perry in the next round.

There was no easy ride for ninth seed Anastasia Myskina, who went through her full repertoire of on-court theatrics during a 6-4 6-3 defeat of Aiko Nakamura.

The 23-year-old Moscovite, who has been beset by personal problems and poor results this year, stewed, fretted and ranted at the umpire during an edgy 6-4 6-3 victory over 94th-ranked Nakamura.

Myskina, who tearfully spoke of her mother's health problems at the French Open where she became the first defending champion to lose in the first round, controlled her emotions enough to book a tricky third round match against Serbian Jelena Jankovic.

In an all-French battle held over from yesterday, men's ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean, a semifinalist in the previous two years, held off Michael Llodra to reach the second round.

Having been two points from defeat yesterday and trailing 3-4 in the fifth overnight, Grosjean reeled off the last three games to win 3-6 7-5 4-6 7-6 6-4.

- REUTERS