Safin Advances but not The Fish in St. Pete

No. 3 seed Mardy Fish was the highest-seeded casualty Wednesday in St. Petersburg, losing a three-set thriller to Frenchman Cyril Saulnier.

Also upset was No. 5 seed Nikolay Davydenko, beaten in three sets by Karol Beck.

In the winner's circle were (1) Marat Safin (d. Peya who retired in the second set with an ankle sprain), Julien "United Colors of" Benneteau (d. Muller), "Grinning" Greg Rusedski (d. Stepanek in three), and Sargis "Sarge" Sargsian (d. Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze in three ugly sets).

"I come a little tired from last week but It is an important week for me here because I am fighting for the No. 4 position in the world," Safin said.

On court Thursday in St. Pete are Corretja vs. "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, Max "The Beast" Mirnyi vs. (4) Youzhny, (1) Safin vs. Sarge, and Kohlmann vs. (7) Llodra.