Safin Slumps, Henman Wins Brit Showdown at Dubai

Australian Open winner and No. 2 seed Marat Safin showed why he is one of the most unpredictable talents on tour, Tuesday exiting in the first round to unseeded German Nicolas Kiefer 7-6(2), 6-4 at the ATP stop in Dubai.

While Safin led the German 3-2 in their career meetings going into the first-round clash, he fell for the second consecutive time to Kiefer after losing their last encounter 7-6 in the third at the 2004 Masters Series-Canada.

"I found the court was a little bit too fast so I couldn't really time the ball," Safin said, also dealing with some sand that had blown on the court. "I was missing a lot and wasn't comfortable at any moment."

In the most anticipated match of the day, unseeded "Grinning" Greg Rusedski failed to close the door after his opening-set win, blowing a match point and losing in three to No. 3 seed and fellow Brit Tim Henman.

"I think that's the best match we have ever had between us," Rusedski said. "If that's the last time we ever play each other I will have fond memories of it. We have had our difficult moments in the past but we have matured a bit since then."

The two other seeds in action moved into the second round in straight sets in Russians (6) Nikolay Davydenko (d. Santoro, bagel in the second) and (7) Mikhail Youzhny (d. T.Johansson).

Un-seeds into the second round Tuesday were Spaniard Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez (d. Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan in three), Korea's Hyung-Taik Lee (d. Soderling), and Russian Igor Andreev (d. Marco "Chud" Chiudinelli).

"I always play well here," said F-Lo, the rare fast-court-loving Spaniard. "I like coming to the net and this is the way I have to play. I think I volleyed well, especially the last point when I made a great volley."

The win earns F-Lo a meeting with hip-injured Andre Agassi, who edged him 7-6 in their last meeting (punter alert).

On Wednesday's schedule in the desert is Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty vs. (6) Davydenko, (1) Federer vs. (Q) Minar, (4) Agassi vs. F-Lo, H.-T. Lee vs. Kiefer, (8) Ljubicic vs. (Q) Lisnard, and (5) Robredo vs. Berdych.