Safin Ousts Former Champ Ferrero at French Open

Posted on May 29, 2005

It wasn't an upset in terms of numbers, with Australian Open champ and No. 3 seed Marat Safin defeating No. 32 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6(5), 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(2) Saturday at the French Open, but it was an upset in almost every other aspect.

Safin, troubled by a knee injury during the first week at Roland Garros, had lost to Ferrero in their previous meeting just weeks ago at the Masters Series-Hamburg. Throw in the Russian's extended slump since winning at Melbourne, and all the ingredients were there for another defeat until Safin again flicked the unpredictability switch.

"I think at one point, Juan Carlos got a bit nervous," Safin said. "He didn't know how to finish his sets...I think the whole match turned around one or two points. One or two points really made the difference."

Other seeded winners Saturday were (8) Guillermo Coria (d. Melzer in straights), (12) Nikolay Davydenko (d. (21) Haas, baking two bagels in the final two sets), and (15) Tommy Robredo (d. Sanchez in an all-Spanish).

Two un-seeds also worked their way into the fourth round in the Roddick-killing Argentine Jose Acasuso (d. (27) Volandri who retired in the first set with a wrist injury), and Argentine veteran Mariano Puerta (d. Wawrinka after dropping the first set).

Two matches were suspended due to darkness with (9) Guillermo Canas leading Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 7-6(4), 2-2, and (28) Nicolas Kiefer leading Igor Andreev 6-4, 7-6(7), 3-6, 4-4.

On court Sunday on the men's side at Roland Garros are (10) Nalbandian vs. Hanescu, (4) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. (23) Sebastien "The Skateboard Kid" Grosjean, (9) Canas vs. Mathieu (to finish), (1) Federer vs. (14) Moya, (5) Gaudio vs. (20) Ferrer, (28) Kiefer vs. Andreev, and in doubles highlights Americans (3) Bryan/Bryan vs. Belgians (13) Xavier "X-Man" Malisse/ Olivier "The Roach" Rochus.