Safin Survives Soderling at Masters Series-Paris

Posted on November 1, 2006

Three-time champion Marat Safin overcame a one-set deficit to defeat feisty Swede Robin Soderling 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in second-round play Tuesday at the Paris Masters.

Safin, who has not lost in the tournament since 2001, winning titles in 2002 and 2004 along with 2000, was ecstatic with the win.

"It's probably one of my biggest wins of the whole year," Safin told the AP. "He's a great player, playing unbelievable tennis."

Safin improved to 23-2 at the Paris Masters.

Safin's countryman and No. 4 seed Nikolay Davydenko double-bageled Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-0 in just 36 minutes.

Davydenko is the highest-ranked player in the field following the withdrawals of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick.
FOLDHERE

Robby Ginepri and Dmitry Tursunov were also victorious Tuesday.

Ginepri upset No. 11 seed David Ferrer 6-3, 6-4, while No. 15 seed Tursunov advanced when Nicolas Almagro of Spain retired with a torn thigh muscle at 6-3, 5-4 down.

Other winners included Igor Andreev, Sebastien Grosjean, Juan Ignacio Chela, Arnaud Clement, Julien Benneteau, Thomas Johansson and Stanislas Wawrinka.

Grosjean earned his ninth straight win over Xavier Malisse of Belgium with a 6-1, 7-6 (7) victory. Chela advanced when Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan withdrew trailing 6-3, 3-0 with ear and sinus pains. Sweden's Johansson upended Vince Spadea 7-6(4), 7-6(1).

Clement had little trouble with Nicolas Massu 6-1, 6-4, while Wawrinka of Switzerland needed three tiebreakers to beat Lyon finalist Marc Gicquel 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 7-6(2).

Benneteau defeated French countryman Fabrice Santoro 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5), and Andreev of Russia beat Gael Monfils of France 7-5, 6-4.