Melbourne bids farewell to Marat Safin

Marat Safin has lost in four sets to Andy Roddick in the match of the tournament so far at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Mikhail Youzniy also made his exit at the hands of Roger Federer.

The 2005 Champion fought back in the second set but as he got rattled. Roddick remained calm and the number six seed went on to claim victory. Safin clashed with umpire on several line-calls but it affected his game in the end, Safin got an official warning at one point while Roddick went on to claim victory.

Mikhail Yuzhny came up short against Roger Federer. Federer has set up a fourth round match with Novak Djokovic

Meanwhile, number five seed Nadia Petrova was stunned by a resurgent Serena Williams. Petrova becomes the biggest seed to drop so far. Williams won just one game in the first set and found Petrova serving for the match in the second. But the former champion showed great determination and stormed back to take the second set 7-5. With over twelve years experience under her belt, Williams got herself together and closed out the match, taking the deciding set 6-3.
 
Another Russian Elena Dementieva had a better day at the office. The number 7 seed dropped just 4 games against Maria Elena Camerin in the straight-sets win.

The other game involving a Russian in the women’s draw on Friday actually had two. Svetlana Kuznetsova was too strong for Maria Kirilenko winning the match and setting up a contest with Shah Peer.

World number one Amelie Mauresmo took care of Eva Birnerova losing just four games.