Pretender on grass exposed

Brooding Russian Marat Safin skulked off Court One on Friday, his Wimbledon dreams shredded by a Spanish left-hander who serves-and-volleys....

Brooding Russian Marat Safin skulked off Court One on Friday, his Wimbledon dreams shredded by a Spanish left-hander who serves-and-volleys.

A rare species back home where clay is king, 26th seed Feliciano Lopez produced stunning grasscourt tennis to win 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 in less than two hours.

It was all too much for the combustible Safin who angrily thrashed one ball clean out of the arena after missing two break points in the first set.

8220;I couldn8217;t really find my game against him today8230; what do you want me to do? I cannot play my best tennis every day,8221; said Safin, who was troubled by a nagging left knee injury.

There were no hiccups for the men8217;s and women8217;s third seeds.

Lleyton Hewitt scurried through. The 2002 champion edged out unseeded American Justin Gimelstob 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 in an entertaining Centre Court tussle.

Amelie Mauresmo continued her smooth progress, flowing into the fourth round with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over American Shenay Perry.

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As the predicted storm clouds gathered around the All England Club, another moody Russian, Anastasia Myskina, came through a crackling third-round match against Jelena Jankovic.

The feisty 2004 French Open Champion won the first set in 19 minutes, squandered three match points in the second and then clawed back a 5-1 deficit in third.

With the rallies growing ever more intense and both players stretching every sinew, Myskina eventually came through 6-0, 5-7, 10-8, the final set lasting 86 minutes.

The ninth seeded Myskina plays compatriot Elena Dementieva who made light of a sore shoulder to beat Mashona Washington 7-5, 6-1 and set up a repetition of last year8217;s French Open final.

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8220;I did not even think I would be able to play here because of my shoulder injury but I8217;m so pleased to be here, even if I8217;m Not playing my best tennis,8221; said Dementieva, who was forced to withdraw from last week8217;s Ordina Open in the Netherlands.

The small army of Russians in action on Friday also included U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, the powerful fifth seed getting a fright against 16-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova before scraping through 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.

Elena Likhovtseva came from behind to beat Italian Silvia Farina Elia 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 and will now play Mauresmo.

Mauresmo, a semi-finalist on her last two appearances, has dropped just 11 games so far and she is beginning to fancy her chances.

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8220;It gives me a lot of confidence to play like this,8221; she said. 8220;I feel my game is great on this surface and we8217;ll see where it takes me.8221;

The 25-year-old, still without a grand slam title, is a joy to watch when in full flow.

An outclassed Perry, ranked 159 in the world, was a mere spectator for the first eight games as winners thundered off the Frenchwoman8217;s racket.

8220;Overall I think my game is really coming together8230;I8217;m looking forward to my next match,8221; Mauresmo added.

Reuters

The grass gaze

	nbsp;	Match of the day Second seed Andy Roddick was made to toil enroute to a five set victory over Italian Daniele Bracciali. The American finally won the duel 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 3-7, 4-6, 6-3 after the match was stalled midway yesterday. Upset of the day Australian Open champion and fifth seed Marat Safin was dismissed in straight sets by Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the third round. The 26th seed romped to a convincing 6-4, 7-6 7-4, 6-3 victory in an hour and 48 minutes. Coming up: Venus Williams, the champion here in 2000 and the following year, will take on Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, a quarter-finalist in 2002, in a third round encounter. The American seeded 14th could face Serena if she gets past the 20th seed, provided her younger sibling also makes it to the fourth round. Trivia: Last year, the fourth day at The Championships was a total washout. This year a record 42,200 people thronged at the Big W on Thursday. Said What?: Definitely I know what I can do right now even if I8217;m not playing my best tennis8230; At least I fight and I do my best on the court no matter what. 8212; Anastasia Myskina	nbsp;