TENNIS: Roger Federer won the battle of the former champions in an entertaining third-round match against Marat Safin at the Australian Open in Melbourne today.
The pair had not met in the event since their semi-final of 2005 - which Safin won on his way to the title.
But there was to be no repeat in Rod Laver Arena for Safin as Federer, the champion in 2004, 2006 and 2007, won 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7/5) to extend his run of victories against Safin to 10 in 12 encounters.
Federer, looking for a record equalling 14th grand slam title, drew first blood taking the opening set in 26 minutes as he broke the Safin serve in the eighth game before serving out the set.
The Russian's forehand let him down at times as he committed 13 unforced errors to Federer's five but hit three more winners with seven.
The second set had a bit of everything from booming serves from Safin to well placed passing shots from the Swiss world number two.
Safin outfoxed Federer with some well-executed lobs as well but, much to his frustration, his forehand continued to let him down at crucial times.
The Russian was broken for the first time in the set in the fifth game after three wayward forehands, which prompted him to bounce his racquet in disgust.
An ace got him back to 15-40 but Federer sent a shot past him as he approached the net to take a 3-2 lead.
Federer then held his serve before breaking the world number 26 in the seventh game with a superb winner deep into the corner of the court and served out the set.
The third set went with serve as the pair battled it out, with both forced to dig into their box of tricks as they tried to find the crucial breakthrough.
It finally came in the tiebreak when Safin went 3-1 down as his forehand let him down again.
A foot fault call which left Safin at 4-1 down resulted in the fired-up Russian having a few words with the official but he came back to level things at 5-5 before an ace by an ice cool Federer tipped things his way.
The Swiss ace now faces Tomas Berdych, who beat Federer's compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets.