NOT SINCE Goran Ivanisevic received a sympathetic wild card entry in 2001 and rifled his way through the draw, with a left arm that was becoming more troublesome with each match, has such a frisson energised the Centre Court crowd.

Marat Safin, the surly, enigmatic Russian, who has won only two back-to-back matches this year, transformed the top half of the draw when he walloped third seed and Australian champion, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

To say that the tennis world were not agape at the one-sided score would be to say that Safin is a dependable, earnest, bland young tennis pro.

At the 2000 US Open the 27-year-old celebrated a drop shot by pulling down his shorts and bending over. That discourtesy brought the fans to their feet but mooning the stadium cost him a penalty point.

"I felt like pulling my pants down. What's wrong with that," he growled.

In the last three years he has been tumbling down the rankings and his current place of 75 not only belies his mercurial natural talent but makes him a particularly dangerous floater in the draw.

It was Djokovic's misfortune that he drew Safin in the second round and although the young Serb knew that the former Australian Open champion had the demons messing with his game, there was still enough venom in Safin's blood for the 21-year-old to be at least very cautious.

"It was certainly a very bad day for me. I didn't do anything I was supposed to," said the bemused third seed. "I haven't watched him a lot in the last two years. Safin has his ups and downs. He's known for his, you know, mental instability. But he's still a great player."

When Safin was asked about the last time he played so well, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled as he sifted through the memory bank. "I don't remember," he said.

"Long time ago. I don't even remember."

He was then asked whether he expected to be back in Russia tonight rather than preparing for his third round match against the 29th seed Andreas Seppi.

"There is a flight every day," he informed the room.

"Eight thirty, arrive at four in the morning in Moscow. Everything is under control."

And, for now, even his game is too. Djokovic's however, was not. He unforgivably double-faulted in the third set to give Safin match point. He then double-faulted again to hand him the match as the full house in Centre Court groaned in unison.

It was his 10th of the match.

Djokovic had also double- faulted in the first set to given Safin a service break for 4-2 and again in the third set to give him an early edge and a 2-0 lead.

By that stage the body language was beginning to show a player at odds with what was going on around him and who could do little to change it.

Error-prone and deflated, those critical serving gaffs combined with his 28 other unforced errors to add up to a simply wretched performance.

"Tired mentally, probably I'd say yes," he said. "It's been a long season even though it's only half way through. But that's not the reason I lost. He was just better than me. I had a very bad day and that's it."

For Safin, his season has been launched. Nobody in SW19 believes he can "do a Goran" but the prospect of watching him try should be a welcome counterpoint to the march of the seeded players towards next week.

However, those who have watched Safin throughout his turbulent years fear that on an outside court without the buzz and energy of the main stadium, the black clouds may descend, the racquet will start bouncing and the fulminating Safin will arrive.

In his first round match he played out on court 11 against Fabio Fognini.

"My ranking has dropped, so where do you expect me to play? I'm 75 in the world and I'm playing against the Italian guy," he said with a flap of his hand.

"Actually I was surprised it was a full stadium. These matches you need to get through. Everybody's nervous, you don't have any challenges here, the Hawk-Eye . . . The chair umpire maybe half-sleeping but you get through these matches. I played on court 11, which is almost another club."

Good news for pit bull lovers is that Lleyton Hewitt also advanced. His three-set win over Spain's Albert Montanes was something of a tonic after his five-set first round match.

Hewitt is playing with a hip injury, making the straight set performance additionally sweet.

Roger Federer was also three-setting it, although, the silken one had to take a tiebreak to see off Sweden's Robin Soderling over two hours. His 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win keeps him on course for his sixth successive title.