Baghdatis survives Safin fightback

Tennis/Australian Open Day Four:Marcos Baghdatis, the young Cypriot who leapt into the public consciousness here two years ago when he reached the final in only his sixth grand slam tournament, withstood a mighty second-round comeback by Russia's Marat Safin, the former champion, and tomorrow faces what is sure to be another highly charged match against Lleyton Hewitt, who will have the whole of Australia behind him.

Baghdatis will have part of this city's Greek section supporting him, though some may have decided to stay at home last night after several were pepper-sprayed earlier in the week.

Some of the Greek fans in the Rod Laver Arena wore masks, although there was never any likelihood of the police over-reacting again.

And neither did the support for Baghdatis warrant it. It was loud, although the chanting was not as concerted as two years ago when the ethnic contingent was larger. Perhaps they will be back out in force next time. Security is bound to be ultra-tight.

This second-round match always had the potential to be a minor classic, although when Safin went two sets down the prospect of such an enthralling and dramatic extension had not seemed likely.

Baghdatis, who appears fitter than last year, was striking the ball beautifully.

Then, as if dredging up memories of his three finals here, the huge Russian began to find a rhythm to his ground strokes and serve that saw Baghdatis wither and fall like May blossom on the bough.

Safin is an enigma. He was the last man to win a major before the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal duopoly squeezed out everyone else from the 2005 French Open on, although a duopoly is misleading. The Spaniard has locked up the Roland Garros clay and Federer has won the rest.

Somewhere in this mix should have been the Russian, a player of extraordinary ability and power. Alas, by comparison, Hamlet was an uncomplicated family man with minor insecurities.

Last year Safin took himself off into the Himalayas in an effort to clear the swirling vortex between his ears. Before that he had tried fishing and, recently, a little snowboarding. Interspersed with these dark nights of the soul have been debilitating wrist and knee injuries, together with his fair share of wine, women and song. Arguably he has enjoyed his success and money as much as anybody and will have no regrets. That said, this monster of a player should have notched up half a dozen grand slam titles.

In 2004, he was beaten by Federer in the final. He responded the next year by defeating the Swiss in an extraordinary semi-final of vivid shot-making, the last time Federer lost here, and then broke Australian hearts when he powered past Hewitt in the final for his second grand slam win.

But, since then even the bread-and-butter Tour successes have dried up. Safin became increasingly marginalised, increasingly disconsolate, and last night, with the clock having passed midnight, he again slipped into first-week obscurity, losing 6-4 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-2.

Safin believed he should have won and feels his game is returning to near his best. He will be 28 later this month and has made numerous similar promises over the last three years. It will take a gargantuan mental effort, and that may be beyond him.

As for Baghdatis, he seems to have recognised the need for greater physical effort. For a relatively small man he generates tremendous speed on his ground strokes, serves well and, as he showed when he took the opening set off Federer in 2006, can compete with the best.

Hewitt, aching for success, may find matters difficult, even in front of his home crowd.

Venus Williams insisted her bid for a first Australian Open title remained on track despite a shaky second-round win against lowly Frenchwoman Camille Pin.

Williams, a six-time grand slam champion, had her serve broken six times by the 77th-ranked Pin but prevailed 7-5 6-4.

Russian Svetlana Kuzetsova, also had a tough second-round battle against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, whom she eventually beat 7-6 (7/0) 6-2.

Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova advanced with a 6-2 7-5 win over France's Alize Cornet.