Safin stuns Djokovic

LONDON: Former world No 1 Marat Safin sent third seed Novak Djokovic crashing out of Wimbledon on Wednesday while Serbian compatriot Ana Ivanovic narrowly escaped the same All England Club black hole.

Safin, a US Open and Australian Open champion during his glory days before a slump sent his career into freefall, stunned the 21-year-old world No 3 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2 with a magical Center Court display.

On Court One, women's top seed Ivanovic, buoyed by her French Open triumph, had to save two match points in extraordinary circumstances to see off France's experienced Nathalie Dechy 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 10-8.