Tennis: Look out, here comes Safin

LONDON - An ominous development for the rest of the men's field at Wimbledon: Marat Safin is beginning to find his footing on grass.

The mercurial Russian overcame his career-long aversion to lawn tennis yesterday and beat Paradorn Srichaphan, of Thailand, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

A first-round victory by a two-time Grand Slam champion might seem like no big deal. But Safin has advanced beyond the second round at Wimbledon only once, and after a first-round loss last year he said he was done with trying to win on grass.

Even when Safin won the Australian Open in January, he was unsure whether he would play at Wimbledon. Now he lurks as a threat to claim his second major title this year.

"After what I've seen, it looks like he's getting more comfortable on the surface," said 2003 runner-up Mark Philippoussis, of Australia, who will play Safin in the second round tomorrow.

"He's definitely finding his game a little more out there."

Philippoussis is mounting his latest career comeback. He received a wildcard into the draw and opened by beating Karol Beck, of Slovakia, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

Against Paradorn, the No 5-seeded Safin moved well despite a knee injury that has hampered him in recent weeks and prompted him to plan a month-long lay-off after Wimbledon.

He had 46 winners and just 13 unforced errors, lost just 11 points on his first serve and was broken only once.

Safin, who has battled a slump on all surfaces in recent months, judged the performance his best since Australia.

"I felt really comfortable, actually, and really confident," he said. "I wish I could play this level of tennis every day. I'm trying."

With a rueful smile, Safin acknowledged that he still hates grass. He said he was trying to change that with the help of coach Peter Lundgren, who has encouraged Safin to play more aggressively on the surface.

With a big serve, creative knack and willingness to charge the net, Safin has the game to win on grass.

But he finds himself in the more difficult half of the draw, which includes Swiss Roger Federer and 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia.

The top-ranked Federer extended his grass-court winning streak to 30 matches, including 15 at the All England Club, by beating Paul-Henri Mathieu, of France, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

No 3-seeded Hewitt hit 19 aces and beat Christophe Rochus, of Belgium, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta hardly had time to knock the clay from his shoes before skidding out in the first round.

The Argentine, seeded 16th on the strength of his Roland Garros heroics earlier this month, joined an ever-growing list of claycourt specialists at the Wimbledon exit.

Puerta was never in with a shout against German Lars Burgsmueller, losing 1-6, 1-6, 4-6.

Spanish 13th seed Tommy Robredo also fell by the wayside, beaten 1-6, 2-6, 5-7 by compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

His fellow Spaniards, Albert Montanes and Alberto Martin, barely managed to keep their balance on the slick green surface before they too suffered an early end to their grasscourt season.

In the women's draw, No 1 American Lindsay Davenport returned to the site of one of her three major titles, beating Alina Jidkova, of Russia, 6-0, 6-2 to move into the second round of what shapes up as the most competitive women's Grand Slam tournament in quite a while.

"Sitting here a year ago, I just felt like I was losing that little inner fire that you need to always be at the top," the 29-year-old Davenport said.

"After I left here, it got relit. I don't know how else to describe it."

For the first time since Wimbledon in 2003, the two Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, of the United States, and Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, former No 1 players all, are at a major together.

Injuries and illness have sidelined each, depriving the sport of rivalries that were blossoming when members of that quartet filled both finalist spots at eight consecutive Grand Slams from 2002-04.

With No 2 Maria Sharapova, No 3 Amelie Mauresmo, and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the mix, there's the potential for a spectacular second week.

"Having Venus, Serena, Justine and myself back on the tour, it's fun again," said Clijsters, who missed time last year with a wrist injury and this year with a right knee injury. '

Clijsters, Mauresmo and Kuznetsova won in straight sets, as did two-time Grand Slam finalist Elena Dementieva.

- AGENCIES