Tennis: Safin slumps out in third round

Number one seed Marat Safin slipped out of the Stella Artois Championships after a narrow defeat by qualifier Peter Wessels.

The Dutchman won 4-6 6-4 7-6 after he clinched the deciding set tie-break 10-8.

The US Open champion took the first set in 25 minutes after a break in the fifth game.

But Wessels then secured a break in the crucial 10th game of the second set, to level at one set all.

Safin's infamously volatile temperament affected him in the deciding set as he slumped out in the third round.

After slamming his racket into the turf when he netted a simple backhand to lose the second set, the world number three then repeated the act of frustration in the decisive tie-break.

Wessels is ranked only 102nd in the world but claimed his only tour title so far on grass in Newport last year.

He will face either countryman Raemon Sluiter or seventh seed Wayne Ferreira in the quarter-finals and could take on Tim Henman in the last four.

Henman was on centre court after the Safin-Wessels match against Australian Wayne Arthurs.