Safin shows staying power

Former Australian Open finalist Marat Safin won an enthralling five-set encounter with veteran Todd Martin today and will meet American James Blake in the last 16.

Neither are seeded at this year’s tournament and the match-up promises to be an exciting affair with both men committed to attacking tennis.

Safin’s roller-coaster Open continued with an epic battle against Martin, the master of endurance, who eventually fell as the exuberant Russian hit back to win 7-5 1-6 4-6 6-0 7-5.

The match lasted three hours and 25 minutes and over the course of five sets, Safin won only three more points than his American opponent.

Blake had earlier become the first man to reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a clinical display against French qualifier Olivier Patience.

The American, who avoided a tough opening round when seventh seed Carlos Moya withdrew, took just 75 minutes to beat Patience 6-1 6-3 6-2.