Safin ousts Roddick in classic five-setter

Marat Safin ended the hopes of top seed Andy Roddick in a five-set epic in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The unseeded Russian had to battle through three hours, 23 minutes for a magnificent 2-6 6-3 7-5 6-7(0-7) 6-4 victory.

"He started really well and he's improved a lot since the last time we played," said Safin.

"He serves so good, improved his volley, his backhand is great and his forehand is one of the best in tennis and it is tough to hold it on the baseline with him."

Safin has battled back from an injury troubled 2003 and played over 15 hours of tennis these last 10 days to reach the semi-finals so he is looking forward to clashing with Agassi.

"Let's be realistic. How many hours have I spent this week on the court? He didn't spend even half of it," he said

"He is a great player and for me it will be nice to play with him in a semi-final. I am back, that is the most important thing for me, I will try and play my best tennis and see what happens."

Roddick continued his dazzling form to break Safin three times in the opening set and the Russian then called for a trainer to work on his groin at the beginning of the second set.

But he took a drink, swallowed a tablet from the physio and came out a changed man. Safin held serve for only the second time in the match and then broke Roddick to enforce a dramatic sea-change.

Safin was effective at the net and unleashed a number of punishing groundstrokes to cement his advantage and then levelled the piece at one set all.

By now his injury concerns seemed forgotten as he produced a third set of wonderful all-court tennis, full of clever volleys, blistering passing shots and subtle lobs that even had Roddick applauding.

There were few points against the serve until, once again, Roddick was serving to save the set. Safin moved 15-40 up and a snatched forehand into the net from the American sealed the set.

Roddick was beginning to get vocal, with himself and also umpire Gerry Armstrong as the fourth set, which lacked nothing for thrilling tennis but went with serve until once again the American was faced with saving the match.

At 4-5 he succeeded, at 5-6 he succeeded and then Roddick dominated the tiebreak to claim it 7-0.

He carried that momentum on but could not break when the Muscovite went into his shell for the first few games of the deciding set and it proved costly when Safin broke for a 5-4 lead.

Roddick earned two break back points but Safin saved both and then the world number 86 earned a remarkable victory.