Safin stays on course

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been receiving most of the attention at Roland Garros but Marat Safin could end up surprising everyone again.

The Russian, who upset Federer en route to championship glory at the Australian Open earlier this year and is seeded third for this event, beat 2003 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero in four sets today.

Ferrero, seeded 32 after a terrible campaign when injuries dogged him, is always dangerous opposition on the clay and Safin only beat him after winning two tie-breaks, claiming a 7-6 (7/5) 7-5 1-6 7-6 (7/2) triumph.

Safin, a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2002, will have to conquer another Spaniard if he is to progress to the quarter-finals, with his next opponent 15th seed Tommy Robredo after he beat countryman David Sanchez 6-4 6-3 6-1.

Safin’s compatriot, 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko, made quick work of Germany’s Tommy Haas by winning 7-5 6-0 6-0.

Argentinian Jose Acasuso, who upset Andy Roddick in the second round, cruised into the fourth round after Italian Filippo Volandri retired through injury.

Mariano Puerta had a slow start against Switzerland’s defeated Stanislas Wawrinka but the Argentinian warmed up and prevailed, 1-6 6-3 6-1 6-4.

Guillermo Coria, who lost to Gaston Gaudio in last year’s final, defeated Austria’s Jurgen Melzer 6-1 6-1 7-6 (7/2).