Djokovic, Safin cruise into third round

(AAP) Four years after their classic semi-final, Roger Federer and Marat Safin will square off in another Friday night showstopper at Melbourne Park after steaming into the third round the Australian Open.

Fittingly on his farewell roadshow, the hugely popular Safin has found time to stop
off at Rod Laver Arena to reprise his epic rivalry with the Swiss master after
romping to an ominous straight-sets victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on
Wednesday.
The mercurial Russian declared he had "nothing to worry about" against the 13-times
major champion after dispatching the Spaniard 7-5 6-2 6-2 in super quick time before
Federer followed suit with a 6-2 6-3 6-1 win over Russian Evgeny Korolev.
He accepts his best tennis may be behind him, but Safin nevertheless has good reason
to feel comfortable, having taken down the Swiss freak en route to the title in 2005
in one of the all-time great grand slam encounters.
The five-set defeat - in which he squandered a match point while brazenly hitting an
under-the-legs trick shot - was one of just two losses for Federer at a hardcourt
slam in the past five years.
Although he trails 9-2 in career meetings, Safin has always extended Federer, even
as recently as last year's Wimbledon semi-finals.
"It's going to be a nice match for sure. We have a history," Federer said.
"We go way back. Him, of course, being a former No.1, same for me, former grand slam
champion, it's an intriguing match-up.
"I expect it to be tougher here on the hard courts, which should suit his game more."
In the most respectful way, Safin claimed Federer lost his nerve in their famous
Open semi and clearly has no fear of the second seed.
"I was lucky that he got a little bit scared probably in the fifth set and he didn't
go for a lot of shots that he should have gone for," Safin said.
"I was serving well, which saved my game, saved my fifth set, because there was a
lot of opportunities (for him)."
Safin, at 28 Federer's senior, gives himself a fair shot of conjuring another boilover.
"Every time I play against him, I have very close matches against him," the big
Muscovite said.
"I had my best years a few years ago before I got injured, but it's much easier to
play without any pressure.
"I'm looking forward. I have nothing to worry about."
Another player claiming to have little to worry about on Wednesday was Novak
Djokovic, who stepped his up title defence with an impressive 7-5 6-1 6-3 dismissal
of Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
"I'm playing better and better, which is very encouraging fact for me," Djokovic said.
Feeling "physically better than last year" and now finding his groove after a slow
start to the summer, Djokovic even took offence when asked if he sensed in-form Scot
Andy Murray was the "third man after Rafa (Nadal) and Roger" to be pushing for the
title.
"Why Andy? What's his ranking and my ranking?" the third seed queried.
"All the respect to Andy, I like him as a person and as a player. He's done a lot in
the last couple months and he's a very talented player and we can expect him to win
some grand slams in the future.
"But you cannot put him as the favourites next to Roger and Rafa and myself here at
Australian Open."
The fourth-seeded Murray has the chance to respond on Thursday when he plays
Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the second round.