Fun times for Safin, Federer rolls on

Marat Safin's new love affair with grass blossomed in the Wimbledon sunshine yesterday as the Russian bludgeoned past former finalist Mark Philippoussis.

His 7-6 7-6 6-4 victory kept him on course for a quarter-final meeting with Australian Lleyton Hewitt after the 2002 champion saw off Czech Jan Hernych 6-2 7-5 3-6 6-3.

World number one Roger Federer remains the man to beat, however, and the Swiss world number one swatted aside Czech Ivo Minar 6-4 6-4 6-1 in 82 stress-free minutes.

Top seed Federer, aiming for a third successive Wimbledon title, extended his winning streak on grass to 31 to book a third-round meeting with Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.

In the women's draw Kim Clijsters and world number one Lindsay Davenport stayed on collision course for a fourth round slug-fest while French third seed Amelie Mauresmo also joined them in the third round.

Safin, the once self-confessed hater of Wimbledon's treacherous green lawns, survived three set points in the opening set of a sledgehammer duel against injury-prone wildcard Philippoussis, now ranked 142 in the world.

From that moment on the burly Australian Open champion, who lost to Federer in the final at Halle last week, looked totally at home on a sun-bathed Centre Court, sealing victory with his 20th booming ace.

"I couldn't feel comfortable on this surface before I played at Halle," said the 25-year-old Safin, who faces dangerous Spaniard Felicano Lopez in the third round.

"It's really important to have fun on grass and all of a sudden it came to me and I feel pretty good. I don't know how to explain it."

Federer, who faces Nicolas Kiefer in the third round, was never seriously tested against the 99th-ranked Minar, appearing in the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time.

The smooth Swiss machine was not totally satisfied with his performance, however, and predicted that Safin, who beat him in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, is a danger.

"When I had some openings I could have done better," said the 23-year-old. "But I thought, I played alright.

"(Safin's) got a big game, he hasn't showed what he can do on grass yet, but maybe it's a good year for him."

Belgian former world number one Clijsters, lurking dangerously as the 15th seed, needed just 44 minutes to scorch past Marissa Irvin 6-1 6-1.

Looking toned and bronzed she belted forehands and backhands past her dazed opponent, who was given a tennis masterclass.

"I'll give myself eight out of 10 for that today," said Clijsters who next faces Italian Roberta Vinci.

"This is the best I've felt for a long time. Today I felt for the first time that the puzzle fitted."

Davenport showed little mercy as she demolished fellow American Jamea Jackson 6-0 6-3, trampling through a lop-sided first set in 17 minutes.

Third seed Amelie Mauresmo also made impressive progress, despatching Spain's Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo 6-1 6-3.

"I played a great match, there's not much more to say about it," said the 25-year-old Mauresmo, who plays American player Shenay Perry in the next round.

There was no easy ride for ninth seed Anastasia Myskina, who went through her full repertoire of on-court theatrics during a 6-4 6-3 defeat of Aiko Nakamura.

The 23-year-old Moscovite who has been beset by personal problems and poor results this year, stewed, fretted and ranted at the umpire during an edgy 6-4 6-3 victory over Nakamura on another baking hot day.

Myskina, who tearfully spoke of her mother's health problems at the French Open where she became the first defending champion to lose in the first round, controlled her emotions enough to book a tricky third round clash with Serbian Jelena Jankovic.