SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (AFP) - Top seed Marat Safin was dumped out of the one-million-dollar ATP Saint Petersburg Open following a shock straight sets defeat to Frenchman Michael Llodra.
The 24-year-old Llodra, who is currently 50th in the ATP championship's race, claimed a 6-4, 6-1 victory in one hour, to book a spot in the semi-finals and to level his head-to-head record with Safin at one all.
Llodra, the seventh seed, broke in the 10th game to clinch the first set after 33 minutes of play.
The Frenchman took control of the second set allowing Safin, last week's winner at Madrid, just one game before seeing out the match 27 minutes later.
"It was just not my day," said Safin, who looked a shadow of the player who won last week in Madrid.
"Besides, the referee made too many decisions not in my favour.
"Llodra played very well tonight. I didn't mean to lose the match as every win brings a lot of points," added sixth-ranked Safin, who would have moved past Guillermo Coria into fifth position in the ATP rankings had he won Friday.
But now Tim Henman, ranked seventh, and Andre Agassi, eighth, have the chance to close the gap on Safin with just two weeks of the regular season remaining.
"I'm happy. It was a great match," said Llodra. "Marat looked tired, while I served well tonight and played at maximum aggression."
Fellow Frenchmen Julien Benetteau and Curil Saulnier, however, both slumped in straight sets in their quarter-finals.
Russian Youzhny, the fourth seed, won through 6-0, 6-1 against Benetteau and Slovak Karol Beck eliminated Saulnier 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).
10/29/2004 - 17:19 GMT - AFP