Marat Safin once again hit the self-destruct button yesterday when he sulked, screamed and shrieked his way out of the Australian Open
After battling the officials and opponent Andy Roddick for just over three hours, the fiery Russian finally exited the arena beaten 7-6 2-6 6-4 7-6.
Roddick took control of the third-round match when he stormed through the first-set tiebreak 7-2 and although Safin hit back to level in a second set featuring four breaks of serve, the US player kept his composure.
He made a late break in the third set and dominated the fourth-set tiebreak, sealing it 7-2 on his first match point to wrap up victory in three hours and 12 minutes.
Roddick paid tribute to his coach Jimmy Connors, who was watching in the stands after missing his first two matches to stay in the US following the death of his mother.
The first set went with serve to 3-3 before Safin broke Roddick to love.
Roddick hit straight back to level and the set ended with a tiebreak in which the US player raced into a 5-2 lead and sealed it with an ace on his first set point.
The surly Safin, strangely subdued in the early stages, was inspired at the start of the second set, sealing his second successive break with a brilliant running forehand down the line to open a 4-0 lead.
Roddick got one break back but Safin took the American's serve again to clinch the set.
The match never quite lived up to its billing and Safin began to lose his cool after suffering a cut finger as he dived to make a volley and lay prone on the court for several seconds.
Play was stopped to allow the Russian to get treatment and he returned to hold serve but at 4-4 and with another tiebreak looming Roddick benefited from an outrageous net cord to break Safin's serve and he held his own to love to pocket the set.
Light rain fell on Rod Laver Arena and, after the court had been dried, Safin lost his temper and received a warning when he complained about the match referee's decision to continue.
Safin continued to argue with the umpire between games but he held his game together as the pair held serve through to 4-4.
Roddick three break points for a 5-4 lead but Safin held firm and the set headed for another tiebreak.
Roddick once again seized the initiative, racing into a 5-2 lead and he sealed victory on his first match point when Safin netted a backhand.
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