Wimbledon 2005, Day 3
Russian fifth seed Marat Safin won his sledgehammer duel with Mark Philippoussis at Wimbledon, edging out the Australian 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Safin displayed the opportunism of a champion in a second-round match of such fearsome hitting that at one stage early in the second set the net collapsed and had to be replaced.
Safin, who reached his first grasscourt final at Halle 10 days ago and is playing through the pain of a knee injury, was at a loss to explain why he was suddenly having fun on a surface he once detested.
"We don't know why a lot of things that happen in life happen when they do. I don't know how to explain it," he said.
Wimbledon 2005: Complete coverage
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