Safin crushes Ginepri in LA Open

Los Angeles: Eighth-seeded Russian Marat Safin was in early trouble against American Robby Ginepri before recovering to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.Former world number one Safin, playing on the ATP circuit this year for the last time, was delighted to beat the winner of last week`s event in Indianapolis.

"Robby is playing really well," the mercurial Russian said. "He is a tough player and it was a well-played match from both of us. I was able to go up a break at the beginning of the second set and that helped me to turn the match around." Fifth-seeded Russian Igor Kunitsyn eased into the second round with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman and Argentina`s Leonardo Mayer crushed French qualifier Josselin Ouanna 6-2, 6-3. In other matches, Latvian Ernests Gulbis brushed aside Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan 7-5, 6-2 and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open runner-up, beat Canada`s Frank Dancevic 7-6, 6-3. "I am happy to win my first match here and I feel like I`m playing much better," said former world number eight Baghdatis, whose ranking has plunged to 146th. "I`ve been practising really hard and I am trying to get back to my old form." Top-seeded German Tommy Haas, tournament champion in 2004 and 2006, will launch his bid for a third title at the hardcourt event when he takes on American wildcard Jesse Levine in the second round on Wednesday. Bureau Report