Madrid, Oct 15: Marat Safin's losing streak reached the half-year mark as the 2000 us open champion went down in the first round of the 2.45-million-Euro masters series Madrid, a 4-6 7-5 6-4 victim of Jonas Bjorkman. Safin led three other countrymen - Mikhail Youzhny, Nikolay Davydenko and veteran Yevgeny Kafelnikov - out the door on a day to forget for mother Russia. Only Max Mirnyi of Belarus, the former while Russia, saved some face as he beat American James Blake 6-3 6-3.
Spain's David Ferrer stopped Youzhny 1-6 6-4 6-4, while American Jan-Michael Gambill defeated Davydenko 6-3 6-3.
Swede Thomas Enqvist took revenge for defeat in the 1999 Australian Open final as he put out Kafelnikov when the Russian retired after losing the first set 6-3.
Veteran Swede Bjorkman inflicted more pain on Safin, who is still struggling to return to form after months of wrist problems.
Though he has not required surgery, the 23-year-old has had a tough time as the problem slowly recedes. An attempt at Los Angeles in July resulted in failure to complete a first-round match.
Last week in Lyon, and the week previously in Moscow, the struggling Safin was also beaten. His last victory came in the Barcelona semi-finals in mid-April over Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"I've been out for a long time," said Safin. "It's difficult to come back and start winning matches, you lose everything." Bureau Report