MADRID, 15 October 2003 — Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman came from a set and a break down to beat Marat Safin 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 yesterday and dashed the Russian’s hopes of a first ATP Tour win since April.

Safin, enduring a tough route back from a series of injuries, clinched the first set in 41 minutes and moved confidently into a 2-0 lead in the second.

Safin became upset at a series of foot-fault calls, though, and Bjorkman capitalized on his opponent’s loss of service rhythm to come back and level, a crosscourt forehand that clipped the net clinching a marathon second set in 68 minutes.

Bjorkman was joined in the second round by America’s Mardy Fish, who outpunched Tim Henman in a 7-6, 6-3 victory over the Briton.

There were mixed fortunes for the other two Americans in first-round action at the indoor tournament yesterday.

Jan-Michael Gambill blasted past Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-3 but James Blake suffered defeat by Max Mirnyi, the Belarus player going through 7-5, 6-2.

Mikhail Youzhny completed a miserable day for Russia with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Spain’s David Ferrer.

Schnyder Starts Title Defense

With Easy Victory

In Zurich, Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder began the defense of her Swisscom Challenge title with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Eleni Daniilidou yesterday.

Schnyder, backed by her home crowd, was never troubled in the opening set as a single break proved enough against a player she defeated in the French Open earlier this year.

Frenchwoman Mary Pierce was forced to forfeit her first round tie with Katarina Srebotnik due to an abdominal injury.

Wild card entry Pierce, competing with a heavily strapped thigh, went off court twice for treatment on the injury in the first set, which she lost 6-0 to the 22-year-old Slovenian.

In yesterday’s opening game, Russian Elena Bovina, a semifinalist in Filderstadt, continued her fine form as she disposed of Australian Alicia Molik 6-4, 6-1.

Russian Nadia Petrova comfortably overcame Swiss wild card Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian 6-3, 6-1 to set up a clash with compatriot Elena Dementieva, the fourth seed.