Safin, Petrova upset in Kremlin Cup

MOSCOW (AP) -- Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic pulled off a major upset Wednesday, eliminating top-seeded Marat Safin 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-3 on the Russian's home turf in the second round of the US$2.3 million Kremlin Cup.

In the women's draw, U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated qualifier Michaela Pastikova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4, joining fellow Russians Vera Zvonareva and Elena Bovina in the quarterfinals.

Sixth-seeded Zvonareva came back from a set down to beat Karolina Sprem of Croatia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Bovina had little trouble eliminating lucky-loser qualifier Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg 7-5, 6-3.

In a tough match that lasted 2 1/2 hours, Safin jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first set then lost four consecutive games.

Russia's top player fought off a set point at 3-5 to force a tiebreaker but failed to convert two set points of his own before Stepanek -- No. 72 in the ATP Entry rankings and better known as a doubles player -- won when Safin served wide.

Safin broke Stepanek in the seventh game to win the second set and level the match.

Both players held their serve in the third set before Safin double faulted to lose the seventh game. He broke back in the next game, but Stepanek immediately restored his lead after Safin sent a forehand wide at deuce, and the Czech served for the match.

"I had chances but didn't capitalize on them. I should have won, but that's easier said than done," said Safin.

Safin is eighth in the ATP Champions Race with 363 points, and the loss will not affect his position, meaning he still has a chance to qualify for the Tennis Masters Final in Houston on Nov. 13-20.

"There are still tournaments in Madrid, St. Petersburg and Paris," he said.

Earlier, the tough Russian women's field suffered its first loss when Italy's Francesca Schiavone upset eighth-seeded Nadia Petrova 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Kuznetsova, who had a first-round bye, jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first set before losing concentration in the sixth game and allowing unheralded Pastikova to break back. The Russian then regained control.

"It was rather difficult to play my first match on this surface, as it's very slow and I didn't had the right feeling of the ball at the beginning," said Kuznetsova.

After trading breaks early in the second set on the indoor carpet, both players held their serve until the ninth game, when Kuznetsova earned two break points with a powerful forehand cross. She forced Pastikova to return wide after a long rally, and served for the set and the match.

"I feel responsibility but not pressure when I'm playing in Russia. I would like to perform at my best hear and win," Kuznetsova said.

The 19-year-old is ranked No. 5 on the WTA Tour and is looking for her fourth title this season.

Petrova, ranked No. 13, was the first seed to fall in the tournament after top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo withdrew because of a thigh injury.

Petrova looked to have an easy pass to the quarterfinals when she won the first set at love after the Italian called for a trainer in the fifth game for a massage.

But Schiavone, world No. 22, took the second set after two early breaks and jumped to a 5-1 lead in the third before going on to win.

"In the second set, she began to play much tougher, running down the baseline for every ball and managed incredible returns," said Petrova.

In the men's first-round action, seventh-seeded Italian Filippo Volandri overcame a one-set deficit to defeat Robin Soderling of Sweden 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6).

In the second round, eight-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 6-4.