2008 Wimbledon results: Novak Djokovic upset by Safin in Round 2

2008 Wimbledon results: Novak Djokovic upset by Safin in Round 2 One of the top three tennis players at this year's Wimbledon is out of the competition - Novak Djokovic was beaten by Russian Marat Safin 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the second round. Novak Djokovic was listed with odds 9/2 with the British bookmakers, third overall, after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But tennis fans know that Marat Safin is not an easy target. Safin (currently No. 75) held the No. 1 ATP ranking for 9 weeks during 2000 when he won his first Grand Slam tournament at the US Open, by defeating Pete Sampras in straight sets. Marat Safin reached the final round in three more Grand Slam tournaments, all in the Australian Open in 2002, 2004, and 2005. He defeated favorite Lleyton Hewitt in the 2005 finals to secure his second Grand Slam in five years. Safin also took part in the 2008 French Open but was eliminated in Round 2 by countryman and No. 4 seed Nikolai Davydenko in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Following the Djokovic exit from the 2008 Wimbledon, the odds on the tennis competition have changed to reflect the upset. At Paddy Power the favorite player to win outright remains Federer with odds 4/7, followed by Nadal at 13/8. The spot previously occupied by Djokovic on the betting sheets now belongs to Roddick, but his odds remain long 16/1.

Published on 06/25/2008