Philipp Petzschner knocked out Marat Safin; can do kickboxing too

German tennis player Philipp Petzschner who beat Marat Safin in the first round at the Thailand Open 2008 was seen practicing Thai boxing during a Thai boxing demonstration to promote the ATP Tier II tournament in Bangkok today.


(Images by Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Getty Images)

Marat Safin makes early departure at Thailand Open

Marat Safin thought he would improve on his world ranking at the Thailand Open by skipping the Davis Cup.

Well, Russia didn't made it to the Davis Cup final.

And Safin didn't even made it through the first round.

Philipp Petzschner sprang the first upset of the Thailand Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) defeating Russian Marat Safin yesterday.

The world-ranked 131 German reached the second round at the ATP level for the fourth time this season as he caught a frustrated Safin flat-footed to deny the former number 1 his 400th career match win.

"I didn't feel comfortable on the court, it's just the way I was today," said a deflated Safin, a semi-finalist in his previous two appearances.

"I didn't play well, nothing happened for me out there. It's my job to play tennis and I didn't do it well today."

Perhaps Safin was rather tired, judging from the pictures during his arrival at the Bangkok International Airport.

(Via AFP, Images by Yahoo! Sport, Zimbio and Ms Unpredictable @ Menstennisforums)

Family affair in Bangkok for the Djokovic boys

Introducing Marko Djokovic, the one with the letter 'L'.

Marko Djokovic, the younger brother of World No. 3 Novak, will make his ATP debut in Bangkok this week after receiving a wild card into the main draw of the Thailand Open.

The 17-year-old right-hander has been drawn to meet fifth-seeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the first round, while this season’s Australian Open champion Novak will compete against Julien Benneteau of France or a qualifier after receiving a first round bye.

The brothers have obtained a wild card into the doubles draw and will meet Frenchmen Fabrice Santoro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round.

Marko, currently No. 1734 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, has made three appearances on the ITF Futures circuit this year.

In July, he received a wild card into the qualifying competition of the Studena Croatia Open Umag but lost in the first round to World No. 310 Italian Francesco Piccari in three sets.

(Via ATP website)