Two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin saw off old friend Juan Carlos Ferrero Saturday in a most fiercely competed third round clash at the French Open.

The Russian third seed pulled off the victory 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 1- 6, 7-6 (7-2) to level his head-to-head record at 5-5 with former French Open champion Ferrero after the marathon match lasting three hours 46 minutes under the scorching afternoon sun on Court Philippe Chartrier.

The full-capacity spectators of over 15,000 were well entertained by the two 25-year-old players, knowing each other since they were 14 with a match filled with long-time baseline dueling and delicate volleys as well as disputes.

U.S. Open and Australian winner Safin seemed to have shrug off the effect of a painful left knee that has been bothering him for over a month to take the first set.

Ferrero, a champion here in 2003, weathered the initial storm and broke Safin in the third game to go up 3-1. The Spaniard triedto finish off the Russian on his serve at 5-4 but Safin stormed back to seal the set in a disputed tie-breaker.

Safin made another ragged start to fall behind 4-1. But Ferrerosquandered the lead once again as Safin broke back in the 11th game and served out the set with an thundering ace.

Ferrero then took control and ran away with the third set in 31minutes but conceded the match in a fourth set tie-breaker which Safin concluded with a wicked forehand winner.

Safin fired 13 aces compared to Ferrero's one but he also made 60 unforced errors, 22 more than those of his friend's.

"It's a matter of just a couple of points. You need to take your opportunities because the match is going so close. I played alittle bit more brave in some moments and the luck was on my side," said Safin.

"There wasn't such a difference between the two of us. I think at one point he realized that things weren't going too well. He was a bit nervous. He didn't know how to finish his set. I think the whole match turned around one or two points. One or two pointsreally made the difference," he said.

Ferrero said Safin surprised him in terms of fitness.

"Today he surprised me physically. He was really, really good physically in the court. Doing a lot of rallies with me. He didn't look so tired," he said.

"He did better than me at the tiebreak. So I think it was one of the chances," he added.

Source: Xinhua