Marat Mikhailovich Safin of Russia, a two time winner of the Grand Slam title, faced a third-set fight back by Italy’s Fabio Fognini at Wimbledon on Monday June 23, 2008 to emerge successful 6-1, 6-2, 7-6. In the second round, the former World No 1 Marat Safin will play against the third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Safin has often voiced his dislike for playing on the grass courts of the Wimbledon, but this did not deter him from firing some really powerful shots in the initial two sets to offset his 21 year old Italian rival. In the third set, the concentration of the Russian player slipped somewhat and with it his preciseness too. Fabio Fognini too, who was making his first appearance in the men’s singles, answered Safin’s shots with full might but the latter’s power and experience helped him sail through.