Number 10 seed Gonzalez blasts Safin out

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) Number 10 seed Fernando Gonzalez bludgeoned dual grand slam winner Marat Safin out of Wimbledon 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a second round battle of the big hitters today.

The Chilean, a quarter finalist last year, climbed back from two sets down when victory looked assured for the mercurial Russian who railed against disputed line calls with cries of ''Gimme a Break.'' Despite breaking his racket in frustration, Gonzalez refused to be denied against Safin, the former world number one whose ranking has plunged 82 places after a left knee operation.

Safin showed glimmers of the genius that brought him victory in last year's Australian Open against Roger Federer and a 2000 US Open triumph against Pete Sampras but the Chilean's dogged determination finally paid off.

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