Men's Draw / Tony Calvin / 25 June 2008 / Leave a comment

And the Russian is backed at [80.0] on Betfair for the set whitewash

THE only time Novak Djokovic and Marat Safin have met before it was the Russian who eased home a 6-0 6-2 6-1 winner at the 2005 Australian Open, but you wouldn't have thought that from the Betfair betting today.

Safin was dismissed as the [11.0] underdog at the start of their second round Wimbledon match this afternoon, although some Betfair punters snapped up odds as high as [14.0] on the dual Grand Slam winner, while Djokovic was a red-hot [1.1] chance on the betting exchange.

But the writing was soon on the wall for the Wimbledon third favourite and his odds-on backers, as Safin dominated from the start, and won in straight sets - an outcome that was available at [80.0] on Betfair.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "I am looking forward to reading the 'Shock Djok' headlines in the papers tomorrow and, with Safin backed at [14.0] on Betfair, it was clearly a huge upset."

Those who backed the temperamental and mercurial Russian at the exchange high of [1000.0] will already have had a superb opportunity to lock in a profit on the winner market - you can lay Safin at [65.0]. His opponent in the third round is Andreas Seppi of Italy.

Tags: Marat Safin, Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon upsets