Russian favourite Safin stumbles in Kremlin Cup

Top seed and home favourite Marat Safin was bundled out of the Kremlin Cup in the second round 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 by unseeded Czech Radek Stepanek.

Former world No1 Safin, who struggled to beat his doubles partner Max Mirnyi on Monday, finally ran out of steam in Moscow against 74th-ranked Stepanek.

The defeat dented his chances of qualifying for the year-ending Tennis Master Cup in Houston, but the former US Open champion said: "I still have three tournaments left in Madrid, St Petersburg and Paris, so I think I have a good chance."

Second seed Joachim Johansson, of Sweden, eased into the last eight by beating unseeded Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-2, 6-4.

Italy's seventh seed Filippo Volandri defeated Robin Soderling, winner of last week's event in Lyon, and will now take on British No2 Greg Rusedski.

Lindsay Davenport will regain top spot in the women's rankings if she beat Safin's younger sister Dinara Safina in a second round match later today.