30 Aug 2008

Safina wins while her brother gets fined at US Open

9:57 am on 30 August 2008

Russian sixth seed Dinara Safina overcame a couple of concentration lapses to defeat Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-3 in the second round of the US Open.

The Russian, who has a 17-1 win-loss record since Wimbledon now plays Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky in the third round.

Meanwhile her brother Marat Safin has been fined $US2,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct during his first-round win over American Vince Spadea

Safin lost his temper and argued with umpire Carlos Bernades after he was controversially foot-faulted on a second serve late in the fourth set against Spadea on Tuesday.

Bernades refused to overturn the call, giving Spadea set point. Safin then swore at the official and for a while refused to play on. The former world number one eventually calmed down and won the match in five sets.