Safin erased three match points, including when Ouanna sent a backhand into the net in the last game. Moments later, Safin sent a forehand wide to end it.
"He played good," said Safin, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2002 but lost in the second round the past two years. "Even though ... he almost lost this match. Christmas is today and not the 25th of December."
Safin has a history of making history -- smashing rackets, setting balls sailing into the crowd, and even dropping his shorts during a match at the French Open, and complaining about the cost of spaghetti at Wimbledon.
On Wednesday, he riled the local fans after sending an easy forehand into the net while serving at 5-6. Disgusted with himself, Safin was preparing for his next serve when he lost control of the ball while bouncing it. He then nervously -- even angrily -- started kicking away dirt from just inside the baseline.
The crowd booed heartily, but forgave and forgot once the match was over, sending Safin off to the locker room with a loud round of applause.
"I'm not a bad boy, but hopefully I can change the thing that not a lot of tennis players have managed, to have a great life afterwards with tennis," Safin said of his future. "With all due respect, I want to try to be the guy who ends up doing something else and be good at it."
