WIMBLEDON, England — A match involving Marat Safin is always worth watching. He's liable to moon the crowd, smash several rackets or dominate the world's best player, as he did against Pete Sampras in the 2000 U.S. Open final.

For a change, Wimbledon inspired Safin's best behavior and tennis yesterday, much to the chagrin of Novak Djokovic. Finally comfortable on the grass he long has loathed, Safin pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a workmanlike performance to beat the third-ranked Djokovic, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Safin has been battling a slump for months, or even years, and the big Russian expressed surprise to find himself in the third round.

"The last time I won two matches in a row was I don't remember when," he said.

Djokovic, this year's Australian Open champion, was dismayed to catch the erratic Safin at a peak.

"I didn't expect it, honestly saying," Djokovic said. "Playing him on Centre Court obviously motivates him more to do well."

Safin's stunner made a good day even better for No. 1-ranked Roger Federer, who beat Robin Soderling, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Djokovic was in the same half of the draw and posed a potential impediment to Federer's bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title.

"It was certainly a very bad day for me," the 21-year-old Djokovic said. "I didn't do anything that I was supposed to — he was very solid in all segments."

While Djokovic made his earliest exit at a major event in 2 1/2 years, a lucky bounce for new No. 1 Ana Ivanovic prevented a double defeat for Serbia. Facing match point in the second set, Ivanovic hit a forehand that hopped over the net cord for a winner, and more than 90 minutes later she completed a victory over Nathalie Dechy, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 10-8.

"Someone from upstairs made the ball roll over," Ivanovic said. "If it wasn't for that net ... I would be booking my flight back home."

Dechy said she cried for an hour after Ivanovic won.

"Maybe today she can go and play the Lotto," Dechy said. "It would be a good day for her."

Ivanovic next plays China's Zheng Jie, a 6-2, 7-5 winner over Britain's Elena Baltacha.

Two-time champion Serena Williams had less trouble, advancing 6-4, 6-4 over Urszula Radwanska on Court 2, called the "graveyard of champions" for its history of upsets.

In other women's matches, 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo recovered to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Virginia Ruano Pascual and 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli beat Tatiana Perebiynis, 6-2, 7-5.