MELBOURNE, Jan 19 - Andy Roddick kept his head while Marat Safin and all around him were losing theirs to win the titanic showdown of the third round at the Australian Open on Friday.

As the Russian raged at the match referee and chair umpire, Roddick, under the watchful eye of coach Jimmy Connors, dismantled his opponent's confidence with a 7-6 2-6 6-4 7-6 win to book a last-16 tie against Croatia's Mario Ancic.

Defending champions Roger Federer and Amelie Mauresmo safely booked their places in round four while two-time former champion Serena Williams staged a remarkable comeback to secure hers.

But the day was all about the showdown between powerhouse Roddick and 2005 champion Safin, who was unable to defend his title last year due to injury.

"When I saw the draw I said, no not me," jubilant sixth seed Roddick said.

"I knew I would have to play well or I'd be going home. You come out and get matches like this and to get through a tough one like this is what it's all about".

The quality of the tennis may not have matched the intensity of the pre-match hype, but Roddick's furious chasing, bizarre officiating and Safin's volcanic temper provided a dynamic spectacle.

DECISION OVERTURNED

Safin scowled at chair umpire Pascal Maria at 1-1 in the fourth set when the French official called a serve long only to have his own decision overturned when the Russian referred the call to Hawk-eye.

He had been stewing since a verbal obscenity warning after a tirade with tournament referee Wayne McKewen and while Safin fumed, Roddick won more of the baseline rallies when it mattered and quietly watched as the Russian imploded to end his nine-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.

"They have been so pathetic on this subject," Safin raged to reporters when asked about McKewen's decision to continue play so quickly after a short rain delay at the end of the third set.

"I really am just so disappointed that people are so blind, they don't want to see anything ... it's a nonsense for me."

After rain earlier caused a four-hour delay at the start of the day, it was left to Williams and Federer to lifted dampened spirits.

Williams looked dead and buried against fifth seed Nadia Petrova at a set and 5-4 down with the Russian serving for a place in round four.

But the American dug deep for a 1-6 7-5 6-3 victory and a match against red-hot Serb Jelena Jankovic.

She was seen mouthing 'Hi Dad, call me' to the cameras as she celebrated her win and revealed afterwards that it was a plea to her father Richard to get in touch.

"I'm trying to reach my dad, I haven't been able to reach him for a few days. Whenever I call him my number doesn't come up. It's so frustrating."

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