MELBOURNE, Australia(AP) Fabrice Santoro made his Australian Open swansong on Friday, losing in the third round to Andy Roddick.
Santoro said he's making his last appearance at the Grand Slam, which he first played in 1991.
The 36-year-old Frenchman made his 18th appearance in Melbourne. At the end of the match, Tennis Australia presented him with a bottle of champagne and a certificate for a free dinner.
``This has always been one of my favorite places,'' said Santoro, whose 2006 quarterfinal appearance was his best.
Roddick congratulated Santoro as the pair walked off the court after the 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Respect is an understatement,'' Roddick said.The longevity he has had is an accomplishment in itself.''
Santoro was dubbed ``The Magician'' by Pete Sampras after losing to him in three sets in 2002. Sampras won a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles.
Santoro, who plays a two-handed forehand and backhand and is a master of spin, has never gone past the singles quarterfinals in 66 Grand Slam events.
MEET THE SAFINS: The Safin family started and finished proceedings at Rod Laver Arena on Friday, with Dinara Safina winning in straight sets and her brother, Marat Safin, losing in straight sets to Roger Federer in the last evening match.
Safina said although they were staying in the same Melbourne hotel, their paths don't often cross.
I saw him once after my first-round match, and that's all,'' said the 22-year-old Safina.Everyone is practicing different times. And I don't like to bother him to go for dinner. He goes later than me.''
They didn't have a normal brother-sister relationship - Safin turned pro in 1997 and began traveling the world. Safina was just an 11-year-old schoolgirl.
He has his life, I have my life,'' Safina said.He has his company. I have my company.''
Still, she said her 28-year-old brother, who has a fiery, temperamental reputation on the court, will probably join her for dinner after the tournament ends.
WELCOME HOME: Jelena Dokic is back in Australia's good book.
``I have to thank the whole Australian nation, this victory is for them,'' the 25-year-old Dokic said after a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.
Dokic renounced her Australian citizenship in 2001 to play for Serbia before returning Down Under in 2006. She feels the country has forgiven her.
The support is tremendous,'' she said.It's amazing that so many people are there. Even when I go on change of ends to sit down, people are screaming behind my back. It's really absolutely amazing.''
Dokic moved to Australia from Europe with her family in 1994, but later returned to Serbia. In recent years, she has battled depression and suffered estrangement from her family, particularly her volatile father, Damir.
The former No. 4 dropped to 617 in 2006 and considered retiring in 2007. She began her comeback last year.
She won a wild-card tournament to gain a spot in the Australian Open, her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam in three years. Even Dokic is surprised by her success so far, beating two top 20 players and advancing to the fourth round.
My dream came true after the second round,'' she said.To come out after three years off and be beating these players that play week in and week out ... while I've been struggling with other things is great. I don't think it's sunk in yet.''
OUT OF POCKET: Dmitry Tursunov and Nicole Vaidisova of Czech Republic lead the list of players fined through the first four days of the Australian Open.
Tursunov, the California-based Russian, was fined $3,000 for racket and verbal abuse during his first-round loss. Vaidisova was fined $2,000 for not showing up for a mandatory post-match press conference following her first-round loss.