Safin reign ended by Srichaphan

Marat Safin's domination of the President's Cup came to an end yesterday as the Russian was knocked out of this year's event in Tashkent at the quarter-final stage by Paradorn Srichaphan, of Thailand.

Safin, the top seed, has triumphed in Tashkent for the past two years, but was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 7-6 by the in-form Srichaphan, who now meets Safin's fellow Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Srichaphan has now won 15 of his last 17 matches on hard courts – including his victory at Long Island – and was runner-up at Washington DC. He will lead Thailand into action in their Davis Cup World Group tie against Great Britain next weekend.

For Safin, the defeat comes as another setback in what has been a fairly miserable year. The 2000 US Open champion has yet to win a title this season.