Robredo rallies to beat Safin in rain-hit Rome

ROME (Reuters) - Spanish 13th-seed Tommy Robredo staged a stirring comeback to beat former world number one Marat Safin 2-6 7-6 6-2 at the rain disrupted Rome Masters on Tuesday.

After finally starting the first round match which had been postponed on Monday because of the weather, Russian Safin kept his focus during another lengthy rain suspension in the first set and broke serve twice to seize control.

Safin looked to be heading for victory when he raced into a 4-1 lead in the second but Robredo rallied to 5-5 and then levelled the match in a tiebreak.

The Spaniard kept up the momentum to carry off the deciding set.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who had a bye into the second round along with the other top seeds, is scheduled to start his title defence against Spain's Albert Montanes later on Tuesday.

But British fourth seed Andy Murray's match against Argentine qualifier Juan Monaco has been postponed until Wednesday, as the downpours forced organisers to alter the schedule.