But last year's finalist Marcos Baghdatis could not repeat the heroics as he was dumped out of the tournament by Frenchman Gael Monfils, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-0.

Safin, who is 26th seed after fighting back from injury last year, regrouped after a fortuitous rain break to turn defeat into a thrilling 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 win over Israeli qualifier Dudi Sela.

World number one Roger Federer expected no problems and didn't get any as he blasted veteran Swede Jonas Bjorkman out in straight sets.

The Swiss defending champion, chasing his third Australian title and 10th Grand Slam here, romped past the 50th-ranked Bjorkman 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in just 95 minutes.

The Fed Express will play Russian 25th seed Mikhail Youzhny in the next round.

"I was pretty much in control of the match today. I felt like if I got my serve going it was going to be tough for Jonas, because I can always have a look at his serve," Federer said.

Roddick, with the influence of coach Jimmy Connors rubbing off, sailed past Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in just under two hours to set up a third round confrontation with Safin.

"When I saw the draw I expected to play Marat," Roddick said. "So if we play, then we play.

"I think we're both maybe better than a third-round match-up against each other.

"But that's the way it shakes out. You know, we both have to deal with it. I'm sure he's not thrilled about it either."

The pair last met in a Grand Slam in a five-set quarter-final at the 2004 Australian Open, which Safin won 6-4 in the deciding set. They are 3-3 head-to-head.

Safin, who beat Lleyton Hewitt in the final here two years ago, was just two points from defeat at 6-5, 30-30 on his serve in the fourth set when rain forced the match to be suspended.

The interruption clearly aided the Russian, while upsetting Sela's momentum, and he sailed through the deciding set with three service breaks to win to love.

"The rain came and changed everything because otherwise I don't think I would win if the rain doesn't come I lost," Safin said.

"I asked them (umpire) to stop the match because it was really a little bit slippery, so I just wanted to stop the match."

Safin has the game to trouble everyone, even world number one Federer, who he vanquished 9-7 in the fifth set of an epic semi-final on the way to his victory over Hewitt in the 2005 final.

Baghdatis said he had felt the weight of expectations after last year's run.

"Gael (Monfils) played a great match, he was hitting the ball so aggressively and I just couldn't find a solution, I didn't want to be out there," he admitted.

"I am the guy to beat (after making the final last year) and it just hasn't been easy."

Thailand's Danai Udomchoke posted the biggest win of his career by upsetting Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Among others to go through to the third round were Croatian ninth seed Mario Ancic and young 14th seeded Serb Novak Djokovic who plays Udomchoke next.