Kafelnikov's shock exit gives fresh hope to outsiders

And still the seeds keep falling, paving the way for the big shots of yesteryear to have another grab at glory. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, seeded No 5, was summarily dismissed yesterday, losing in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, 6-1 to Xavier Malisse of Belgium. His elimination means that Nicolas Lapentti, of Ecuador, who performed the outstanding comeback of yesterday, will wake this morning as the highest seed left in the bottom half of the men's singles draw. And that's before the fourth round. He is seeded No 22. Crazy statistic, crazy tournament. Over to the big-hitting veterans.

Richard Krajicek and Mark Philippoussis both fall into that category and both progressed to the fourth round yesterday. Wayne Arthurs, another man with a huge serve, joined them. He won the battle of the bombs – involving four tie-breaks – against America's Taylor Dent in four sets, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. Arthurs served 32 aces to Dent's 13 but there was not a single break of serve in a match of very few rallies. Service games to love were common, with the contestants racking up seven each during the afternoon. Arthurs' service has now not been broken for 54 games.

"I'm getting more and more confident as the tournament goes along," said the Australian, who, at 31, is the oldest man left in the event. "I've just seen the draw and obviously now I have a big opportunity. To play another unseeded guy in the last 16 is the biggest opportunity I've had so far. So hopefully I can make it through to the quarter-finals."

Arthurs, ranked No 89 in the world, next plays David Nalbandian of Argentina, ranked No 32. The South American beat George Bastl – the conqueror of Sampras in this increasingly surreal event – in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Although Arthurs, who lives in Middlesex, reached the final of the Samsung Open in Nottingham last weekend and the quarter-finals at Queen's before that, he has not had the best of years. He has exited eight other tournaments at the first hurdle and had won only six matches on tour all year prior to the start of the grass court season.

"Maybe [the lack of wins] has allowed the pressure to come off," he said. "The pressure that I've taken off myself has allowed me to play better tennis." Asked whether locating himself away from Australia took the pressure off, he added: "It feels like Australia out there, so many bloody Aussies in the crowd it's unbelievable."

The cull of big names has been unbelievable too, though after Malisse's win, the Belgian admitted he had thought he could eliminate Kafelnikov. "I knew I had a chance," said the 21-year-old, who has yet to drop a set in the championship. "Winning the first set gave me the confidence to keep it going for it."

Of the atmosphere on Centre Court, he added: "The crowd are so involved. They're closer to the court and it's really nice. They're just so close. It's a big stadium but the court doesn't feel as huge. It was a great feeling. . . an unbelievable feeling." He now faces Greg Rusedski, although whether he will appreciate another show court against a man who has the fans behind him he did not say.

Lapentti's recovery yesterday followed his win from behind earlier in the week against Britain's Barry Cowan. After going two sets down against Andrei Pavel, and with the Romanian at the brink in the third, he came back to win 3-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2. Lapentti now meets Arnaud Clement, of France, who beat Olivier Rochus, of Belgium, 6-0, 7-5, 6-3 for a place in the last eight.