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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on May 10, 2009 8:40:34 GMT -5
Safina Downs Kuznetsova, Wins First Title as No.1
ROME, Italy - It's always hard for the best in the world to be totally satisfied. Dinara Safina voiced displeasure with her form throughout the week, and maybe several brushes with defeat prompted that, but in the end the world No.1 was the last one standing anyway, taking her first title of the year at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
Safina, the top seed at the $2-million stop, beat Virginie Razzano in straight sets in her first match of the week but was two points away from falling to Zheng Jie in the round of 16, rallying from 5-2 down in the third to get past the No.14 seed, 57 61 76(3). In the quarters she was down 64 31 to María José Martínez Sánchez, the unseeded Spaniard even holding three points for 64 41; Safina wouldn't lose another game for a 46 63 60 win. She then battled over three hours to edge No.5 seed Venus Williams, a player she had never won a set off of, 67(3) 63 64.
The battle scars must have healed overnight however, as a fresh-looking Safina put on a dazzling performance of power tennis in the title match against Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had beaten her in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final in Stuttgart six days earlier, 64 63. Seeded No.7 this week, Kuznetsova had spent significantly less time on the court in Rome than Safina, dropping just one set - to No.12 seed Flavia Pennetta in the third round, and rebounding nicely, 63 36 60.
While 10 of the 17 games in the final between Safina and Kuznetsova went to deuce, when the important points came along it was all Safina, as the Russian - who was spending her third week as the world's No.1 player, having ascended on April 20 - defeated her countrywoman safely in 90 minutes, 63 62.
"I think yesterday's match really helped me to push myself to play my best," Safina said, referencing her win over Williams. "Really, really I think I played one of my best matches yesterday. Against Kuzy, I had in my head that I had lost three finals this year. I didn't want to have a reputation that I'm losing finals."
"I couldn't find the solution today. Dinara was playing good tennis and fought her way to the final unbelievably," Kuznetsova said. "I couldn't play my game at all. I made too many unforced errors. It was a little bit like Christmas today: I was giving too many presents. I knew what I had to do but I just couldn't do it. I'm definitely very disappointed about this because I've been playing much better."
Safina had been a runner-up in her first three finals of the year, at Sydney (to Elena Dementieva), the Australian Open (to Serena Williams) and Stuttgart. Now she emerges with her 10th career singles title on the Tour, following one in 2002 (Sopot), one in 2003 (Palermo), two in 2005 (Paris, Prague), one in 2007 (Gold Coast) and four last year (Berlin, Los Angeles, Montréal and Tokyo).
"When other players step on the court against me now that I am No.1, they have nothing to lose," Safina added. "It's the same thing I did last year. Like when I played Henin in Berlin last year, I didn't care. I was swinging and everything was landing in. I'm enjoying the challenge of proving I'm the best player."
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on May 10, 2009 8:41:38 GMT -5
May 9, 2009
Dinara Safina
ROME, ITALY
D. SAFINA/S. Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. After your tough battles all week that, was a bit easy, wasn't it? DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah, finally I won at least the first set, and then I won in two sets. Because, I mean, after such a slow start I was luckily to win the set against Razzano. It could also go into three sets. But then against Zheng I had to run and fight. I mean, against all the other players, and today I'm really happy that I could win in two sets.
Q. Svetlana made a lot of unforced errors, but were you also playing better at the start? DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I would say today she was giving way too many unforced errors than she usually do. I think I also played maybe a little bit more -- I was trying to get her out of the baseline, because she feels very confident on the baseline. But when she had some chances she was really missing today a lot. On some moments I would say, Thank very much.
Q. Earlier in the week you said you were sometimes frustrated about yourself and you don't know what was wrong with your brain at times. Do you feel better about that situation now? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think yesterday's match really helped me to push myself to play the best. Really, really I think I played one of my best matches yesterday. I mean, still today I had many more chances to be even more aggressive , because she was a little bit of the court. Still I think I had to be much more dominant, because it's not the way to win to the points. Because she had very many points just to finish them, and she was missing by a little bit. So it could go either way. So for the next time -- eve when somebody's off, I have to not even give a chance to come into the match.
Q. The French Open starts in a month. You had final last week; a win this week. How confident do you feel going into that? DINARA SAFINA: I'm feeling great, you know. You know, it gives lots of confidence, especially the clay court season started and one final and one title. Cannot be better. You know, so now going Madrid today and just going continue playing the same way and keep on going one match at a time.
Q. Do you think it's tougher, the semifinal or the final? DINARA SAFINA: Mentally it was a little bit I would say tougher Venus, because I never beat her. I was up 3-1 in the third set, then 4-3 break, and this was a little bit tougher to finish the match. And against Kuzy, today it was that I had in my head that I lost three finals this year. I was like, Okay, I don't want to have this that I'm losing the finals. I'm really happy that I could win today the final today.
Q. Was that actually playing in your mind a bit, that you had a lot three finals already? DINARA SAFINA: It's not really that I was going on the court, like, Okay, I lost three finals. Because that's great that you get to the final, and there is always a chance, you know, to win the title. But I was disappointing that last week I lost in the final and that I didn't play my best. Most of this that I was disappointing. But I'm happy that I broke this and I'm back in the schedule, on the main list to go to the Masters.
Q. Were you able to handle the pressure better today compared to last week? Was that a factor or no? DINARA SAFINA: I mean, it's not really that I'm thinking about this during the match, because there are many other things that you have to focus on the court, you know. Most other thing I try to focus on my opponent and the ball, and these things I don't think about it once I step on the court.
Q. If someone asks you if your like better your forehand or backhand, where do you feel more confident? DINARA SAFINA: It depends which day (laughter.) I can hit winners from any shot, and I can make unforced errors from any shot. So, I mean, a little bit two different shots. With the forehand I can really get all the opponent out of the court and play very heavy. And backhand I could flat it out. So it's two different shots. I love both of them, because one helps the other one. I cannot be one out of these shots. I cannot be.
Q. You are the first Russian to win the title here. Does that mean anything for you, or nothing at all? DINARA SAFINA: I play for myself. I mean, it's nice to put, but I'm just happy that my picture is going to hang there in the wall.
Q. You've not been No. 1 for so long, but have you noticed since you've been No. 1 that maybe players are lifting their game a bit against and so they're playing a little bit better than they would have done otherwise? DINARA SAFINA: Of course. When they step on the court they have nothing to lose. It's the same what happened to me last year. Whenever i was playing somebody No. 1, you just go out there and you swing. Whatever you do is best. Like I went to play Henin last year. I didn't care. I was swinging the ball and everything was landing in. The same is happening with them. They have nothing to lose. But this is a nice challenge, and I'm enjoying this challenge, to prove that I am better than them.
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 10, 2009 22:11:27 GMT -5
anik, thanks for this wonderful articles! GO DINA! Be the best and God bless you!
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on May 17, 2009 15:34:46 GMT -5
Rafa is my idol, says grand slam-seeking Safina
World number one Dinara Safina is using men's counterpart and claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal as her inspiration as she bids for a first grand slam title at the French Open starting later this month.
The Russian won a second successive claycourt title in Madrid on Sunday when she overpowered Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki and is hoping to go one better than last year at Roland Garros when she lost in the final to Ana Ivanovic.
World number one Nadal has won four straight French Open crowns and the Spaniard is bidding to become the first player to win all three claycourt Masters events in one year in Sunday's Madrid Open final against Roger Federer.
"At the moment I can say that my idol is Nadal and I am trying to play like him," the 23-year-old, younger sister of former men's number one Marat Safin, told a news conference.
"The truth is I respect him a great deal and I am trying to be at his level."
Safina took over the top spot from Serena Williams last month and said her recent success should silence critics who have said she does not deserve to be number one without a grand slam to her name.
Williams, who has won 10 grand slam singles titles, said earlier this month that she still rated herself as the world's best player. "It was my dream from the beginning, I always believed that I could get it and I was ready for it," Safina said.
"That's why I am enjoying it there and since I became number one I am playing better and better."
She acknowledged there would be more pressure on her to do well in Paris this year.
"I just want to take one match at a time like I always do, give 100 percent effort. Day by day, match by match.
"I think I'm handling it pretty good and I'm playing better than last year."
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 17, 2009 22:09:27 GMT -5
thanks for posting it anik!
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 22, 2009 2:57:15 GMT -5
God bless Dina in Roland Garros!
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 22, 2009 5:54:53 GMT -5
PREVIEW-Tennis-Perfect timing for Safina to prove her worth
* Safina can prove herself at Roland Garros
* Defending champion Ivanovic back after injury
* Other rivals fail to shine on clay
By Julien Pretot
PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - Just as her elder brother Marat Safin is sliding into retirement, a relaxed Dinara Safina has the perfect opportunity to prove at the French Open that she is a legitimate world number one.
Dubbed ‘Marata’ for her propensity to lose her nerve when things do not go her way, Safina, who has just won back-to-back titles on clay, has yet to win a grand slam and some of her rivals believe she does not deserve to sit on the throne.
“Becoming number one is not just a matter of winning a grand slam, it’s just about how you compete during the whole year,” Safina told reporters during last week’s Madrid Open, which she won.
“Last year I won four tournaments, I beat almost all the top 10 players so I think I deserve that spot. Yes, I didn’t win a grand slam but I was in two finals and one semi-final.
“Not many people could obtain such a result in one year. I think more about how I compete during the whole year, that’s what I need to do to be consistent throughout the whole year.”
On a good day, Safina is able to beat anyone, as she showed last year at Roland Garros when she defeated then world number one Maria Sharapova after saving a match point.
She did it again in the quarter-finals, dismissing Elena Dementieva 4-6 7-6 6-0 after whacking the centre court’s geranium display.
Safina now wants to focus on herself with the help of her coach, Zljko Krajan, and fitness coach Dejan Vojnovic.
“From Stuttgart to Rome then from Rome to Madrid, the conditions were different. In Paris, it will be different again,” she said.
“But to me, it does not change anything. I must keep the same concentration model.”
QUESTION MARK
This year’s French Open could prove the best opportunity for the 23-year-old Russian since her rivals have failed to shine on the red dirt.
Defending champion Ivanovic is back in action after a knee injury which forced her to withdraw from Madrid last week, and has dropped to eighth in the WTA rankings after losing form since last year’s Roland Garros.
The Serbian has had only two wins on clay this season but said on Thursday she was nonetheless optimistic about her chances in the second Grand Slam of the season.
“Obviously I haven’t had the preparation I would have liked, but on the positive side I didn’t play many matches before the French Open last year too,” Ivanovic said.
Serena Williams, who considers herself the true world number one, retired injured from her first-round match in Madrid, saying she just wanted to preserve her chances for Roland Garros.
The American also failed to get over the first hurdle in Rome earlier this month, losing 6-2 2-6 6-1 to Swiss Patty Schnyder.
While Safina is bringing a 13-1 clay-court record to Paris, Serena, who has not made it past the last eight at the French Open since reaching the semi-finals in 2003, has not won a single match on the slow surface this year.
The threat to Safina, apart from her nerves, could come from in-form Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat her in the Stuttgart final although the world number seven was no match for her fellow Russian in the Rome final.
Last year’s semi-finalist Kuznetsova, however, has Serbian Jelena Jankovic and fellow Russian Elena Dementieva on her list of kills on clay this season.
Another threat to Safina could be France’s Amelie Mauresmo, who has been a perpetual under-achiever at Roland Garros.
The former world number one looked to be in good form on her way to a semi-final appearance in Madrid.
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 22, 2009 20:08:26 GMT -5
No. 1 Safina can look to Big Brother for tips
PARIS (AP)—Venus and Serena Williams have not cornered the market on sibling success in tennis: Dinara Safina and Marat Safin are the first sister and brother to both reach No. 1 in the rankings.
When the French Open starts Sunday, Safina will be seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. Now the Russian wants to win her first major title—and she can turn to Big Brother for all-in-the-family Slam advice.
His best words of wisdom? “You just have to enjoy every moment,” Safina said Friday. “Have to live by the day and enjoy every day.”
Not that she always heeds what Safin says, even if he does own U.S. Open and Australian Open championships.
“He can maybe practice 1 1/2 hours a day, and for him, it’s enough. I’m a little bit more stubborn. I need, like, to have maybe four hours on the court,” Safina said. “And he was, like, ‘No, just practice half an hour, and it’s fine for you.”’
The resemblance to her brother is striking, and a smile crossed that familiar face as Safina earned a laugh at his expense. Then her expression turned more serious, and she added: “But, no, now he doesn’t go into the tennis. I think he respects me much more now.”
The 23-year-old Safina and 29-year-old Safin—he is seeded 20th at the French Open—were born into the sport. Their father is the director of a Moscow tennis club, and their mother is a tennis coach who worked with both kids when they were young.
Safina has been known to show tiny flashes of the sort of on-court temper for which her brother is famous, though nothing quite to his extremes. Right now, her game is what’s matching his standards.
Safina comes to Roland Garros on a 10-match winning streak and 14-1 overall this season on clay, all since her April 20 rise to No. 1.
“Since I became No. 1, I’ve been in a final and I won two tournaments,” Safina said, “so I guess I’m feeling pretty good.”
As well she should. For every jab she might hear about whether she deserves to lead the rankings despite not having a major championship on her resume— most notably, Serena Williams recently called herself “the real No. 1”— Safina also earns praise for her recent play.
Just one example: When former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, twice a Grand Slam title winner, was asked Friday about her own chances at this French Open, she noted that women’s tennis recently has been wide open, “except maybe for Safina, who has been on a roll the last couple of weeks on clay.”
There is a general sentiment heading into the tournament that while the men’s event might very well come down to a Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer final for the fourth consecutive year, no one is quite sure what will happen in the women’s draw.
Serena Williams has won the U.S. Open and Australian Open to raise her career count to 10 Grand Slam titles, but she also lost her past four matches and quit her most recent outing because of a bad knee.
Venus Williams is on a two-match losing streak and has never had her greatest success on clay.
Maria Sharapova returned to singles only this week after nearly 10 months away because of right shoulder surgery.
Defending champion Ana Ivanovic’s right knee has been troubling her—she wore black tape on it while practicing Friday—and played only three matches on clay this year.
Those women all have won major titles. Safina, meanwhile, lost to Ivanovic in last year’s French Open final and to Serena Williams in this year’s Australian Open final.
As for those who say Safina is the closest thing to a favorite over the next two weeks?
“I’m not even listening what the people are saying. I’m just focusing on myself, you know? Just taking one day at a time,” she said. “I don’t think about what I want to happen in 14, 15, 16 days, you know. I live today. Today I had a practice. That’s all. Tomorrow is another day.”
Sounds like something a certain sibling might say.
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Post by chachou on May 25, 2009 7:05:15 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/A. Keothavong
6‑0, 6‑0
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Did you expect it to be quite as easy?
DINARA SAFINA: Actually, not really. Of course, I came on the court expecting agood match and tough one because she had been playing good in Warsaw. She made semis.
But then I started toplay, and I started to feel good. I feltvery good on the court, and I think I played a solid game.
Q. What kind of feeling did you have when you go back on the center court?
DINARA SAFINA: Actually, good, you know. It's nice feeling always to go back. I have been practicing on this court, and Isaid to my coach, I said, it's such a nice feeling to go back and to hear theball sound. It's just a greatatmosphere.
Q. In a match like that, do you feel sorry for your opponent or do you sortof get on with it?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, after I shake her hand she said atleast you could give me one game. Icould imagine it's not nice to feel on the court, but I was just so intomyself. I think I was playing with myhead like into the match, so I didn't really focus. I just was playing point by point, game bygame. It ended up like that.
Q. Was there a point early on where you thoughtI'm going to win this quite easily, even in the first couple of games?
DINARA SAFINA: No, but, you know, always going on to thecourt, to the match, my coach always says it can be easy 6‑1, 6‑1, and can betough. I only can put thisdifference. If you start to play yourgame, it's tough to handle you. I wasplaying good and it was tough for her. That was the result how he says.
Q. When you win easy, you practice more after?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I'm going to go and hit someballs. Just couple things that my coachwas maybe not happy, even the score, 6‑Love, 6‑Love, but there's always thingsto improve on the next one.
Q. What does your coach want you to improve after this match?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I guess I could serve a little bitbetter, and I don't know, hitting the balls a little harder, especially in thatLove game, 5‑Love, when I pushed a few shots he was angry. He said, What's this at 5‑Love? Hitting the ball. You have to hit it. Just simple things.
Q. A lot of people say you are the favorite of the tournament. What is your opinion about to be the onlyone? DINARASAFINA: Actually I'm not really payingattention what the people saying, you know. If I start to pay too much attention, you know ‑‑ most importantthing I play my game and day by day, match by match, and how far I can get, Godknows.
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 25, 2009 20:09:35 GMT -5
thanks for posting this interview chachou. it was really nice! THANKS SO MUCH!
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ROSIE
Ballboy
I'm trying to control my emotions, I'm not playing my best, but still, it's not easy to beat me.
Posts: 190
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Post by ROSIE on May 25, 2009 20:19:30 GMT -5
I can't believe Anne said ' you could of least given me one good game'. If she was not playing well it is not Dinara's fault
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 25, 2009 20:27:18 GMT -5
hahaha. it's okay! our Dina won the game. i guess in Anne's mind, it was such a shame to lose with 6-0 6-0 which is true. well, i hope Anne is better now. there are a lot of tourneys to go. GO DINA! Be the best and God bless you!
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 27, 2009 21:14:00 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/V. Diatchenko
6‑1, 6‑1
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. Two matches, two games.
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, pretty good start for the tournament. I think last year was a little bit different.
Q. Talk about your level out there. Everything is clicking? What's happening?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think I just played good game today,good enough to win.
She's still young, and she's ‑‑ I think she respects me too much.
Q. Did you already have a chat with your coach? Was he happy?
DINARA SAFINA: If one day he's going to be happy, I think I'll finish my career. He's never happy. Even today, he's not happy.
Q. You seem extremely fit physically. How do you rate your fitness level? What kind of effort did you put in to get so well in shape?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I just ‑‑ I don't know. I'm doing the basic things. Not much. Once the tournament starts, of course, you cannot do much, because you just have to stay in shape. So I do little exercises just to be fresh and quick.
Q. Your next opponent will be Pavlyuchenkova. Can you talk to us about her? What do you know about her? How you feel about that?
DINARA SAFINA: I mean, she's having great results this year. She's playing great, and it's not going to be easy match. We never played each other, never practiced. It's going to be exciting, and I'm looking forward to play against her.
Q. In Australia, you said during the early rounds you were making a lot of mistakes and almost fighting against yourself in your head. What's different now, a few months later? Are you just feeling more comfortable, or why are you playing so much better now?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, it's always tough at the beginning of the season. Some people,they're playing straight, their best tennis. Some people need some matches, some tournaments, few months to get everything out after off‑season.
For me, it was more after a great season that I had last year to start playing again great. So I think just needed few tournaments, and with every tournament I started to feel better and better. Of course, it helped me to win two titles,and I just started to play better and better.
Q. It's probably a little far to look ahead to your quarterfinal opponent.
DINARA SAFINA: That is too far.
Q. But, I mean, you and Ana played in the final last year... DINARA SAFINA: We both have to still get to there.
Q. You both seem to ‑‑ you seemed to take that success and it really helped your career, and she struggled more. Why do you think you've taken different paths since that final?
DINARA SAFINA: I cannot talk for her. I can think just ‑‑ I can only talk about myself. I don't know. After the final, actually, after the two tournaments, Berlin,French Open, I started just to believe much more in myself.
You know, I didn't go away from my routine. And for my team, I always have the same team. Okay, I changed the fitness coach, but overall, the same tennis coach. That's helped me.
I don't know if she had a tennis coach at that time. I know that Sven was helping her, so it was not really her coach. He was not fully with her, as I know. But I always have a coach with me, so this is a little bit different situation I have.
Q. Do you feel that she's capable of winning this tournament?
DINARA SAFINA: For what I am here?
Q. What's that?
DINARA SAFINA: For what I am here? I mean, you are telling me she can win this tournament, and for what I'm sitting here? I guess I also want to win the...
Q. Sure, but you were the finalist last year and she was the winner, so...
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. We'll see.
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on May 28, 2009 8:12:42 GMT -5
Up close and personal with Dinara Safina Thursday, May 28, 2009 By Benjamin Adler Here at rolandgarros.com we know you love to get an insight into the real person behind the tennis star facade. Here, in the second of a series of quick-fire lifestyle interviews, world number one Dinara Safina reveals her love of music, movies and football. What is the last thing you do before going to sleep? I turn off the computer and close the curtains What do you have on your ipod? All the latest pop hits What is your favourite website? The Russian Facebook, Vkontakte.ru What puts you in a bad mood? Bad news When did you first spend big with your prize money? Phew….honestly I don’t remember When did you last crack up laughing? I do that everyday! When did you last get angry? Everyday! What’s your favourite film? I don’t really have one in particular but I really liked Million Dollar Baby and The Illusionist. Which actress would you choose to play you on screen? Hilary Swank. She was great in Million Dollar Baby. But I also like Angelina Jolie. What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen? Madonna and Phil Collins in Moscow. What’s your favourite song right now? Broken Strings by Nelly Furtado and James Morrison. What is your favourite sport outside tennis? Football. I don’t really have a favourite team. I don’t follow Russian football. Who’s your sporting idol? My brother Marat Which part of your game would you like to improve? My mental game Which training exercise do you hate the most? Running. Otherwise, I love tennis exercises.
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Post by ELIENE :) on May 28, 2009 20:13:11 GMT -5
thanks for posting it here anik! THANKS SO MUCH!
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