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Post by ELIENE :) on May 30, 2009 5:21:22 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/A. Pavlyuchenkova
6‑2, 6‑0
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. The first four or five games were very intense. After, you higher your tennis level. Can you explain exactly what you feel at this moment?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I think first ‑‑ until I broke her, because I didn't know exactly what to expect from her, how she plays. One thing, you watch her on TV; and the second thing, you play against her.
I think she started very good, the match. It was like few very tough games. When I broke her I feel I started to play much more aggressive, and then I was dominating.
Q. You were more relaxed?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course. Once you break up, it's easier to go for your shots and to be much more aggressive on the court.
Q. You play very intensely. Is it something from physical or from head or together?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I just try to be dominant on the court,because if I will not be dominant, she will take her chances and then it's going to be 50/50. But like this, I know if I'm dominant, it's not easy to handle my level.
Q. You will play against Aravane Rezai. How do you see this match and how will you play?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, she's playing good now. Well, I'll play how I play. I play aggressive, and I'm going for my shots. Let's see who's going to be stronger.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 1, 2009 8:31:06 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/A. Rezai
6‑1, 6‑0
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. You lost five games in four matches. What does it mean?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, it feels good getting into the quarterfinals like this. Because I remember Australia,and I don't know how many hours I spent there before I go to the quarters. I'm feeling very good right now.
Q. Obviously it's a big change from your progress in this tournament a year ago, but can we not say that actually becoming No. 1 has helped boost your confidence coming into this tournament?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know since I became No. 1. I think I'm playing better and better. I think it was a moment for me, like at the beginning of the year when I was about to become No. 1 with Serena, we were challenging.
It was too much pressure for me. It was always going on the court not to lose a match, and of course it's always difficult to play when you step on the court and you're afraid of losing. Then you don't play even your game.
So I think once I go to No. 1 spot,I took it out of my shoulders. Like,okay, I'm there where I wanted to be. Now I just want to go out there and play.
Q. Have you played this well through four rounds of a Grand Slam?
DINARA SAFINA: Not in a Grand Slam.
THE MODERATOR: Question in French.
Q. It's only five games that you have lost. I suppose you're on a cloud, unbeatable this time. You're going to go to the end. You probably think this.
DINARA SAFINA: What?
Q. You probably think you're going to go to the end of the tournament. You're on your cloud.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course, you know, it's great, you know, even ‑‑ I'm just surprised that it's really like five games that I lost before getting into the quarters. It's not a bad feeling, and I hope if I continue like this I can go along way.
Q. (In English) I've watched you play the last week, the word that occurs to me is "efficient." It's like there's no wasted motion; there's no distraction. Are you having fun? You look like you're going to work and sort of there's not a lot of emotion to it to it, but are you having fun?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course it's ‑‑ really I'm trying to really focus on what I have to do exactly, you know. I'm trying to be very, I mean, professional,how you say? You know, I take one point at a time. I don't waste my energy.
You know, like I just want ‑‑ here the ball comes. I want to win every point. So I think this is something newin me, that before I would maybe just go out there and play and then waste my energy.
I would still win a match, but like6‑4, 6‑4. Then of course by the end of,you know, the second week, you already spend like much more time. Now I have a match, I try to focus, and every point is important. No free points. No stupid mistakes. Just point by point I'm playing.
Q. Can you just talk a little bit about Ivanovic and Azarenka? Azarenka, sort of the up and comer, and Ivanovic, you lost to her here last year. Maybe she's playing at a better level now.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, I still have to play. It's going to be a good match. Both of them I lost last time, so I would like to have a rematch from both of them. I would like just to go out and there and just same: play point by point, game by game, and show my best tennis.
Q. You consistently talk about playing aggressive, that you need to play aggressive. Has that been the tactic here? Have you found you need to play a little more patient at times?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I'm trying always to play aggressive,because there is no other way for me. If I start ‑‑ okay, sometimes I can defend, of course, because other one is starting to play aggressive.
Overall, I'm trying to dominate,because there is no other chance for me. I'm not a roadrunner player, otherwise it's going to be long match.
Q. When you think back two or three years ago to yourself and maybe you weren't so mature, and now you're more mature, does it frustrate you that you weren't more mature sooner?
DINARA SAFINA: Sometimes I think about the past, but I guess, you know, sooner or ‑‑ you know, it's good that I went like this slowly. By the age, 22, I'm 23 now, I'm here. Maybe if I would be 17, 18 here, I would not know how to handle the other things. So I went through everything. I learn everything.
Now I think it's better this way. At the end of the day, I still got to where I wanted to be: No. 1. Doesn't matter fast or slow. I'm there.
Q. Did you like the old days maybe when nobody saw you as much and you walk around more freely and you weren't No. 1? Was that a nice time, and is it different now?
DINARA SAFINA: No, it's different, of course. Now people recognize me. But that's what I wanted, you know.
I always wanted people recognize me and get the best out of what I'm doing. I did it, so why to get shame of myself? Why to hide myself?
Q. In which department of your game do you feel you still need to improve to make sure you'll win this tournament?
DINARA SAFINA: Honestly, I still feel I can do much better,but I don't know. It's going like this. I think still if somebody would push me more I still can get much more out of myself.
Overall, I think I can serve much harder still. I don't know. I think I'm playing good enough ‑‑ good,but I still feel like I can do better.
Q. (In French.) Have you met your brother recently? Did you discuss with your brother? And what did he say about your excellent wins? Have you discussed with Marat?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, actually, we trying not to speak about the tennis. But last time I went for dinner when he was here, he told me, like, So who earned the most money last two weeks please pay for dinner. (laughter.)
Q. Your brother is a big star in Russia, and obviously there's lots of very talented and well‑known Russian women players. Do you have any sense of what the reaction to your ascension to No. 1 has been back in Russia, in your home country?
DINARA SAFINA: Since I have been No. 1 I haven't been in Moscow, so I have no idea.
Q. What do you hear from people?
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. I didn't see. Like maybe when I come back to Moscow I will go to my club and see some kids.
But I guess ‑‑ I think from my club they're happy. I hope they're happy. I don't know.
Q. But you don't hear anything?
DINARA SAFINA: No, I didn't hear.
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on Jun 1, 2009 11:45:49 GMT -5
thanks eliene Dinara, are you sure you don't hear anything ?? ;D
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 2, 2009 6:27:17 GMT -5
oh! you are welcome anik! my pleasure!
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 4, 2009 11:21:10 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/V. Azarenka
1‑6, 6‑4, 6‑2
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. After four easy matches, all of a sudden you lost the first set 6‑1. What were you thinking at that moment? Because she was playing obviously very well.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah, she was playing well, and basically I was not doing anything to complicate it. I was playing exactly in her zone: everything to the middle, and I was running forehand, backhand.
I just lost the set. At least I should hold my serve and put a little bit pressure on the return. I started to fight point by point just trying to change a little bit.
Q. So how pleased are you after this victory? Because second and third set you played very well.
DINARA SAFINA: She started to miss much more. I think she was missing way too much today,and she gave ‑‑ like in third set, every time I was break up, but I was always struggling to hold my serve. I had couple times like Love‑30. I don't know.
I'm not really happy with my game today.
Q. Is it fair to say that today you beat the other woman in the draw, best player who hasn't won a Slam yet?
DINARA SAFINA: I think this is her year. I think she's playing really good. I mean, she won how many titles? Three titles? One really big one. I think she's playing really good now.
For the other hand, I'm really happy. I lost to her this year,and I took a revenge.
Q. I think many people will write after this match that you proved something today about your mental strength and your fighting quality in a Grand Slam event. Do you feel this way yourself, or is this an issue already for you gone?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, if I will not fight in the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam and being No. 1 in the world, then obviously I'm not deserving this spot.
So this issue ‑‑this is something that I have, you know, that I fight till the end. For me the match is never over.
But I think today I still didn't play my game. This was not enough. I mean, it was enough, my fight, but I hope from the next match that I will play completely different and I'll start to dominate from the first point.
Q. You will probably play Cibulkova. Are you surprised to see her in the semis?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, that part of the draw was wide open, so she took her chances. She's playing good. Also I lost to her this year, so I want another revenge.
Well, I hope I just play my game from the next match.
Q. Do you like to see men's tennis? You think that it's better or worse than women's tennis? Which is your favorite male player other than your brother?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, no, I really like to watch men's tennis. I enjoy watching. Overall, I like to watch tennis. Doesn't matter, woman, man. I been watching Rafa against Soderling tiebreak. That was a good match. Pity that Rafa lost.
Yesterday I watched a little but Del Potro/Tsonga. I watch it. Not really if there is nothing else to do then to watch the tennis, but if I have time I like.
Q. In the same sort of question, you only played one mixed double match with Marat.
DINARA SAFINA: In Hopman Cup, yes.
Q. How come you didn't play more?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, we were once entered in US Open. We were supposed to play and he lost his singles. He pulled out.
I don't know. When I was younger, I think it was not so much fun for him to play with me. But,now as I'm playing more singles, also it's not fun for me to play mixed because I'm trying to save energy.
But I guess it's his last year. Maybe we will play in US Open as he was a champion there. Maybe we will play mixed. I'll ask him.
Q. People love your brother, but everyone talks about his ups and downs, and the sort of head‑case issues and stuff. Is it always at all an issue for you that now you are playing so well and so consistently that the contrast between the two of you, do you ever feel strange about this or bad about this?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, overall we're actually quite different persons. I'm totally opposite of him,so...
It was his weaker part,I guess, his emotions. It was also for me. It's good that I was managed to change it. I knew this is my weakness,and I deal with it. That's why I think I did such a big jump.
Q. The other part of the question is: Do you think this men's tennis is better or stronger, more advanced than women's, or not?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's completely different, woman and man. It's tough to ‑‑ same if you watch men's soccer and women's soccer. It's completely different. Justin woman's tennis you can see everything. There is drama, there is crying, there is fun.
In men's tennis, it's a little bit less. I guess this is the only difference, that men are stronger mentally than a woman.
Q. You talk about revenge with two of the girls here. Is it a matter with Serena Williams, an opportunity for revenge?
DINARA SAFINA: She still has to play quarters tomorrow. You're thinking way too far. Let me ‑‑ I just finished my quarters and I'm a little bit tired. I still have the semis, so I don't think that far.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 4, 2009 11:33:57 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
D. SAFINA/D. Cibulkova
6‑3, 6‑3
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. Must be a great feeling to be back in the final, but you didn't look very happy with your game today?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah. I think I didn't play aggressive, I mean, when I had to from the beginning of the match. Once I was down I started to play better, but I think still I have to be much more dominant on the court.
Q. Just a matter of rhythm in your strokes?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, just overall I think I had to be ‑‑I had so many chances in the beginning. But then once I was down a set or two, use my chances, and again I stopped using my chances.
I think after winning the first set I think to level up myself, but it was good enough to win in two sets.
Q. The fact that you can win in two sets when you're not playing your best,is that down to the confidence you feel now from being No. 1 and winning so many matches in the clay court season?
DINARA SAFINA: Obviously it gives you much more confidence when you know that you still can do much better, even without playing your best.
It so just shows that if I level up myself it can be much better.
Q. You were in the final last year. Can you compare the two situation, last year and today?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, last year it was everything much easier, you know. Like I step on the court and I have nothing to lose, like same way she was. She has nothing to lose. She steps in, she hits the ball, she swings around, she slides on the court.
Me, I know that I have a chance and I want to win it, so it's a little bit more pressure for me. But still, you know, being under pressure,and for sure people expect me only to win, and I still win in two sets. I'm really happy with myself.
Q. There have been big discussions about the grunting, the screaming of the girls on the court. You're making some noise as well during your rallies. Do you think it should be banned, that it should be stopped?
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. I mean, when it gets long rally, I mean, at the end, you're obviously trying to give your best. So it just helps you to swing the shots, you know. I mean, I do it naturally. I don't know how loud I scream. I don't realize it. Q. Is it part of your game?
DINARA SAFINA: It is part of me, you know. I don't pay attention. I know some of the girls, they scream. I mean, I'm trying to focus on myself, not about how loud the other one screams.
Q. You were talking to French TV and telling them that you felt very nervous at the start of the match. If you were to face Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final on Saturday, do you think it would be easier to handle that pressure because she's a player that you know pretty well?
DINARA SAFINA: I mean, I know her, and I know Sam Stosur. I know both of them. I played Sveta two times this year, and I played Sam Stosur this year once. We know each other very good, so I don't care who to play. I just want to go out there and give my best.
Q. And the fact that this will be your third Grand Slam final, will that make it easier to cope with the occasion?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's, how you say, third is the victory? I hope this time I will do it.
Q. Could you tell something about Fed Cup and Serbia, please?
DINARA SAFINA: Oh. I mean, we still in this year and we're in May, June. You're talking me about next year...
Q. February.
DINARA SAFINA: February.
Q. But the draw was yesterday, so...
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. It's too far to think about it.
Q. Soon after you became No. 1, the player you replaced said that she was the real No. 1. But yesterday she said that you authenticated your position as No. 1. I'm just wondering if you feel already that you've done that by your performance here in the last few tournaments, or if you need to win one more match to really feel that deep down inside?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think since I became No. 1 I'm playing finals and winning the titles, so how much more proof I need to give the people that I think I deserve that spot?
Q. What about to yourself?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course it gonna be great if I have a Grand Slam. But the way I'm playing, I think it shows enough that I think I deserve this spot.
Q. A couple of days ago when Justine Henin held a press conference, she said that WTA needs like a boss, leader. You could be biggest candidate to be like a leader or like a boss of WTA. What do you feel about it?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, at the moment since I became No. 1, I think I'm playing the finals, so I'm kind of trying to show.
Q. You have a strange voice.
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, since two days that I am sick, so...
Q. Really?
DINARA SAFINA: I guess you can see.
Q. Last year on the day before the final and the morning of the final, it was going to be your first one. Can you remember what you were like then,what it was like?
DINARA SAFINA: I don't remember. It was simple, that I will do like simple routine. I did last year, and I will do the same this year: wake up, breakfast,come here, warm up, have lunch, and get ready for the match.
Q. Do you think you handled it well enough last year?
DINARA SAFINA: I wouldn't say that I was too nervous last year. I was just, I think as I said,like tired overall, because I had such a tough draw and so many matches I had to pull out.
So this year I spend much less time on the court, so I'm much fresher.
Q. Can you just talk about your two potential opponents, those match ups,and also, if it is Svetlana, what an all‑Russian final would mean to you?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think it's going to be just great,you know. Again, it's going to be great for the young kids who was watching us. I think it was 2004 when it was all‑Russian finals, so just ‑‑ it's going to be great.
I want to go out there and play my game.
Q. If you play Sveta or Sam, what do you need to do well against those two different opponents?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, they both go in similar. They both like to play forehands and like to run around. Well, I just need to go out there and hit the ball and use my weapons.
Q. Sveta was quite philosophical yesterday about why Russian girls are doing well. She said it all started inthe war because our grand, grandparents had to fight. They teach us to survive. She said this yesterday. Do you agree?
DINARA SAFINA: Okay. I agree with her.
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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 Jun 4, 2009 19:29:18 GMT -5
She said she was sick, hopefully it does not affect her performance
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 4, 2009 20:40:40 GMT -5
yes. i truly hope so. i hope she'll get better! GO DINA! Be the best and God bless you!
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 6, 2009 18:38:44 GMT -5
ROLAND GARROS
S. KUZNETSOVA/D. Safina
6‑4, 6‑2
An interview with:
DINARA SAFINA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Svetlana says you played with too much pressure. Do you agree with her? Is that the reason you couldn't find your game, especially your serve?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, pressure I put on myself because I really wanted to win. I just didn't handle it.
Q. You were especially struggling with your serve?
DINARA SAFINA: As you can see.
Q. How did you feel on court? You looked desperately around like, where can I find my strokes, my rhythm?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I didn't ‑‑ that's exactly. I was a little bit desperate on the court,and didn't do the things that I was ‑‑ I had to do. Didn't stay tough mentally.
Q. Is there any comfort to you that she played a very good match. It wasn't like she put you in a position to win but you didn't win. Does that make it any easier for you, or...
DINARA SAFINA: No, because she gave me chances and I had chances. She was not so aggressive as she usually be. I just didn't doanything.
Q. You basically beat yourself?
DINARA SAFINA: I lost myself.
Q. Must be the most painful match you played because you lost to yourself.
DINARA SAFINA: There are so many matches in life. Just a bad match.
Q. The pressure, because being the No. 1, the discussion that have been made if you are the real number 1, is that what you feel, as well?
DINARA SAFINA: I just wanted to win. I didn't win it, and now it's disappointing. But tomorrow is another day. I have in one week a tournament, so tomorrow I will be fine.
Q. After semis, you told us that you got cold, you got sick. Was it okay?
DINARA SAFINA: No, I'm feeling fine. This is not a problem.
Q. What did you learn from this match? Because it was not your first final.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, just that ‑‑ as from the previous finals that ‑‑ well, first not to put so much pressure on myself. It's just a tennis match.
Well, still, I still had to play my game.
Q. Is it more difficult playing a girl from Russia that you know so well?
DINARA SAFINA: No, didn't make me any difficult, because I played and I had to focus on myself.
Q. Can you just tell us a little bit about how you felt before the match? Did you feel a lot of pressure? Were you comfortable? Did you go out there and feel like you were going to play well? What was your...
DINARA SAFINA: No, I was feeling pretty good before the match. You know, once you step on the court, I just ‑‑ I had chances, and I just didn't do anything.
Q. You didn't feel nervous?
DINARA SAFINA: Before the match, not.
Q. Looked like you were freezing also for the last serve. I think everybody could feel that? Was that also what you felt on match point?
DINARA SAFINA: I just didn't felt any ‑‑ didn't ‑‑not that I didn't feel, it's just a little bit lost the timing on the serve and was not ‑‑ was not serving aggressive, was not going up.
Q. At what point you felt this is not going to be my day?
DINARA SAFINA: I mean, once I play on the court, I always believe that I can win. Doesn't matter what's the score.
Q. You said you did not do the things you had to do. You couldn't stay mentally tough. So your mind is going on then, Ah, it's not going to be my final then?
DINARA SAFINA: But still I was always trying to keep on fighting and trying to turn the match around. Didn't do it this time.
Q. Do you have explanation why you could not stay mentally tough?
DINARA SAFINA: If I would know explanation, then of course I would do it on the court.
Q. After you looked so strong through most of this tournament, is it hard to believe that it turned out like this?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, because, I mean, I started really strong the tournament, and then in the quarters against Azarenka I started to slow down a little bit. I was not playing as much as aggressive like I started.
Slowly I became a little bit passive. Of course, against Sveta you have to be very aggressive. But it's not easy to ‑‑ from becoming passive to turning and being suddenly huge aggressive.
So this thing, I think I stepped back a little bit in the quarters already.
Q. Did the conditions affect you at all today? Because it was very cold and the last few days have been very hot and everything.
DINARA SAFINA: No, it has nothing to do with the conditions.
Q. I mean, obviously you're No. 1 and you've gotten to the final. Is it really just a mental block of understanding, Hey, I'm in the final, and I need to just relax and play my game and tennis? Just getting to the point where you can relax at this big moment?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I think this, I have to still learn.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 24, 2009 0:53:46 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
D. SAFINA def. L. Dominguez Lino 7‑5, 6‑3
Q. You've come really close before, but do you think Wimbledon this year will be your first Grand Slam win?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's still too far to speak. You know, just first week and I just played my first match. So, you know, I always take one match at a time. You know, every match I can improve. I won today, so I'll try to play my next match better.
I'll take one step at a time, and let's see how far I can get this time.
Q. You mentioned after the match you have a knee injury. Can you give us more details about how long that's bothered you, what exactly the problem is?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I have a tendonitis on my knee. It's been bothering me already since April, since clay court season. On some tournaments, I'm playing just on Voltaren, because like it's so painful to go on the knee on the serve.
And it been okay. And then since I came on grass ‑‑ French Open was perfect. The whole tournament I played fine. Started last week already in Holland because of grass. It's softer, so I have to push more. It's been bothering me. I started to take again Voltaren.
Today I had to take one more than during the match because at one moment I just could not go down anymore on my knee it was so painful.
But I had a treatment here, a physio. So, I mean, hopefully I can play. It's nothing that's killing me.
Q. You're not worried that you may have to pull out?
DINARA SAFINA: No, no. This is too far to speak about it. No, no.
Q. She gave you a match. Everybody thought it would be over in half an hour, but she gave you a match.
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, actually I play her also a couple of times, and every time I had an easy match. I played against her on the clay courts where it's her surface.
Yeah, I think I had to take much more my opportunities, because she always gave a chance. But I was not stepping in enough, and also I had so many easy volleys that I had to kill them and I just played them. She played them a little bit too soft.
I think she also played some great tennis. She was mixing it up well. I think she did play some great match today.
Q. What did you learn most from your experience at the end of the French Open?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it was disappointing, that loss really. Stepped in on the court and I knew I had a good chance, but I just ‑‑ you know, this wanting to win a Grand Slam, it took over me.
Instead of just focusing on the match, what exactly I have to do, I went on the court just not to lose because I wanted so badly to win.
Hopefully next match I can ‑‑ I know it's not easy to take like just to go out there and have fun and play. It's not easy, because you know it's a Grand Slam and it's a last match and of course you want to win.
But somehow to let it go, to just to focus more on my game than on result of the match.
Q. There were times during that match when you were looking to your coach and he was looking to you. What was going on there, and how do you try to channel that into maybe less pressure than it seemed to be during that final?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, he cannot say anything once he's up there. He told me enough what I had to do during the match and before the match, so I knew what I had to do. I saw the opportunities, but I just was not ‑‑ the emotions that took it over, so I was not able to deal with it.
Q. None of us have been in that moment to win a major. When you say you have to let go, how can you let go?
DINARA SAFINA: I mean, this is next step that I have to do. I mean, I cannot control win or lose. I can control my game. Nobody knows once you step on the court you gonna win today or gonna lose. You're trying to do your best to win.
You know, like me, I will fight till the end. I will try to win the match. But I went on the court with too much just not to lose instead of thinking like, Okay, what I have to do point by point, step by step. I was already thinking too much like not to lose, so I went already with the wrong thinking on the court.
Q. Have you looked at a tape of that match?
DINARA SAFINA: No (smiling).
Q. Will you ever?
DINARA SAFINA: Maybe after a while I will look, but too disappointing for me.
Q. So is your job kind of to forget it or to remember it and change it for the next time?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I would say it's point of two. I can also say that I have to forget it, because, uhm, that's not the way I want to play, like this.
But from the other hand, I can remember what I did wrong and, you know, like to not do it anymore. Like I know like I lost last year final in the French Open, and I did the same this year. Exactly the same mistake I did. I was before the match already, the day before I was already stressed. I had to learn from the last year.
So God knows, maybe third time I will be... you know until I didn't hit my head against the wall and say, Okay, God. It's nothing. It's another match. It's a final. But first I think what I have to do.
Q. If I have it right, you have a brother who is pretty good at this game. If had you to summarize in a word, what makes Marat such a special guy?
DINARA SAFINA: I think he's ‑‑ let's say, he is how he is. He is honest and he doesn't hide anything. Like he is natural person. Like he's not fake. Like he is how he is, on the court, off the court. He is not a style like walking that nobody can touch to get to him.
No, he will help anybody and he's friendly and easygoing, I would say.
Q. Where did that come from? Was that always there, or something that he's learned over the years?
DINARA SAFINA: I think I would say we are both like this. I also pretty open and honest. You know, I think it comes with education. You know, it's how you grow up. These things you learn by the kid how to be.
You know, you cannot learn with 20 years and saying like, Okay, somebody comes for the help, you need to help this person. No. When you grow up, you learn these things. If somebody, you know, if like some older person comes to you, you have to have respect to him. You cannot be mean. You learn this as a kid.
But from the other hand, he has like this charisma, like humor. You cannot learn this. Either you have it or you don't have it. So I think these things he has.
Q. This is his final Wimbledon. How many racquets do you think he will break this year?
DINARA SAFINA: He's set down, so I don't know if he has already broke racquet. I haven't even watched one point from him, sorry .
Q. Everybody is kind of waiting for you to get your first Grand Slam title. What, for you, would it mean to have the first Grand Slam title?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's my other dream, you know. My dream was to become No. 1 as a kid. And now like, you know, to hold a trophy from the Grand Slam, so it's another my big dream.
So maybe that's why. I know that I have a potential. I know that I have everything to have it. So that somehow I need to put this everything together the last match.
Q. About your coach, can you describe what you might have been working on with him to lessen the pressure? It did look so tense, even in your body language, when you were communicating with him during that final.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know. I think he knows me better than anybody else. I would say he knows me better than my mom, and he sees me playing like this.
He just looks and he's like, How you can be like so tight? I mean, he understands everything. He played himself.
Or like he knows exactly what I have to do, and suddenly I'm not doing this or I'm playing completely the opposite game from what he's telling me. He says, I just don't know what to tell you when you're doing completely the wrong thing.
I'm looking at you like French Open. He told me, Be aggressive. Hit this ball there and there. Finish the point. I'm playing completely opposite. He says, I sit there and I'm hopeless, because you're doing completely opposite thing from what you know how to do.
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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 Jun 25, 2009 3:51:22 GMT -5
Thanks Eliene! It was interesting to read the interview. Marat is out thought isn't he???
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 25, 2009 7:04:45 GMT -5
oh you're welcome Rosie. yes, Marat is out already. terrible news. hope he'll do better in US Open.
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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 Jun 25, 2009 17:05:42 GMT -5
Yeah I hope so too!
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 26, 2009 9:35:59 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
Q. Kirsten Flipkens from Belgium says she is a close friend. She says you met first time in Tarbes. Do you remember this moment?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, we are good friends. I think she's a good person and a nice girl. Sometimes also it happens you have to play somebody who your friend against. But that's the sport. I mean, friendship has nothing to do. Once we step on the court, we want to play.
I mean, I hope it doesn't matter the result that it's not going to end up our friendship.
Q. Does it surprise you she got into the third round?
DINARA SAFINA: She's a great player. She has a great hands. She has a great potential. I mean, unlucky she was injured for a while. That's why she could not play. But for me she's very talented girl.
Q. Did your game today go according to plan?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, still I think second set I had to do a little bit more after winning especially the first set. But, well, sometimes it goes like this, so...
Q. Svetlana Kuznetsova said earlier today she was surprised you'd been put on Court 2 and she was put on Court 3, and lower ranked players on Centre Court. What do you think about that?
DINARA SAFINA: So, I mean, hopefully next match I'll play on bigger court. I don't really ‑‑ I mean, of course, it's not fair. But, I mean, I'm not doing the schedule. If tournament directors or whatever, referees, thinks this way, so...
Q. Does the court you play on matter to you? Do you think about the court?
DINARA SAFINA: No, I don't really think. I think if I win the match, I have next day chance to play on a bigger court.
Q. How was your knee today?
DINARA SAFINA: Good. Actually, after warmup, I had to take Voltaren, but for the whole match it was fine.
Q. Is it affecting any movement?
DINARA SAFINA: Let's say yesterday was perfect. And today I feel a little bit. But today I would say it was better than the other day. So it's getting better.
Q. How comfortable are you feeling on the grass now?
DINARA SAFINA: Getting better. You know, slowly step by step I'm feeling better. More matches I play, better I'll feel. So hopefully I can continue.
Q. How would you explain the number of players who have been No. 1, at the top, since Justine Henin retired?
DINARA SAFINA: What?
Q. What is your explanation for that many players who have had the No. 1 ranking since Justine retired?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, we just know it's much more open. That's how it is. So the people has to take their opportunities. So I took my chance.
Q. How difficult is it, do you think, to have staying power, to be able to stay at No. 1, and how does this show it?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I'm still staying there. And how difficult, I don't know. I can only say when somebody take me out of there. But until I'm there, I feel pretty good.
Q. You have a day off tomorrow now. Do you have any plans to relax, see a bit of London?
DINARA SAFINA: No, not really. I don't think. It's too far going from the Village to London. Well, you know, I'm going to go hit some balls and have some rest.
Q. Anything particular you do to rest? Do you watch movies?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I might watch some movie. I don't know. Hang around with a friend. That's all.
Q. At Rosmalen last week you trained with Kirsten?
DINARA SAFINA: No.
Q. What's the most difficult thing about grass for you?
DINARA SAFINA: I mean, here really you play and you feel pretty good because it's perfect, the court. Maybe just sometimes unpredictable bounce.
But overall it's nice to play here. I don't know. I'm feeling good.
Q. So you don't try to change your game or the way you play or anything like that?
DINARA SAFINA: No. I should not change.
Q. Won't see any slice, drop shots?
DINARA SAFINA: I can do this if I need to. But if I'm not pushed to do this, why to do it?
Q. Do you feel a particular responsibility as the No. 1? A lot of people here at Wimbledon have not seen you play before. They come to the court and they're seeing the No. 1 in the world. Do you feel you have a responsibility to the fans in a way?
DINARA SAFINA: No, not really. I'm trying to think about myself, what I have to do. I'm trying not to think what other people are thinking. I don't know. Otherwise if I start to think what other people think, then it's not good. I better stick, you know, with myself.
Q. You're in the third round again. You've not got past the third round in previous Wimbledons. Is that perhaps playing on your mind a little bit, or are you feeling more confident this year?
DINARA SAFINA: Definitely I'm feeling better this year than previous years, so hopefully this year I can go through and step by step.
Q. No chance you will underestimate Kirsten Flipkens?
DINARA SAFINA: No, no. She's a great player, as I said before. She beat a good players. Especially somebody in the third round, you cannot think. No, I just have to go out there, play my game, play aggressive, and let's see who's gonna be stronger.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 26, 2009 9:38:25 GMT -5
Dina says knee is getting better! that's good news! hope she'll do well on the following days and knee won't bother her.
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