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 27, 2009 4:37:02 GMT -5
Yay, good news for her.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 27, 2009 19:38:52 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
Q. You seemed to be enjoying yourself out there. Do you feel particularly relaxed in this tournament so far?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think I played pretty good match. I was really ‑‑ a little bit I got tight in the first set because it was a little bit close. Like she had set point in the first set.
But once I had set behind, I think I played much better in the second set.
Q. Do you feel now that grass is perhaps your best surface to try and win this Grand Slam?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, this year definitely it's my best result in the professional. You know, I'm getting better. Honestly, I was saying before, like I'm feeling day to day better.
Even like when I hit in the practice, I'm feeling every day more and more comfortable. So let's see how far I can enjoy the grass.
Q. You're going to play Mauresmo next. Are you surprised to be playing her?
DINARA SAFINA: No, this year she's playing very good. I think she's back in her best shape. She likes playing on grass. I mean, she won Wimbledon.
So I think it's gonna be not an easy match. So I'm looking forward. I just want to focus on myself, play my game. Let's see who's gonna be stronger on the day.
Q. Are you going to keep smiling?
DINARA SAFINA: Until I'm smiling, I'm winning. If you don't see my smiling, it's a bad sign.
Q. This is the only major where all of the fourth round is played on one day, men and women. From a fan's perspective, can you talk about what that must be like with so many great matches on one day.
DINARA SAFINA: I never played here the second week, so this is for me new experience. When I'll play that day, I will tell you. But honestly I never got so far in this, so...
It's true, it's going to be many good matches. The people will have to pick the right ones to watch.
Q. Your brother is going to be leaving the game, a wonderful character. Do you think this sport will miss him?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, for sure there gonna be somebody else same as him. You know, maybe it will take a while. I know it was Goran, the one people really love to watch, because he was similar personality. Then came my brother. For sure there gonna be somebody else.
Nobody can be same as the other one, but close to him, or maybe even more entertainer.
Q. So someone will come up with that free spirit? You think that will happen?
DINARA SAFINA: But now from the top 10 I cannot pick anybody like this. I mean, I would say Tsonga is very entertaining to watch. He's really like jumping around. A little bit different style than Marat. He's pumping himself. Marat will show more his emotions, even frustration.
Q. And Novak Djokovic tried with his imitations, but many didn't like it. And then he stopped. Did you think that was sad?
DINARA SAFINA: No, I mean, it's fun. Maybe some people just think it's a little bit too much. But, you know, you have to take it as a joke. You know, he doesn't do it in a bad way. He makes like that people laugh. So just you have to accept it and laugh just with him.
Q. Jankovic started the year No. 1 and she lost today. This time last year, Ana Ivanovic was No. 1. Now she's world No. 13. Is there a sense that you realize your form right now could go away as quickly as it has for them, and that you have to grasp it and this is your best shot?
DINARA SAFINA: Sorry?
Q. Jelena and Ana were No. 1, and they lost that very quickly. Is there a sense as world No. 1 you feel your form could go as quickly as their form did and this is your best shot here?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I cannot talk about them, you know. But, you know, it took me a while to get the No. 1 spot. So now, you know, I want to focus. I don't want to, let's say, interrupt with anything else. I want to focus on the tennis.
I don't want to do any photo shooting or another... Okay, if I'm not in the tournament, if I have time, yes, I will do. But for me, still firstly the tennis is a privilege for me.
Q. Were you shocked Jelena lost?
DINARA SAFINA: It's disappointing, yes. I was surprised. But I think Melanie played really good tennis. Maybe Jelena didn't expect she play that good. I think she had some health problems. Not really that I know what happened exactly.
Q. Of the Russian players, some of you go through the Russian system and some have gone through like an American system. Is there any competition between people coming from this different kind of training?
DINARA SAFINA: No, not really.
Q. We saw Svetlana go out today. Obviously you're No. 1 because of your consistency. Is that something you're proud of, how week in and week out you're really there most of the time?
DINARA SAFINA: Of course. You know, I guess sometimes the people say, yeah, I'm No. 1, but I don't have a Grand Slam. But I'm always there. You know, it's not that you win one tournament and then you lose four first rounds, you know, and one by luck you can win.
I'm consistently there. I'm consistently doing my results. I'm sure if day to day like this, one day I will get the Grand Slam and nobody can talk anymore that I'm No. 1 without Grand Slam.
Q. Does that bother you?
DINARA SAFINA: Annoying. But what can I do? They keep asking this.
Q. You know what you can do. But do you think you can win here?
DINARA SAFINA: You know, everything is possible. There is nothing impossible in this. You know, day to day I'm playing better and better. You know, I will take one match at a time. Definitely for me it's less pressure here because nobody expecting me this.
So for me it's better. I play. I go out there. I enjoy. You know, till now it's working.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jun 30, 2009 10:32:27 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
Q. How did it feel under the new roof? It was lucky for you, wasn't it?
DINARA SAFINA: Lucky? I don't know. If I won, then that means that I was lucky. It was really nice atmosphere to play under the roof, because somehow you feel a little bit more the crowd. Even the crowd also wanted the roof, so it was like unbelievable atmosphere on the court.
Q. How was to it play? Did the grass change? The overheads? How did the light feel?
DINARA SAFINA: Actually, you know, like I didn't had any problems, you know, to adjust. I felt pretty comfortable.
Q. Did the half‑hour break affect you at all?
DINARA SAFINA: No, because I started very good after. Okay, in the third set, uhm, I let it go to 3‑Love, but still I think I was playing good. I just was missing. I was going for the right shots, but just was missing a little bit.
Then luckily I could turn the match around. That shows that I was missing, and I put them all together in and I was there in the match.
Q. Did you enjoy the experience on Centre Court more once the roof was on than before?
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. I think in overall the match I enjoyed because I have been missing already these kind of matches, you know, for a while. Really she pushed me to play my best tennis. That I won the match playing my best, not that you win the match by fighting, you know, or overrun somebody. But I played my best to win this match, so I'm really happy.
Q. You are now the best in the world. There's a lot of Russian players dominating tennis. Can you explain why this is?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know, I think we just ‑‑ first of all, we're strong mentally. You know, we all wants to be the best, you know. So when somebody passes, the new one to catch him.
You know, it's like a match: each other pushing you to play the best. Like today, she pushed me to play my best today. The same when somebody else is passing you, it makes you work harder to pass her. It pushes you to the limits every time.
Q. Does your knee continue to improve?
DINARA SAFINA: No, it's getting better, better every day. So, you know, I have no problems playing. So, you know, I'm really happy.
Q. What do you know about Sabine Lisicki?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I played her last year at the beginning of the year. It was last year, at the beginning of the year. It was completely different story. She's a great player. I think she's enjoying. She's young. She has nothing to lose.
So I'd like to go out there, and first of all, revenge for the last year in Australia. Play same like I finished the match playing my best tennis.
Q. You're feeling confident about this tournament now?
DINARA SAFINA: I'm feeling pretty good, you know. Day to day I'm feeling better and better, enjoying more and more playing on grass.
Q. Amélie just said that she thought that the ball was flying a little bit more once the roof was closed. Did you sense any change?
DINARA SAFINA: By me wasn't flying. Was flying in (smiling).
Q. Would you like Wimbledon now to always have the roof closed?
DINARA SAFINA: No. A little bit of everything. You know, it's also nice to play with the ‑‑ I mean, the weather is really unbelievable.
It's a little bit of rain, a little bit of sun that you can get, and then roof closed and then it's also fine.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 1, 2009 10:33:36 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
Q. At Rome this year when you played Zheng Jie you came back from 5‑2 down to win 7‑5, but you came off court upset saying, Sometimes I go out on court and it's like someone else playing. It was frustrating for you. Do you still feel like that at times?
DINARA SAFINA: Well...
Q. Sorry, not a very easy question. How is your knee?
DINARA SAFINA: Knee is great.
No, I would say sometimes I don't do the things that I have to. Like even if I'm doubting or something, but I still have to do it. And it was a little bit disappointing because yesterday was a good match, and today again I had a very slow start, like I'm playing half of my tennis until I'm not down, and then I start to play better.
So this is ‑‑ that's what I getting disappointing. That's why I don't start from the beginning the way I was ending yesterday match. Like I was hitting the ball, again today I starting again slow start. I let her to play, instead of from the first point starting to dictate myself.
Q. After the way the French Open ended, what are your thoughts on the accomplishment of getting this far here?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I never got so far, so whenever I win the match I'm really happy. But, you know, I'm enjoying, taking one match at a time, and at the moment it's working.
Q. What are your thoughts on facing Venus and the challenge that that presents for you?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, definitely this is her best surface. She loves playing here in Wimbledon. You know, I just want to go out there. I have nothing to lose. You know, go out there, play the way I can play. You know, I played her in Rome and I beat her in Rome.
So I know what she's doing. I know her weapons. I have my weapons. So I just want to go out there, play my best, and let's see.
Q. Why do you think she's so difficult on grass and how does that make for a different type of match than when you did beat her?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, just a little bit different here. It's ‑‑ I don't know. I never play her on grass, so I don't know exactly what is different. But I don't know. Now actually on the baseline it's already like a clay court playing, because there is no grass anymore, so...
Maybe because it's faster, but I don't know. I want to play her on grass and see what's different, then after the match I can say.
Q. Another Grand Slam semifinal. Do you feel like you're not getting the respect you deserve?
DINARA SAFINA: I guess now the people cannot say why I'm not No. 1 without Grand Slam title. It's true. I mean, all four Grand Slams I been in semis, so I think it's something impressive.
Q. You had a slow start today. Obviously that will be dangerous in your next match against Venus, no?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, definitely. Especially with her you cannot have a slow start because here it is so fast. So I have to really go on court pumped from the first point.
Q. Are you working specifically on the mental side of your game?
DINARA SAFINA: If I would work, I would not serve 250 double‑faults today, (laughter) because it's just my brain sometimes doesn't do the things that I have to do.
Q. It took Marat maybe a career to sort of become comfortable and like grass. Can you maybe say you've condensed that learning curve into one tournament?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, he did it by the age of 28, and I do it by the age of 23. So I do it earlier.
Actually, I think, yeah, I can play on grass. Because before it was fighting on grass, but now actually I don't even fight anymore against the grass. I'm enjoying it.
Q. Your mother and Richard Williams have achieved the same thing: bringing two children to No. 1. Have they ever met or compared the systems?
DINARA SAFINA: No, not really. No, they didn't met.
Q. Have you ever compared your story to the one of the Williams sisters, two siblings being so successful?
DINARA SAFINA: Not really that I compare. Okay, they have a little bit different. At the moment they still have both of them Grand Slams. I'm still learning. I'm still there. I still have room to improve.
Q. Even though you're the No. 1, can you go into this match with really not much to lose, considering Venus' record here and her success?
DINARA SAFINA: Let's say don't misunderstand that I have nothing to lose because I am playing her. No, because let's say she likes playing here on grass. I want just to go out there and play my best tennis.
I cannot go on court thinking I lost already. No, definitely I think I have a chance there. And, you know, I know what I have to do on the court, and I want to do it next match.
Q. Did your brother ever tell you anything about Wimbledon before you'd played here?
DINARA SAFINA: No.
Q. Were you satisfied today playing Lisicki instead of the tennis player Wozniacki?
DINARA SAFINA: On the other hand I beat Wozniacki in Rome, and Lisicki I lost. Of course, I wanted the revenge. It's not easy playing her here on grass because she has a good game. I'm still happy that I beat her.
Q. Did you appreciate the fact that she came out for the last two games injured?
DINARA SAFINA: I don't know exactly what she had in injury, so I don't know exactly what she had.
Q. How does your level of confidence right now compare with when you started the tournament?
DINARA SAFINA: Okay, my first tournament on grass didn't end up very good. I had again disappointing loss against Tanasugarn. But here, yeah, no, I came here and just said like, Okay, I take one match at a time.
You know, every day I was improving and improving. I think I'm getting better and better playing here.
Q. Where did these 15 double‑faults come from?
DINARA SAFINA: 15? I thought it was much more (smiling).
Yeah, I don't know. Sometimes even I don't know what I'm doing with my serve. I mean, yesterday's match I'm serving the whole third set very good. Suddenly I warm up, I'm serving good, everything good, and suddenly I come and just... I think for the serve, it's not me there serving.
Because there I say like, Okay, go down, go up, do this. Then I toss the ball and I'm already by the fence running. I am just escaping the serve.
Q. Don't you think it's strange that this happens mostly to the Russians? The Russian girls are very strong, but Kournikova was able to do 25 double‑faults, Dementieva 20 and even more; you today 15. How do you explain it?
DINARA SAFINA: By me, just that I go away from the serve. Okay, I start the serve, but I don't end up the shot. I'm going away. That's why I'm serving double‑faults. I'm not finishing the serve. It's kind of technical.
But I don't know what's exactly there, what problems.
Q. How would you compare the mental challenge of facing somebody that maybe you're not supposed to beat versus somebody you are supposed to beat?
DINARA SAFINA: I didn't get.
Q. You're now playing somebody that most people think is the favorite, Venus Williams. Up until now you've played many players who you're expected to beat. How is that different for you?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's just really to go out there. It's 50/50 match. You know, enjoy and play the best, because I know to beat her I have to play my best tennis.
So just to go out there and, you know, do what I can do.
Q. What do you mean a 50/50 match?
DINARA SAFINA: Like this. If I play my best and she plays the best, it's 50/50 who gonna win the match. I don't think if I play my best tennis and she plays the best tennis that she's the favorite. I think I still have a chance.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 3, 2009 17:53:04 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON
Q. Can you put into words how disappointed you feel.
DINARA SAFINA: Well, not really happy with end result, you know. I think she just too good on grass. It's not my favorite surface and it's her favorite surface, so she just honestly be too good today.
Q. That must have been a nightmare result for you, though.
DINARA SAFINA: Oh, it's definitely disappointing, you know, finishing the match less than one hour and winning only one game.
Well, I have to accept. Still, I mean, this is I would say not ‑‑ out of three surfaces we playing, this is not my favorite one. And still reaching the semifinal, so hopefully I can change a little bit my mind and change my mentality on grass and to come with a different expectation next year.
Q. Did you feel like the world No. 1 out there today?
DINARA SAFINA: I think she gave me a pretty good lesson today. It was different on clay or if we play different surface. So it's different.
I cannot make end result of this match, because we play only two tournaments on grass. It's always different results when we play on other surfaces.
So by judging by this one, I cannot say anything.
Q. Is it the speed that you can't cope with on the grass? What is the big difference?
DINARA SAFINA: I would say speed and it's a little bit different game here than you play clay court or hard court. Here ‑‑ I'm a little bit I can create the point on hard court or clay court. Here you have to play just in one point.
The way she plays, she has the ball and she goes straight for the winner. She puts you from the first point under pressure. Me, I need a little bit of time. I need to create the point. Here I have no time for this. So this is a little bit different.
Q. So next year will your preparation change?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. I think first of all after French Open I think I'll not play any tournament before I want to ‑‑ maybe just play Wimbledon. I would like to prepare better for this tournament instead of playing any other tournament before Grand Slam.
Q. Is there anything you wish you had done differently today, or you think you could have tried differently?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I tried. I tried to hit the ball and tried to go for the shots. I missed a little bit there, little bit there. But just she straight puts me under pressure from the first point. And then, of course, she pushes me to do shots that I'm not comfortable in.
Q. Inevitably people will ask about the ranking system again, when the No. 1 loses. Presumably you're happy with the ranking system.
DINARA SAFINA: So what you want to tell me with this?
Q. You've been to three finals and you haven't won, but you have the No. 1 status. Venus was saying just now that it's obviously being looked at, the ranking system. Are you happy with that? Do you think it should be centered around someone who wins a slam? Should that be taken as a factor?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I've been in last four Grand Slams, I reach at least semifinal. I mean, they haven't been in the semifinal of the French Open. I think this is the result of how you play the whole year. It's not about one, two tournaments how you play. It's a result of tournament by tournament, day to day that you play. I think this is the end result.
I mean, it's not like just that you focus on the Grand Slam. I won Rome. I won Madrid. I been in the final French Open. I been in the final of Australia. Yes, I haven't won it, but this is not end of the world. But I still play consistent.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 5, 2009 5:02:58 GMT -5
Tour Stars Up For ESPYsLOS ANGELES, CA, USA - Nominations for the ESPY Awards have been announced, and once again women's tennis players can be found all over the shortlists. The ESPYs, short for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, are US cable sports network ESPN's annual player awards. The awards recognize individual and team athletic achievement, and other sports-related performances, during the calendar year preceding the previous ceremony. Representing the tennis world in the two major women's categories are world No.1 Dinara Safina and world No.2 Serena Williams, in the Best International Female Athlete and Best Female Athlete categories. The two are joined by Roland Garros champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Best Female Tennis Player category. Safina, as the lone tennis player to be nominated in the Best International Female Athlete, was singled out after a number of milestones she had reached in the previous calendar year. The ESPY Committee noted that in the last year she has won five tournaments, while moving up to the world No.1 ranking. Additionally, they have recognized her for winning the silver medal in women's singles at the 2008 Olympics, and that she was the runner-up at this year's Australian Open and French Open. Williams, who won an ESPY in 2003 for Best Female Athlete, has been nominated once again after her stellar year. She has been singled out for winning her 10th career Grand Slam singles title at the 2009 Australian Open. The ESPYs also noted that she failed to drop a set on her way to her to the 2008 US Open singles title. Kuznetsova makes it onto the ESPY's Best Tennis Player shortlist after her amazing win at the French Open this year. She joins the world No.1 and No.2 after defeating those two on the clay at Roland Garros. The 2009 ESPYS will be aired July 19th at 9pm EST on ESPN. Actor Samuel L. Jackson will host the ceremony. Fans will determine the winner in 37 categories (excluding special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv. Voting has begun and runs through 11:59pm EST on July 11.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 5, 2009 5:04:09 GMT -5
VOTE FOR DINARA SAFINA! ;D
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Post by sameh on Jul 5, 2009 5:28:05 GMT -5
yeah dina is the best
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 5, 2009 5:32:12 GMT -5
i found out that she's nominated for EPSY in the site of sonyericcson wta tour.
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Post by sameh on Jul 5, 2009 5:33:29 GMT -5
i voted 4 her as best female tennis player and best international player
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 5, 2009 5:35:22 GMT -5
naks! you registered already! WOW! hahaha. ;D very kind of you!
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Post by sameh on Jul 5, 2009 5:41:02 GMT -5
thx don't mention i'd do anything 4 our dina
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 5, 2009 5:45:16 GMT -5
wow! hahaha. i will register also after i fix my bag. i am currently arranging my notebooks!! hahaha. ;D
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Post by sameh on Jul 5, 2009 5:50:08 GMT -5
haha oh thx god i finished high school but wen u r supposed to have the summer vacation
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Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 6, 2009 5:04:44 GMT -5
hahaha. you're question is out of topic. but oh well, i'll answer you. summer vacation starts on April-May in Philippines.
any new interview, articles bout Dina?
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