|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 11, 2009 0:06:45 GMT -5
Safina: All Good About PortorožRussian Number One Dinara Safina commented on her appearance in Portorož: "I've heard a lot of nice things about Portorož so I decided I want to go there and play. My coach Željko Krajan spoke well about the tournament, but the other girls are enthusiastic as well. I get along well with Katarina Srebotnik and she explained me that it's a great tournament in a great town. It fits well in my competition schedule, so I decided to come to Portorož." Safina comes to the Slovenian coastline town as Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s Top 20 commitment set for International tier tournaments, a category the Portoroz event belongs to. The 23-year old Russian is coached by the Croatian Zeljko Krajan and is also good friend with Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik, her former doubles partner. She has played in two Grand Slam finals this season and has won titles in Rome and Madrid.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 16, 2009 17:20:24 GMT -5
Banka Koper: "Having the Number One is a Great Reward"Head of Marketing at Banka Koper Franci Ohnjec introduced the sponsorship role of the bank that is the title sponsor of the Portoroz tennis event from its start: “The main reason for our participation as the title sponsor lies in the location as we would like to invest in this economic region as best as we can and as such also to fulfil our role in the society. This year our participation at the event was thoroughly evaluated due to the increase of the prize money and global economic crisis. But the participation of the World No. 1 tennis player at the tournament comes as a great reward for our consent. I have to add that there is also an enormous interest in visiting this tournament among our business partners.”
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 16, 2009 17:22:36 GMT -5
Safina Favourite to Clinch the TitleThe competition of the jubilee fifth edition of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open that starts on Monday is very tough. No. 1 favourite to clinch the tournament title is World No. 1 player Dinara Safina. Among other seeded players are last year’s winner Sara Errani as well as 2008 finalist and doubles winner Anabel Medina Garrigues. While Portoroz is ready for the start of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament sad news arrives for the home fans as they will not be able to see their favourite players Katarina Srebotnik and Andreja Klepač. Katarina had to withdraw from the event due to right shoulder injury while persevering pains in the left wrist prevent Andreja from playing at the home tournament. Other players who also had to withdraw from the tournament are Jelena Dokic (due to mononucleosis), Urszula Radwanska and Severine Bremond Beltrame. Their substitutes in the main draw will be the highest ranked players in the main alternate draw. Tournament Organizing Committee President Mima Jaušovec commented the list of players competing for this year’s Banka Koper Slovenia Open title: “To see Dinara Safina playing in Portoroz is a great reward. She is definitely the main favourite to win the title but she will be facing some tough competition. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci and others managed to improve their rankings this year. They all have already been in Portoroz and what they wish is to at least level their results if not even make them better.”
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 18, 2009 1:17:16 GMT -5
Welcome to Portorož, Dinara!World Number One Dinara Safina has arrived to Portorož this weekend to prepare for the upcoming Banka Koper Slovenia Open due to start on 20 July. Dinara had her first practice on Saturday morning. Her team in Portorož comprises coach Željko Krajan, physical trainer Ronen Bega and even her mother Raouza. She has a positive first impression of the Slovenian tourist resort: "I'm marvelled because I've never been here and it's a beautiful place! I think I'll find here everything I need: the courts are good, the beach is close and the food is great. "You know, my mom is here so I get to spend some time with my family. My father will come in two, three days, so I can be with them." Safina also said she is in a good shape and she would do her best on the playing court. The matches will not be easy but she is determined to go all the way. Until the tournament she will be practicing in Portorož. The 23-year old Russian played her last tournament in Wimbledon before taking a week off. She said she is satisfied with her performance there as it was the first time she qualified to the semi-finals. The practice in Portoroz this morning was her first after a seven-day rest. A tennis-packed week is thus approaching. The tickets are already on sale. Purchase details can be found here.
|
|
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
|
Post by ROSIE on Jul 18, 2009 19:44:56 GMT -5
Aww, it is nice to hear she is spending time with her family. I did not know Jelena Dokic had monoculosis.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 18, 2009 20:00:00 GMT -5
i had read that about Jelena Dokic from yahoo! yes, and the tournament seems to be giving Dina a warm welcoming and special treatment.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 18, 2009 20:01:02 GMT -5
Kata and Dinara gave a nice tournament introduction in PiranA day prior to the start of the qualifying tournament at the Banka Koper Slovenia Open Katarina Srebotnik and Dinara Safina introduced themselves to the fans on the Tartini Square in Piran. There they played an exhibition match on the provisional court set for this occasion. This unusual tennis performance on the ancient town square attracted many passer-by tourists; some onlookers have even arrived just to see to top level tennis players in action. After the end of this interesting match-up the players visited the city hall where they were greeted by Tomaz Ganter, the Mayor of the Municipality Piran. The mayor highlighted in his short speech the importance the tournament has on the development and promotion of Portoroz as well as on the Municipality of Piran. He also wished them lot of luck at the upcoming tournament. Kata and Dinara then signed into the golden book of guests of honour. The players also received a monograph of Piran in Slovenian and English language as a thank you present. Both athletes devoted some time also to their fans and signed quite a few autographs and at the end posed to the camera lenses.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Jul 30, 2009 5:06:07 GMT -5
FEATURE-Tennis-Serena bides her time waiting for top spotBy Matthew Cronin STANFORD, California, July 30 (Reuters) - Serena Williams has won three of the last four grand slam titles but is still number two in the world, behind Dinara Safina, who has won none of the big four events of tennis. Such are the intricacies of the WTA Tour rankings system that Safina can be fairly confident about keeping her seat at the top of the ladder at least until the U.S. Open. Not that Williams is complaining. “I’m happy with my results and winning Wimbledon,” the American said going into this week’s Stanford Classic where she is the top seed. “I guess I needed to win Rome and Madrid and I could have done better at the French. But I can’t complain.” Safina’s successes have come outside the grand-slam events and last weekend the Russian won her third title of the year, in Portoroz, Slovenia. Her lack of head-to-head success against Williams, and sister Venus, however, make her unworthy of the world number one ranking, says Jelena Jankovic. “I think I’m the best player and I should always think like that but if I had to pick someone after me, I’d pick Serena,” said Jankovic, who was the 2008 year-end number one and is now sixth. “Serena moves well, is strong and more complete. “To be number one, you should be complete and if you are number one you have to be beating the Williams sisters,” Jankovic told Reuters. DIPLOMATIC VENUS “I’m one of the rare players who has a positive record against the Williams sisters. Safina has beaten…them twice. If you want to be number one, you have to be up there with them.” Safina, who is not playing at Stanford, has lost six of seven encounters with Serena. Against older sister Venus, the world number three, she has lost three times in four meetings. Serbian Jankovic has the upper hand against Venus Williams, with five wins and four losses, and has beaten Serena three times in seven matches. Venus was diplomatic when asked whether her sister, who holds a total of 11 grand slam titles, or Safina deserved the top ranking more. “Both players have their results and know their results and we shouldn’t put one player down and one player up,” she said. “They both did their best.” WTA Tour officials said Safina’s ranking was safe at least until mid-August and it would take an extraordinary run by Williams and a miserable stretch by Safina for the American to overtake her by the U.S. Open, which starts on Aug. 31. Rankings are computed weekly on a cumulative points total over the previous 52 weeks, with higher-tier tournaments offering more points. Going into the Stanford Classic, Serena was 1,742 points behind Safina. To jump to the top she would have to win here and go most of the way through, if not win, the premier events at Cincinnati and the Canadian Open next month. INJURY PROBLEMS Beijing Olympic silver medallist Safina, who is defending points from 2008 titles she won at Los Angeles and the Canadian Open, would also have to lose early. Part of the reason for the disparity between the two women is that, despite her grand-slam success, Serena, who had a run of knee and thigh injuries, pulled out of premier tournaments at Indian Wells and Charleston in March and April, receiving zero points in her ranking total. Between Miami at the end of March, when she reached the final, and the French Open which started in late May and where she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals, Williams played only three matches at four tournaments, earning seven ranking points. For her part, Safina reached the final in Stuttgart and won back-to-back titles in Rome and Madrid, earning 2,120 ranking points. Plus, she reached the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open, as well as the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Elena Dementieva spoke up for her fellow Russian. “We were working a lot on our ranking system during the past years and it’s better,” the world number four said. “The ranking system has improved and I think you get a lot of points by winning a grand slam, so it’s really weird to see a number one without winning a grand slam. It’s very unique but give Dinara credit; she was winning so many (other) tournaments. She deserved to get this number one position, but I’m sure if Serena continues to play like that she will get that position very soon.” well, when the ranking is the topic then Dina is always on the hot seat. it's kinda sad and depressing for me as her fan. but at least fellow russian- ELENA DEMENTIEVA, a friend of her respect her. and also Venus. remember her SF Wimbledon interview? well, hopefully, DINA WILL FINALLY WIN HER FIRST EVER GRAND SLAM! God bless you Dina!
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 4, 2009 6:16:48 GMT -5
I’m number one, like it or not says Safina
LOS ANGELES, Aug 3 (Reuters) - An annoyed Dinara Safina has had enough of people questioning whether she can justify being the world number one, despite not having won a grand slam title.
The Russian bristled at the Los Angeles Championships on Monday when asked about world number two Serena Williams’ comments she was the people’s number one as she holds the U.S., Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.
“I didn’t do the ranking system,” said Safina. “If she has questions, she can give these questions to the WTA who is doing the ranking system.
“It’s the result of how you play the whole year, not just the four grand slams. I’ve been playing the whole year and I’ve been having great results all through the grand slams.”
Safina has won at Rome, Madrid and Portorotz and reached the Australian Open and the French Open finals, as well as the Wimbledon semi-finals this year.
However, she has been thrashed in all of those grand slam matches, to Serena at the Australian Open, to Svetlana Kuznetsova at Roland Garros and to Venus Williams at Wimbledon.
Her top ranking was also questioned by former world number one Jelena Jankovic, who also had similar criticisms levelled at her when she held the mantle as the top-ranked player.
“If I had to pick someone after me, I’d pick Serena,” Jankovic told Reuters last week.
“To be number one, you should be complete and if you are number one you have to be beating the Williams sisters.
“I’m one of the rare players who has a positive record against the Williams sisters.”
Safina, who is a combined 2-9 against the Williams sisters while Jankovic is 8-8, said the Serb’s perception of what should define the number one ranking was ill conceived.
“The ranking system is not only based (on) if you beat Serena and Venus,” she said. “It’s based on how you play the whole year.
“It has nothing to do with what your record is against them.
“Did she beat them in the final of a grand slam? No. It doesn’t count when you beat them at a tier four (tournament).”
Safina has a 973-point lead in the rankings over Serena, and unless she has a complete meltdown in the events leading up the U.S. Open, the WTA said she would enter the year’s final grand slam beginning on Aug. 31 as the world number one.
The Russian added she was confident her first grand slam title was only a matter of time.
“I’m putting in 100 percent every day,” Safina said.
“I’m practicing and if has to come it comes. I think it’s just a matter of time and one day it will happen.”
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 6, 2009 9:18:36 GMT -5
Safina First Into ChampionshipsST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA - World No.1 Dinara Safina is the first player to qualify for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009, set to take place for the second year in a row at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from October 27 to November 1. The world's Top 8 singles players and Top 4 doubles teams from the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the coveted season-ending title and a share of the record prize money of $4.45 million. Safina will make her second appearance at the Sony Ericsson Championships, having qualified for the event last year. Safina is enjoying a spectacular 2009 season, winning three titles - Rome, Madrid and Portoroz - as well as becoming the 19th player in Tour history to attain the No.1 ranking, doing so on April 20 and not letting go of it since. Since becoming No.1, she is 34-4; her 16-match win streak between Rome and her runner-up finish at Roland Garros is the best so far this season. To date, Safina has won 12 Tour singles titles and is projected to pass the $9 million mark in career prize money earnings this year. "Dinara has achieved great results this year and earned her spot as the first player to qualify for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009," said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Tour. "Dinara's impressive performance this year has included a terrific run that started in the spring and included winning three tournament titles and reaching the pinnacle of the sport as the world No.1 along the way." "We congratulate Dinara on being the first player to have qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009. We look forward to building on the excitement of last year's tournament," said Aldo Liguori, Corporate Vice President and Head of Global Communications & PR for Sony Ericsson. "Qualifying for the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships is one of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year," Safina said. "I've accomplished a lot of milestones this season and am thrilled to be the first to qualify for the Championships. I look forward to returning to Doha and competing again for the Sony Ericsson Championships title." Always at the forefront of innovation, Sony Ericsson is committed to bringing entertainment and glamour to tennis, and taking the sport to new places and new audiences. Sony Ericsson's style and technology have attracted a wider interest to women's tennis and provided unique opportunities to the stars of the Tour. The Championships were first played in 1972 and since then the event has been held in such notable venues as Madison Square Garden, New York City; the Olympiahalle in Munich; Staples Center in Los Angeles; and the Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo in Madrid. Former singles champions include Tracy Austin, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Venus Williams. Cara Black and Liezel Huber, defending champions in doubles, currently lead in the Doubles Race to Doha, followed by Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 7, 2009 13:08:02 GMT -5
DINARA SAFINA REVEALS: KNEE INJURY HAD HER SEEING STARSwww.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/0 … ing-stars/ Dinara Safina beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday in the second round of the LA Women’s Tennis Championships. “It was my first match here in America. It was a solid match” Dinara said of her 2009 US Open Series debut.
Solid is a good way to describe Safina’s play all year, and this consistency has been her main defense when asked about why she holds the No. 1 ranking instead of a certain twittering, Major-winning Williams sister. It’s also why Dinara Safina is the first player to secure a spot in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha this autumn. But even better news for Safina and her fans: the knee tendinitis that has plagued her since the beginning of the clay court season has abated.*** “Now I don’t take anymore anti-inflammatories which is a positive thing for me.“ Safina said, a relieved smile on her face. “I was taking anti-inflammatories all the clay court season and all Wimbledon. I had a patella inflammation so it was really painful.”“During the clay court season sometimes I would see stars every time I had to bend.“ Safina explained, saying that the pain particularly effected her serve.
“There were moments I was not even serving in practices.“ Dinara said, “I had a problem with my knee – that’s why I was compensating every time. I lost a little bit of timing (on my serve.) I could not bend on my left knee and I couldn’t get up.”
Dinara-watchers will remember a particularly painful double fault at the end of the Roland Garros final.
When asked why she didn’t site her knee injury as a factor in say, her demolition to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semi-final, Dinara said: “I’m competing if I’m stepping on the court. I don’t find excuses – this is my personality.”
Safina said she spent the time after Wimbledon training and working with a doctor. She has a physio traveling with her and says that her knee is “better.”
“There was a moment when I said to my coach: Oh I played the tournament (last week’s Slovenian Open) without taking pills, and I can finally serve without pain. I was so happy for it.“Safina faces Zheng Jie of China Thursday night in the third round of the LA Women’s Tennis Championships.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 13, 2009 3:02:17 GMT -5
Marat: Serena-Dinara Debate Adds InterestDinara Safina holds the World No. 1 ranking, but second-ranked Serena Williams believes she's second to none. Williams, who holds the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open championships, has staked her claim to the title of world's best player. Former World No. 1 Marat Safin said today the battle over the top spot is good for the game in that it can create a rivalry among the world's top two players and generate interest among fans. "Serena is more experienced. She's been on the Tour a longer time," Safin told the media in a conference call today to promote his Millenium Challenge match against Pete Sampras — a rematch of the 2000 US Open — that launches the LA Tennis Open on Monday night. "My sister is bascally the new one and the next time they are gonna play it's gonna be a nice match. I think it's good to see that for tennis they are fighting for No. 1 and giving a little bit of trouble to each other but without any harm to each other." well, this article is so interesting! hahaha. ;D well, Marat is right! good point.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 14, 2009 17:33:27 GMT -5
Clijsters’ comeback hits bump—loss to Safina
MASON, Ohio (AP)—Kim Clijsters’ comeback ran into a No. 1 problem.
Playing her first tournament in more than two years, the Belgian couldn’t keep up with the world’s top-ranked player on Friday. Dinara Safina repeatedly broke her serve during a 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open and finish Clijsters’ uplifting week back on the court.
With both Williams sisters gone, Clijsters’ return became the talk of the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open. The former No. 1-ranked player took a break in 2007, married basketball player Brian Lynch, gave birth to daughter Jada, then set about returning to the game at a top level.
While she was away, Clijsters watched one player improve more than any other: Safina.
“I really felt today that Dinara played some of her best tennis that I’ve seen,” said Clijsters, who won six of their seven previous matches. “I think by far that’s the best she’s ever played against me.”
No mother has knocked off a No. 1-ranked player since Evonne Goolagong Cawley beat Chris Evert in the finals of the Virginia Slims of Boston in 1978. Thirty-one years later, Clijsters got a good start at it, pushing the pace and getting a service break for a 2-0 lead.
It unraveled fast.
Safina used her powerful forehand to her advantage, hitting shots that eluded Clijsters’ reach. She dominated the rest of the set, running off 24 of the last 31 points. For the first time all week, Clijsters looked like a player who had been off the tour for two years.
“I know exactly what to expect from her,” Safina said. “For me, she’s one of the best players. I thought I was very aggressive today and didn’t let her dictate too much.”
Clijsters started the second set by pushing the pace and getting another quick break to pull ahead 2-0.
Same beginning, similar ending.
Safina broke her serve three times in a row, the last on Clijsters’ double fault to take a 6-5 lead. When Safina served it out, Clijsters calmly removed her black wristband and visor, walked to the net, shook her hand, packed quickly and headed out.
Disappointing, but not discouraging. Clijsters played well overall in her four matches during the week, surpassing her expectations in some ways.
“Obviously so far, it’s working,” she said. “I had really good results, and feel my level here has risen.”
So much that she was already aching for another shot at No. 1.
“I kind of feel like I want to go out there and do it all over again,” Clijsters said.
Fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva also advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Caroline Wozniacki. It’s the fifth semifinal this year for the Russian, who lost to Serena Williams at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon in semifinal matches.
It won’t happen again this week. Serena and Venus Williams were bounced from the tournament on Thursday.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 15, 2009 18:56:32 GMT -5
August 14, 2009 Dinara Safina
CINCINNATI, OHIO
D. SAFINA/K. Clijsters 6-2, 7-5
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. After she broke you to go up 2-Love in the first set, you really turned it on after that point. What happened at that point? DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, just nothing happened. It's 2-Love down. It's like, Okay, just play point by point. Because I had a breakpoint already in the first game -- I think I had two breakpoints, and I didn't use them.
So I was like, I was there. I was like, Okay, just stay there and do it a bit more like in important moments.
Q. What can you tell us about her game? What did you see? What did you expect, actually? DINARA SAFINA: Well, for me, we played so many times. I know exactly what to expect from her, because I took her like top 10 player. For me, she's one of the best players. I think I stayed very aggressive today and didn't let her to dictate too much.
With her it's very dangerous. Once you let go, she can really level up the game. I was staying with her and not giving her easy shots.
Q. Were you a little bit nervous at the beginning of the match because it was her? DINARA SAFINA: No, not really. Because me, I only think about myself. I'm playing mostly with myself, you know, so not really. I was just thinking what I need to do, not really focused on her. Because, I mean, obviously when you play against top 10 player, you can't think, how do I have to play that she's not comfortable. No, I have to play how I have to play, and then let's see who gonna, you know, dominate and put their game.
Q. You started the week pretty slowly. Do you feel like you're hitting top form now? DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. Slowly I'm getting into the tournament, you know. Sometimes it happens, you know, like you have to play one match like this kind of disaster that you go through everything. You can't put the ball inside, everything is flying, you don't know what you're doing on the court.
Somehow you manage to win the match, let's say next day you have off, then yesterday was a little bit better, and today completely different game. This is tennis.
Sometimes you really have to -- some kind of matches really you have to pull them out. God knows how, but you stay in the tournament and you're like, Okay, I went through everything. Worse it cannot be. So now from the worse it can only be good.
Q. We saw more variety from you today. DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, when you play a top player, you have to use all your shots. You have to mix up the game and, you know, to make them think a little bit.
Q. She made a compliment yesterday about you. She said during her break that you were the player who made the most progress, also in the sense of athleticism. Do you think that made also a little bit the difference today? DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, I think the people can see and compare how was -- even the beginning of the last year, and now it's completely two different players on the tour. I been overweight. Everything was there. Mentally struggling, unhappy. So. Now I think I'm one of the fittest on the tour now, I'm positive, smiling, playing my game, and enjoying much more.
Q. How sweet is this victory? DINARA SAFINA: You know, it's definitely a good win because she's a great player. Gives you just confidence. I think with the game today I should be very happy today.
Q. Did you feel a great player today? DINARA SAFINA: I still think there is some room inside. But, you know, you can't play from the first match disaster to today completely different. Slowly I'm picking up my game. I feel like day by day it's getting better.
Q. How do you feel about going into the semifinals? DINARA SAFINA: Good. You know, how else you can feel?
Q. Do you think the tournament has changed with the Williams sisters both losing yesterday? DINARA SAFINA: They lost, so the players who beat them are good. Flavia is in great shape and winning I don't know how many matches. Sybille Bammer is a good player. So, you know, they're not there, but there is other players who you have to beat.
Q. Normally you're a crowd favorite, but today everyone loved the comeback story. Did you feel the crowd may have been against you at all? DINARA SAFINA: Well, not really today I was listening to the crowd. I know that of course the people, they still remember Kim, they love her, so I have to deserve their respect, their love. Hopefully tomorrow they gonna be more behind me.
Q. There was a lot of double faults and breaking today. DINARA SAFINA: From who? From her or from me? Both?
Q. Both. DINARA SAFINA: I would say both. How we can be without breaks? It's not possible. Then it would be men's tennis. It's women's tennis still.
Q. Was there a lapse of concentration in the second set when you traded he breaks? DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, she -- maybe I a little bit slow down and she started -- I slowed down and she used it, so that's the point. I think it was not -- you know first set I was really much more dominate, and hitting the ball a little bit -- in the second set, I stepped a little bit back instead of stepping in. But good that I change it. I didn't let it go. I know she was 4-2 up and 40-Love. I turned it back and still hang in there.
Q. Did you feel she was nervous? DINARA SAFINA: I cannot speak about her.
Q. But she had a few words to you after the match. DINARA SAFINA: She said, Well done and good luck tomorrow.
Q. She said more, I think. You had a little chat. DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. That's what I told you. No, no, she just said, Well done and good luck tomorrow.
Q. Is there anything you tell yourself mentally when the first set turns quickly? Do you say, Okay, I'm the No. 1 player? Is there anything you tell yourself to stay in the match to really change it back to your side, the momentum? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I just realize like the moments she start to be dominating, I'm like, Okay, now I have to do a little bit more, because I see that I'm starting to run a little behind the ball instead of moving her around.
So I was like, Okay, come on. Do a little bit more. So I'm always saying like, Come on. If I'm going down, I have to level up.
Q. If you had to name one point or one quality that made a difference today, what would that be? DINARA SAFINA: I think overall, I just played a very solid, heavy game. It was hard hitting from my side.
Q. How far do you think she can go in her comeback? DINARA SAFINA: Very far. It's the first tournament, and she beat already Bartoli who just won a tournament. She beat Svetlana who been in a good shape. I think she just need a few more tournaments to get the match rhythm, to get the tournament rhythm. That's all.
I mean, the game she has, and with picking up more tournaments, she will raise her level. Still maybe she doesn't know how we changed. After two years, she doesn't know how we hit the ball. So play more times and practice more times with us. I mean, just give her three months and she'll be back.
Q. I remember that you played the last match against Justine Henin before she stopped. Now first match Kim coming back. DINARA SAFINA: Okay, so next it's gonna be Justine coming back. (Laughter.)
Q. First you stop the comeback story of Kim. DINARA SAFINA: Now I have to make Justine come back.
Q. Maybe. DINARA SAFINA: I would love her to come back. For me, she was the greatest player. I really admire her. I was looking up to her a lot because of what she managed to do, how hard worker she was, and how mentally tough she was. I'm just -- I don't know, I really respect Justine a lot, and I love her game a lot.
Q. What were you especially pleased with today in terms of serve, footwork, volleying? What did you really like that you did today, and what do you still want to work on to win the tournament? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I still have to use a little bit more -- after my good shots to step a little bit closer to the court. I get many short balls and sometimes I don't use them. I come a little bit late for them. But just to follow a little bit more points after my good shots, good strokes.
Q. You must be very lucky girl today then, more self-assured than yesterday? DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, I would say.
|
|
|
Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 21, 2009 20:43:47 GMT -5
Air Quotes: Marat Gets All Jason Stackhousey
Q. Because after years when she wasn’t playing so well, are you enjoying it now?
MARAT SAFIN: I’m enjoying it, but she ?? she’s a hard worker. So for her, everything is like a battle. She wants it. She wants it badly. She spends so much time on court. I think she is more professional than all the players together.
So when she’s trying and she’s ?? nobody believed that she’s going to be No. 1 in the world. Nobody believed that she going to be top 10 even two, three years ago.
So look where she is right now. A lot of people they giving her trouble, okay, she’s No. 1 in the world but she never won a Grand Slam.
So it’s a little bit ?? it gets tough on her. But she’s there. She’s fighting. She’s trying. I’m really proud of her that she can stand, and I tell everybody to f**k off basically in every press conference. I would do this way, but unfortunately she’s very polite to you guys.
But I’m really proud that she’s holding up herself even though that’s somebody can be really rough on her. She’s there. I hope she can be No. 1 for a long time so she can prove to everybody that they can go f**k themselves.
Q. When she became No. 1 and joined you as the only brother/sister as No. 1, did you have a celebration together?
MARAT SAFIN: We will. I’m really proud. I’m not proud of myself so much as I’m proud of my sister because she’s ?? everybody spoke about me. I know she’s the younger one. I was No. 1 in the world, and everybody expected from her, well, we’ll see where she can get to. And she made it. She pulled through and became No. 1 in the world.
Well, she’s in ?? in every Grand Slam she’s in the semifinal. She’s getting to the finals. So it really makes me proud to have such a great sister, and I’m going to leave something, or our family will leave something in tennis.
Q. Now that you stopped, what about coaching her?
MARAT SAFIN: Oh, you want me to hang myself? (laughter.)
|
|