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Post by ELIENE :) on Aug 30, 2009 21:02:30 GMT -5
Safina hoping to silence critics
Dinara Safina and Serena Williams will both be happy to let their tennis do the talking at Flushing Meadows.
Williams last month added a Wimbledon title to her Australian Open success this year but remains number two in the official women's rankings, while Safina rules the roost despite not having won a grand slam.
Williams perceives this to be a flaw in the rankings and caused controversy in her post-match Wimbledon press conference as she poured scorn on the system used by the WTA Tour and its number one player.
The pair will again be seeded according to their rankings at the US Open, Williams being given centre stage for the opening day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium main show court as she takes on fellow American Alexa Glatch, while Safina must wait to begin her campaign.
Both players were encouraged during separate press conferences to reignite the issue but declined the offer, although not without subtly reinforcing their positions.
"You know, I'm not doing the ranking system," Safina said. "You know, what can I do? There is ranking, and if you look at the ranking, I'm number one in the world."
Asked for her reaction to her rival's post-Wimbledon comments, the Russian added: "I don't care. I don't care. Really."
Williams, initially, played a similarly straight bat.
"I don't talk about that anymore. I'm sorry," she said. "I've talked about it a lot, and if you want to read some answers that I said, you know, you can, but I think we should talk about something else. It's more exciting, more new."
Yet asked if she had any regrets about making those statements, Williams replied: "What? I mean, I'm very excited to have won Wimbledon, Australia and this tournament last year, so I don't live with regret."
Despite the lack of grand slam success, Safina declared she was happy with achievements in 2009, which included runner-up finishes at both the Australian Open, losing to Serena, and the French Open, beaten by Svetlana Kuznetsova.
She also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where she lost out to Venus Williams.
"I think I had a great year, so I'm playing pretty good," Safina said.
"I had a great tournament in Cincinnati, so I'm really looking forward to start this tournament. I'm feeling pretty good.
"It was a dream of my life to become number one in the world."
Safina, who will play Australian wild card Olivia Rogowska in the first round, hinted that she had played too much tennis going into both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and that she was now more rested heading into the US Open.
"I played too many matches, too many tournaments, I was just going from tournament to tournament, just packing up and packing up, playing, playing," she said.
"At least here I had like 10 days I'm in one place, and I don't have to rush anywhere.
"So I just slow down... I was working also on my fitness, to level out before the grand slam. I had some days that I could really push but basically just a little bit of everything to get back in the best shape I can for this tournament."
Safina added that she may cut down her schedule in 2010 to give herself a better chance in the biggest tournaments.
"Maybe I shouldn't play the week before Wimbledon or some other tournament. But from other hand, you cannot not play because it's preparation for the Wimbledon.
"So you don't know. So I don't know. Maybe at the end of the year, this year we'll sit down with my team and we'll see which ones are really important and which one maybe we should not play really, like does it make sense to play this tournament? Does it make no sense to play?
"So I think next year I will change a little bit that also, like, I have a little bit more rest between the tournaments, because once I started the clay court, I didn't stop for one day."
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Post by Happiness on Sept 1, 2009 7:53:22 GMT -5
From www.usopen.orgAN INTERVIEW WITH DINARA SAFINASaturday, August 29, 2009 By Erin GellTHE MODERATOR: Questions, please.Q. How do you like the state of your game right now?DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think I had a great year, so I'm playing pretty good. I had a great tournament in Cincinnati, so I'm really looking forward to start this tournament. I'm feeling pretty good. Q. What do you think about Kim Clijsters's comeback? DINARA SAFINA: I think I already answered it 100 times. Well, you know, I cannot talk for her, you know. If she's happy being back on tour, I'm very happy for her. For me, I don't know, she's a great player, great athlete. So from, as a friend, I can only say if she's happy doing this, coming back, I'm honestly very happy for her. Q. Were you surprised at all at the kind of results she came up with right away back on tour, beating some top players like Kuznetsova, Bartoli?DINARA SAFINA: Well, she's a great player, you know. For me, nothing changed, no? She didn't play for two years, but she knows us very good, no? She played against us so she knows how we play. I think just matter of time, and she'll be back on top. So I see her, that she's playing exactly the same as she would be playing before. Q. How important is the No. 1 ranking to you?DINARA SAFINA: Well, that's the dream of my life. It was a dream of my life to become No. 1 in the world. Q. What were your thoughts after Wimbledon when Serena Williams spoke about the controversy surrounding No. 1 after she had won that tournament?DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, I'm not doing the ranking system. You know, what can I do? There is ranking, and if you look at the ranking, I'm No. 1 in the world. (laughter.) Q. What do you think of your draw? You've got possibly facing...DINARA SAFINA: Wait, wait, wait. First round. First round, just tell me. Q. First round -- I don't have first round here. Possibly in the second...DINARA SAFINA: I don't look so far away. I take one step at a time. I look first round, focus on the first round. One match at a time. I don't like to look so much forward. Makes no sense because many things can change. So I just take one step at a time. Q. What have you been working on most in preparation for this tournament?DINARA SAFINA: Well, first of all, for me, it was definitely take some rest, because, you know, I played too many matches, too many tournaments, I was just going from tournament to tournament, just packing up and packing up, playing, playing. At least here I had like 10 days I'm in one place, and I don't have to rush anywhere. So I just slow down, and of course just basic things I was doing, you know. I was working also on my fitness, you know, to level out before the Grand Slam, that I had some days that I could really push, you know. So basically just a little bit of everything to get back in the best shape I can for this tournament. Q. And your brother? This is his last Open, right?DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. Q. What are your thoughts on that?DINARA SAFINA: Well, I still cannot imagine that, let's say, next year I'm going to be alone here by myself playing, because I'm so used to have him next to me. Well, I guess that's it, of his career. It's sad, because he's a great player, and I think it's fun to watch him. I know when he plays good, you know, you can see how he fights and like he kind of also an entertainer on the court. You know, a lot going to happen with him. So for me, it was nice to watch him play, but, you know, that's it. As a sister, I can only say that hope that he's happy after tennis career. Q. Will you be trying to watch some of his matches or will you just try to focus on your game?DINARA SAFINA: Not really, even now I'm watching my tennis matches. Sometimes if I have to see something. You know, of course, like sometimes when they show like on the TV, like this memories, you know, it's always like that. I don't know. I watch some of these moments like when he won US Open or when he won Australia, Davis Cup. You know, just too sensitive for me. You can imagine how hard work was behind this, and when it pays off, it just unbelievable feeling. Q. What do you think it says about your family that both of you have achieved the top spot in the world?DINARA SAFINA: Well, we're first ones in the history. I hope we're not the last ones. We want to be, you know, like a good -- being like, like the kids can, brother and sister can look at us and say we also want to be there, so we can push some other families, some brothers, sisters, that they become also after us. Q. Now, earlier you said that you don't set the rankings. That was your reaction to what Serena Williams said. But what were your thoughts about the fact that she did make those statements?DINARA SAFINA: I don't care. I don't care. Really. Q. There's a lot of young players that are coming up. You played Azarenka twice this year, once on a hardcourt, once on clay, what's your take on her game?DINARA SAFINA: She's a top 10 player. She's a great player. Great competitor. I would say, like, very hard worker, you know. She knows what she wants, and she's working very hard for it, you know. I just -- I have lots of respect to her, and she's a great person. Q. Every Major has a different feeling. How does New York and the atmosphere here fit or not fit with your personality?DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, for me, this is the first Grand Slam where I just played the first time main draw, you know, in the Grand Slam. So it's special. And of course my brother won here, so it just makes me something special. You know, I always had good results here, so, you know, I don't know. I like playing here, either like also -- that we have, let's say, hotel pretty far away. I don't care, staying downtown Manhattan you always have shopping. If you make some cash, you can go and spend some. Q. What memories do you have of his championship here? Were you here?DINARA SAFINA: No, no, I wasn't here. Q. Did you watch it on TV? Do you have any memories what that was like seeing him, your brother, win a Grand Slam title here?DINARA SAFINA: Well, it was unfortunate, I didn't watch it live. I watched it after, on TV. I don't know. Just the way he played. I don't know. Just so good, you know, to see him after, you know, holding the trophy. Just being a sister, some unbelievable feelings you get. Q. When you look at this tournament, how much talent does it take to win the US Open compared to maybe the other Majors?DINARA SAFINA: Of course, every Grand Slam you come, of course you want to win. But as I said before, like this one, it's something special for me this Grand Slam, because of my brother, and also I started basically my professional career here in the Grand Slam main draw, and I won doubles here. So why not singles? Q. You mentioned that you needed kind of a bit of a breather coming into this tournament. Do you wish you had maybe played less earlier in the year and maybe skipped a tournament here or there so you feel a little fresher?DINARA SAFINA: Sometimes I look at the schedule. It's not really like you skip something. Maybe I shouldn't play the week before Wimbledon or some other tournament. But from other hand, you cannot not play because it's preparation for the Wimbledon. So you don't know. So I don't know. Maybe at the end of the year, this year we'll sit down with my team and we'll see like, okay, which ones are really important and which one maybe we should not play really, like does it make sense to play this tournament? Does it make no sense to play? So I think next year I will change a little bit that also, like, I have a little bit more rest between the tournaments, because once I started the clay court, I didn't stop for one day. Q. As of 2014, the US Open will be the only Slam without a retractable roof. What are your thoughts about that? Should the US Open have a retractable roof?DINARA SAFINA: Well, based on today's weather, yes. (laughter.) I mean, they have kids day here, the kids, they can't even have fun because of the rain. But for on the other hand it makes also something special, you sit in the players' lounge and, you know, you wait. I don't know. Took away the roof on Wimbledon. Yes, we keep on playing, but then it keeps away the tradition that people are sitting and waiting until the rain stops. So I don't know. It doesn't rain so often here, so I don't think they should change something. Q. What are your thoughts about on-court coaching here at the Open? It's not happening now. Do you think that should be something that maybe the USTA should explore sanctioning?DINARA SAFINA: Well, but then they have to make it in all the Grand Slam tournaments, not only here, to be fair to other Grand Slams.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 4, 2009 14:40:24 GMT -5
Dinara Safina Tuesday, September 1, 2009
D. SAFINA/O. Rogowska
6 7, 6 2, 6 4An interview with: Dinara SafinaTHE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. What's your feeling about how it went today? Tough one?DINARA SAFINA: Very tough one. Well, I made it, you know. I made it into the second round, and you know, that's a positive thing, because tomorrow is another day. Another chance to step in the court and you know, definitely play a better match. Q. Seems like you're fighting yourself a little bit.DINARA SAFINA: Well, there is moments like this that you have to dig in there and, you know, swallow everything and just fight. You know, yeah, still, I had to do more. But, you know, it was a day that this I could do today. Could I do more? I guess so. If I would do less, I will do, so... I just made it through, and I'm happy. Now tomorrow is day off. I can come down, practice, and look for the match after tomorrow. Q. What goes on in your mind after you lose the first set, it's the first round, and you're seeded 1?DINARA SAFINA: Well, I'm just like I had so many opportunities, the set just didn't go into my hands. 5 3, two balls that she hit, one on the line, one return, and then she kind of frame, I don't know what, and the ball touched just a little bit, you know. Played terrible game on 5 4, Love 30 on her serve, and there I didn't do anything and I would say poorly tiebreak from my side. But, you, know, I lost it, and definitely I would never give up. Just okay, second set, okay, just try to do more. Q. How did you feel when you looked over at your coach at times in the match presumably for support, and he had very negative body language?DINARA SAFINA: Well, I guess I had to think what I'm doing wrong that he's so negative. (laughter.) Q. Do you respond more to a negative approach or a positive?DINARA SAFINA: We'll skip this answer. Q. Can you talk about the battle with yourself in your mind? How do you win that battle?DINARA SAFINA: What do you mean? Like battle because I fight to the end, or just I play against myself? Q. Well, when you play against yourself.DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know. I try to do something good, but when it doesn't go good, then I go like too much into myself, what I'm doing right, wrong, instead of thinking more what I have to do with the ball. I don't know. I guess it's just the time, you know, it's just there and you're playing. Sometimes things go, some balls doesn't go. Then, you know, I hit I don't challenge the ball and the ball is like this out. Then she challenged the ball and the ball is like this in. Just like everything goes wrong, but you still somehow manage, you know, to pull the match out, you know. I guess, you know, I had to do everything today. It was a bad day and then some good points. So hopefully from today on it's going to get better. Q. Do you have any simple positive phrases that you tell yourself when things are going wrong? Are there any basic things you tell yourself that are good and encouraging? DINARA SAFINA:[/color] Well, today I was just, Come on, just play point by point. You know, stay there and because I would not give up, so I will still give her hard time to win the match. So basically was just I mean, fight and go more. Q. You had a love service game to end the match. DINARA SAFINA: Thanks God, yeah. Q. How did that happen? DINARA SAFINA: Well, it happened the game before when I was 4 3 down on my serve. I was just like because I serve and then sometimes I don't even think what I'm doing, and I just like I double fault and I look at my coach, like and he's like... I know what I have to do, but I just don't do it. And then at the changeover, it's like, Please, like just look at the ball to the end. Don't go down. You know, stay there. And I didn't do any double fault, and hopefully next match is going to be a little bit less double faults. Q. You've talked about it being a dream of yours for a long time to be the No. 1 player in the world, which you are, and also a dream to win a Grand Slam. What did you think about both of those things as this match was maybe, say, in the second set? DINARA SAFINA: Well, if I would lose a match, it would be I lost to myself, you know. It's me, myself, and I playing on the court. (laughter.) So what I could say, like swallow it next year and work even harder? There is not much you can do, you know. You have to take it. It would hurt a lot, but there is no other way. Just forget and move on. Q. You've made so much progress in the last year and a half. How do you think the Dinara two or three years ago would have dealt with the situation like this, losing the first set of your first round match of the US Open? DINARA SAFINA: Definitely I would still fight to the end, you know. That would be no doubt, really. It would maybe just, you know, would be more crying, you know, I would say. And more like today I was like really like I would scream here and there, but overall I was just in the match. I was trying to do the best I could this day. So maybe that time I would go much more down and much more negative. Q. Are you enjoying your tennis anymore, or is just the pressure of being a top player, lead player, some days just too much? DINARA SAFINA: I do enjoy. You know, if you take like this, of course I'm enjoying what I'm doing. It doesn't you know, it happens that you have a bad day and you want to send everything and say, I hate everything. But at the end of the day, you know, you win the match even like this, I would say a little bit ugly. But you come in the hotel and you are like, I made it. Like at the end of the day, that counts. I made it. I pulled it out, and that's what counts for me. Q. Some other players and your countrywomen, Svetlana or Myskina have won Grand Slams, but not achieved as much as you have in the rankings. How do you rationalize that, or how do you feel about that, that discrepancy? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, Sveta was No. 2 in the world, and last year was also No. 2 in the world. They were close to get to No. 1. I don't know. Now that I'm No. 1, I want a Grand Slam. There is no doubt for me. Like this is what is missing for me. I would like to win. But I don't want to say like it has to happen. I know that I will work until the end of my career hard. When it's going to happen, I don't know. But I'm sure it will happen, because I've been very close to winning. I been in the three finals, so just one step. Sooner or later, I will have to make it. Q. You wanted to be No. 1, your great dream, and of course you've put a lot of pressure on yourself to win the Slam; French didn't work out for you. You want it so badly. Is it less fun being No. 1 than you imagined before you became No. 1? There's so much pressure you've put on yourself. DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. Maybe it's different. I don't really like think let's say I'm No. 1 and like this. No. I think what I have to do. So it's not really that I step on the court and I'm thinking, oh, I'm No. 1. I cannot lose this match. I mean, definitely, nobody is unbeatable in this world. I just think what I have to do right. That's the only thing. But not really that say like, Oh, I cannot lose. More I think like what I have to do. Q. Did you have something happen to you when you were down 0 3 in the third? DINARA SAFINA: 15 40. Q. So you remember the moment? DINARA SAFINA: Very clearly what happened. Q. Tell us about it. What happened? DINARA SAFINA: Then she gave me one free point. It was like, Okay, I pull this game somehow, because 4 Love, it's too much already. But I knew that it would not be easy for her to close it, because I would I still, you know, still be there and I would still fight. Well, I don't know. Just point by point. That's basically that was it. And not make a double fault. Q. Can you imagine a week from Saturday night lifting up that trophy, and how sweet would that be to you after all these questions, all this travail? DINARA SAFINA: You know, not think about this because I pull the match out, and so I have a chance to play better, you know. You know, one step closer to it. But if it happens, definitely it will be the best day of my life, because it will happen here where my brother won it. So for me it would be even more special, but I will do everything to hold it. Q. A lot of observers say that sometimes when a player has a really tough scare, when she's almost out of the tournament, sometimes that helps the player go on. Do you think that could be the case in this tournament? DINARA SAFINA: I would take it like this, yeah. (laughter.) Because in the French Open, I won all the matches 6 Love, 61. Did it help? Not really. So I mean, definitely it happens like this, like you pull the match somehow, like God knows. Like, I mean, God knows how I pulled it out. Not me. (laughter.) But definitely it happens sometimes, and I know that it I mean, my brother, when he won US Open, he almost lost to Grosjean in the first round. He won 7 6 in the fifth set, and they finished, I think it was 5 4. He was up and the rain started, so they finished another day. So and then he had another like difficult match against Pozzi. So I remember he said he was struggling from the first round, but he made it. So maybe I'm following his steps this time. Q. What about she had a pretty standard, makeable overhead, and followed it up with two pretty standard volleys she didn't do much with. Were you pretty pleased? What you went through your head when they came back so tamely at that point? DINARA SAFINA: First, I made so soft the passing shots, because I had a chance like to hit them harder. But when it comes like this tight, it's not easy to swing. But I saw that she's not like because she hit a smash and I hit pretty nothing special, the passing shot. I saw like her volley was not good. I was like, Okay, so she's not so comfortable. First of all, she had easy smash and she didn't went for it. Then when I made it, it was like, Okay, come on. Make this break now. Q. During the regular WTA tournaments when the coach comes on court and you're not playing well, like you lost to Jankovic in the final, you yell, get upset. Here he can't come on the court. When you look at him in the stands, can you hear him yelling a little bit in your head? DINARA SAFINA: Actually, today he wasn't saying much. Today he was quiet on the court. Q. Do you have any advice from your brother inside your head? DINARA SAFINA: No. Sometimes it's not easy to understand him. (laughter.) I prefer to be on my own. I know I have my coach who can give me advice, but sometimes it's not easy to understand my brother. Q. What do you think about your next opponent, Kristina Barrois? Do you know her? DINARA SAFINA: Oh, she won? Q. Yes. DINARA SAFINA: Okay. Because I knew she won a set, but I have no idea how she finished. Well, I know her. I saw her playing. She's a great player. Like very good serve. She does everything on the court. So it's not easy match, but I still think that I have to focus more on myself, what I have to do, than to think what she can put against me. Q. Just to go back to an earlier question my colleague asked, is there one thought, one word that you can say to yourself kind of like a mantra that will calm you down? DINARA SAFINA: Mantra? Q. Something that you keep repeating, like somehow I'll be able to pull this out? DINARA SAFINA: No, for me, I mean, fighting, I will never give up. So it doesn't matter how I'll play, but I will run and I will stay there forever. I will do everything to win the match. So this is not the case. So I don't know. Basically I play point by point, and that's it. Q. As much as you struggled today, I mean, it seems like it's a huge positive that you pulled this match out. It would have been easy to just give in to your emotions and give in to all that was going on. So how much of a positive do you take away from that, or does just the negatives outweigh it? DINARA SAFINA: Well, the positive let's say, worse it cannot be. It was already. So for now on it can be only better. I think that's it. Q. You said that you realize she wasn't as confident. What did that do for you when you realized that maybe she was nervous? DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course it's makes easier for me. Q. Why? DINARA SAFINA: Because I was not playing good and I then see she's nervous, so it calms me down. So okay, she's not very comfortable to close the match. So I'm there. Like I will like I said, I will not give you easy. Source: www.usopen.org
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 4, 2009 14:55:56 GMT -5
Dinara Safina Thursday, September 3, 2009
D. SAFINA/K. Barrois
6 7, 6 2, 6 3
An interview with: Dinara Safina THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.Q. You survive another day. DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah, another tough day in the office. Another day off tomorrow and another match on Saturday. Q. I mean, obviously your serve was a little bit of a problem today. What was going on with the serve? DINARA SAFINA: Well, actually today I think I was serving in some stages better than the first round. It's at least already positive. At least I made some aces. Previous round I didn't make any ace and made only double faults. It's better. Still not perfect, but I know what's the problem. There is no problem in the technique or nothing. Just in my head, so I know just to change the chip here. Q. You played a better match today than you did in the previous round, correct? DINARA SAFINA: I think I did. A little bit different player. She serves good, she comes to the net. She's different player, but I think I played better match today than in previous round. Q. Common sense tells you that you want to have quick, easy matches in the beginning because you save your body and so forth. Can you also look at positives from being able to get through two , three setters in the beginning, so that as you progress down in the tournament you know you can come back and win that third set if you need to? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, it's not, let's say like WTA tournament when you have to play next day. Of course, then you have to try not to play three sets not try. I don't want to play three sets, obviously. But I still have one more day to recover, so that's not a problem. I mean, guys they play five sets, and sometimes they play until the end of the tournament only five sets. So, you know, there is always next day. Now I have enough time to recover and get read for my next round. Q. You played two and a half hours two days ago, two hours fifteen minutes today. Aggressive tennis. Physically do you feel fine? DINARA SAFINA: Actually, I do feel fine. Not really that I played a lot in this summer. I played only final in Cincinnati, so I had enough room to recover. So I better use some energy now. Q. When you have a day off, do you feel 100% almost? If you played next day you wouldn't be 100%, but if you play two days later you're almost 100%? DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. I mean, no reason not to be. And tomorrow I think tomorrow morning I can already be 100% practicing. During the off season, it was much tougher. You know, I would finish the day at 9:00 in the evening, and next morning at 9:00 in the morning I have already to be on the court and giving my 100% and I had even less time to recover. That's why we have a base that we build everything to be ready for any situation during the tournament. Q. Do you feel all the talk about nonsense I won't even say what it is but does the crowd or people here give you a lot of support? People say things to you to sort of encourage you? DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course. Actually, they support me a lot, you know. I really like to play here. And of course I think it helps that my brother won here. They love, I guess, our family. So I want them to cheer for me. You know when you are playing on the court and you're fighting, maybe in some stages you're not playing your best, but you still here the crowd supporting you and just gives you another edge. You want to play for them and win for them. They come the next day and support you. Q. Your brother and many others have talked about the difficulties of living up to expectations when you are the top player in the world, man or woman. You're No. 1 by way of being, in large part, I think nine finals that you have' been in this year. Now, do you feel that that just having those the fact that you've made it to nine finals on different surfaces, does that give you tremendous confidence in your ability to progress here over the course of a two week tournament? DINARA SAFINA: Of course. You know, let's say last year I started only from the half year. But this year I proved that I can play on all surfaces. I made semifinal Wimbledon when I never pass the second week. So it just shows me that I can play on all surfaces. This gives me a lot of confidence when I step on the court and I know that I'm you know, beat me. I'm ready for you. Q. As he mentioned though with all the controversy that has gone on, what was going through your mind at the end of that first set when you found yourself down a set? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I've been down a set also in the first round. There are still two sets more to play. Q. I'm sure you love to win 6 2, 6 1, whatever. Is there a part of you that just has to say, Okay, I'm going to have this drama. It's going to be three sets. It's gonna be crazy. It's going to be double faults, but I'll get through it. Is there a part of you that has to sort of embrace it and say, Let's go? DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's basically because today was exactly the same situation as first round. Again 5 3 up, against serve, 6 5 against set points. I don't want to play three sets. Don't think that I want to lose the first set and then, you know, being again break down in the third set and I fight through. Well, it just I have to be more disciplined. Here is okay, 5 3, and there is no more talking. I have to close the set. So, you know, I will work on it, and we'll make sure it's going to be two sets. Q. Kim Clijsters said yesterday that about the No. 1 issue she said, I hope Dinara is not letting it bother her or not thinking about it. I was in the same situation and I was No. 1 and hadn't won a Grand Slam. Is it something that enters your mind at all? DINARA SAFINA: As I said before, when she she was in the same situation as I am, you know. But nobody will take it away from me. There are so many players who won a Grand Slam and where they are now? Nowhere. Some of the players you don't even know that they won a Grand Slam. You look and say like, Oh, my gosh, she won. But No. 1 will always stay there. The people will remember you by No. 1, not by winning a Grand Slam. Q. Marat came in here and basically lectured us and said, Okay, come on, guys. I got to protect my sister. Ranking is ranking. Leave her alone. Make her happy, come on. What does it mean to you that he's doing that? He's looking out for you? DINARA SAFINA: Well, he's my big brother. You know, he can talk here. He can sit and talk to you guys, like leave me alone. I'm No. 1 in the world. Q. As No. 1, playing on Louis Armstrong, does that bother you? Do you believe you belong playing on Arthur Ashe? DINARA SAFINA: Me personally I like more Armstrong because it's less wind than Arthur Ashe. Doesn't matter if outside is gonna be no wind, on Ashe it's always like turning around. Me, I like Armstrong better. Of course the crowd is much bigger on Ashe and you cannot compare night session on Ashe. But like this, first match on, I don't mind. Even I sometimes prefer Armstrong. Q. Who is more popular in Russia now, you or your brother? DINARA SAFINA: My brother. By the girls so far. I mean, how many girls there are in Russia? (laughter.) Source: www.usopen.org
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Post by vagrant on Sept 6, 2009 12:40:47 GMT -5
From Los Angeles Timeslatimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/09/dinara-safina-feels-disrespected-by-us-open-officials.htmlDinara Safina feels disrespected by U.S. Open officials.Because of a long day session of tennis, where Melanie Oudin upset Maria Sharapova in three tense sets and then Andy Rodthingy spent almost four hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium court while losing a stunning five-setter to John Isner, Saturday night's session at the U.S. Open that was supposed to begin at 7 p.m. was clearly going to have a late start...late as in like 10 p.m. late. Two matches were on that night schedule on Ashe Stadium: first-seeded woman Dinara Safina against Petra Kvitova to be followed by James Blake, who is a favorite of the night crowds, against Tommy Robredo. When the Rodthingy match had finished and as the day crowd was being hustled off the court, an announcement was made by U.S. Open officials that Safina and Kvitova had agreed to play their third-round match on Louis Armstrong Stadium at 10 p.m. leaving Armstrong to Blake and Robredo after a ceremony that had been scheduled to honor Pancho Gonzales, a ceremony hosted by actor Benjamin Bratt and which also featured actor Jimmy Smits. Blake and Robredo didn't begin playing until about 10:30 p.m. Meanwhile on Armstrong, Safina was playing her third straight split-personality, split-set, three-set marathon. This one she lost in a third-set tiebreak, beaten by 72nd-ranked Kvitova, a result not unexpected because Safina had been displaying her angst and her unreliable serve all week. There was a hint of trouble when Kvitova mentioned that while she had no problems with having the match moved, that Safina had been "very" unhappy. And finally, about 2 a.m. Safina came into the interview room. There were about 10 of us, a couple of Associated Press writers, a couple of New York writers, Matt Cronin from TennisReporters.net and Safina was asked, was she unhappy? Uh, yes. Safina said she wasn't asked. She was told by tournament officials. "They came to us at 9:10 p.m. and just told us to switch to Armstrong," she said. "Basically, that's it. It was very unfair. The best player in the world to put on Armstrong. Their answer was that they prefer a five-set match to a three-set woman match." Safina said she wasn't asked. She was told by tournament officials. "They came to us at 9:10 p.m. and just told us to switch to Armstrong," she said. "Basically, that's it. It was very unfair. The best player in the world to put on Armstrong. Their answer was that they prefer a five-set match to a three-set woman match." Turned out the men's match was three sets too, Blake went out without much fight and the men's match ended up 10 minutes after Safina's upset. "That's it, they don't want to listen, just move to Armstrong," Safina said. "I keep asking why we're playing on Armstrong at 10. They tell us just play, go on, go on 10 on Armstrong." After speaking about the match and about how she had a game plan to go on the court and make Kvitova move all around, she instead came on the court, stood still and let Kvitova dictate play. "It's my brain," she said. But then she went back to the other subject. "I'm No. 1 player in the world," she said. "Why move me? American Blake because they want five sets instead of three. I always look forward to play night session on Arthur Ashe, it's best thing in the U.S. Open." Kvitova didn't complain at all. "Yeah, doesn't matter to me," the 20-year-old from the Czech Republic said. "I'm not a star." The problem was that thousands of night session ticket holders had to stand outside until the Rodthingy match ended after nine. Tournament officials said they didn't want to delay the Robredo-Blake match because the winner was slated to meet Roger Federer next. Federer had finished his match about 2 on Saturday. U.S. Open spokesman Chris Widmaier said, "You've got to balance safety issues, a big crowd, but the No. 1 factor is competitive integrity," he said. "If we had not split matches, the women's match would have been started at about 10:30 and who knows what time Blake and Robredo would have finished?" A similar situation happened in Australia two years ago with a late-running day session and two big night matches featuring highly ranked Venus Williams and Sania Mirza followed by Aussie hero Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis. Williams refused to change courts so the schedule was adhered to and Hewitt and Baghdatis played until 4:30 in the morning. Safina said she felt treated disrespectfully and that WTA Tour officials felt the same way though none were available for comment. And at the end of the day one suspects Safina would have lost a three-set match on Arthur Ashe as well as she could have lost it on Louis Armstrong. Never a dull moment here. -- Diane Pucin
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 6, 2009 20:33:57 GMT -5
I feel sorry for Dinara. It was really disrespectful to anyone that they will just tell you that you are going to another court. At least they must say "sorry" but they didn't. Totally disappointed.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 11, 2009 18:25:29 GMT -5
Dinara Safina
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
P. KVITOVA/D. Safina 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Were you asked whether you would be willing to change courts and did you want to change courts? DINARA SAFINA: No, actually, not really. They came to us at 9:10 and they just told us, We're switching you to Armstrong. And basically that's it. And I think it's very unfair to choose -- I mean, best player in the world, to put on Armstrong. I don't think it's a fair decision they made. Their answer was, We prefer a five-set match than a three sets, woman. This is what their answer.
Q. Was there anything you could have done not to move courts? Were you in a position to say, No, I'm not moving? DINARA SAFINA: No. Because they don't give any answers. That's it. They don't want to listen. You are on Armstrong. You ask them. You are move to Armstrong. You keep ask them why. You are playing on Armstrong at 10:00. And they knew already decision at 8:30 that we were going to play on Armstrong. So I ask them, Why didn't you come to us before so we don't have to sit and watch Rodthingy's match? It wouldn't change any decision, so at least tell us, Girls, you are playing at 10:00 on Armstrong so we don't have to jump on in front of TV and keep on -- when it was the fourth set, when Rodthingy was match point down, that we have -- we think we go on. They would come to us and say, Girls, okay, you play 10:00 on Armstrong.
Q. So do you think it affected your mindset or preparation? DINARA SAFINA: Well, no. I mean, I -- no, this is not excuse. It just I feel that it is just very unfair how they did this, to both of us. I mean, just let us know. We are human beings. We are players. It's all about the players. People come to see us. They don't come to see referee. The people want a match. So come. Have respect to us. Tell us, Girls, okay, we made a decision, was not an easy decision, but we have to move you. Come at 8:30. Why you have to wait till 9:10? Anyway, they said it will not change their decision. So tell us before.
Q. Who told you? Do you know? DINARA SAFINA: I have no idea what's his name.
Q. Do you intend to complain to the WTA about the way this has been handled? DINARA SAFINA: No, I didn't talk to them because it makes no sense before the match, you know, to lose energy and complain to them. I think they were also not happy because for sure from the woman's side they would push us to play. But I'm sure they did their best. But the tournament wants, so...
Q. What about the match? Talk about the match, how it went. DINARA SAFINA: Disappointing. Very disappointing. Come back in the second set, winning six games in a row, playing solid, good. And third set, from down, come back again, having everything in my hands, and just -- I don't know. I mean, definitely she played some good points also. But just feel let it go away from my side.
Q. It seemed like you had the three match points. Even a lot of the match you weren't playing very aggressive. She was dictating almost the whole time. DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. I don't know. I go on the court and I really want to do one thing. And I step on the court and I do completely the opposite thing.
Q. What was it that you wanted to do? DINARA SAFINA: I know how she plays. She likes to be dominant. She doesn't like to move around. I have to move her. I had to get her out of the court. I have everything. I know what to do. But just I step on the court and I play completely different. Slow in the middle of the court and let's run.
Q. Why? DINARA SAFINA: Tension, I would say. Let's say, first set I was too tense. Second set, I let it go. At least there were some emotions. I let it go. I think in the first set, the first eight games, I was really like not doing anything. Second set I start to at least like saying, Come on, let it go, let it go, start playing better. And third set, three match points, and I didn't do anything on them.
Q. Do you think if it had been Venus or Serena or Maria on tonight, would they have done the same thing as far as moving the match? DINARA SAFINA: I don't think so.
Q. Do you know where the tension comes from? Do you understand what triggers it? DINARA SAFINA: From my brain, from my side (smiling). Just from my side. I don't know.
Q. Is it because you have to just fight to be No. 1? Is it a pressure on you? DINARA SAFINA: I guess that there is a little bit of everything. Also just playing, playing, playing, playing, playing, and not realizes -- let's say at least sometimes just to work on something. Really, I'm just -- I don't have even time for myself to relax and to calm down. Okay, let's practice. If I go to practice, is because there is no, like let's say, three weeks, like off-season. I mean, I really looking forward for the, you know, to have the off-season, because at least I know that I'm gonna be in one place -- I mean, first I'll have a rest, and then I'll have five weeks that I can stay in one place. I mean, that's a positive thing that I'm playing. Okay, here disappointing I lost. But basically every tournament I play till the end. So this is a positive. I prefer to have this than I was having last year. But somehow I still not used to it, and I guess I need a little bit some time to realize how it is and definitely, you know, next year I think I'll be more experienced and I'll plan better the schedule, I guess. This is the thing.
Q. Do you remember the last time you played and you felt relaxed, completely without tension? DINARA SAFINA: It's not happening too often this year. I don't know. I go to the court with so much that I want to win, and I put so much tension in it that I just, I guess, not to lose, and that's why I'm not playing relaxed, instead of just going out there and just play, let it go. I mean, I can't control when I lose. But, come on, do your things. But I'm in too much not to lose a match. It's blocking me.
Q. Do you think they should have moved the men's match to Armstrong, or do you think they should have tried to play your match and then the men's match after, have it go till 2 or 3 in the morning? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think it happened in Australia that the guys, they went to play on court at 1:00 and they didn't move them.
Q. Remember, that was the match Venus wouldn't move. That was the night it went till 4:00. DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. I guess they should have realized -- I mean, when Rodthingy went on court, it was 5:00. So what, do they think it's going to be three sets? Yes, but if it's going to be five sets, so what?
Q. 9:00. DINARA SAFINA: Yeah.
Q. So would you have said okay if they said they were going to move you to Armstrong at 7:30, or do you think they should have moved Blake and Robredo? DINARA SAFINA: From my side I can say I'm No. 1 player in the world, why did they move me? Best player in the world to Armstrong. Because American Blake, they let him playing Arthur Ashe, because it went five sets instead of three sets. And they go three sets on both courts.
Q. Is there a special atmosphere in this court because people arrive? It was a strange atmosphere. DINARA SAFINA: Where?
Q. On your court. DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah, I guess definitely you're always looking forward to play a night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. This is best thing of US Open: night session on Arthur Ashe. What best can be?
Q. Do you think some rest and attention to practice is all you really need to get whole again on the court, or do you think you need other guidance? DINARA SAFINA: No, no, no, no. I have the best person next to me, my coach. I would not change him for anybody else. So I think they just need a little bit -- I think maybe just not -- I guess experience, you know, how to take care of everything, you know.
Q. Would you ever consider a sports psychologist, that side of it? DINARA SAFINA: No, no, not really. You know, I have a coach, and he's the only one person I'm listening to. I don't want that somebody else comes and tells me how I have to do what I have to do, because I have only one person in this job that I trust and I listen to. There is nobody else that I would listen trust. And I don't want somebody else in the middle comes between us.
Q. Would it be a relief in you weren't No. 1 after this tournament? DINARA SAFINA: How can you be relief if you lose the spot No. 1 in the world, your dream?
Q. I'm just talking about the pressure. DINARA SAFINA: No.
Q. Do you play well on the practice court? DINARA SAFINA: I would say before this tournament, I didn't even practice so much. I came here from Toronto and I had the problems with my back. I was practicing just a little bit for the tournament. That's why we couldn't even prepare for this tournament. I played maybe two sets only for 10 days that I've been here. So not really that I spend like normal practice sessions. It would be always like half an hour, let's see how my day goes.
Q. Is your knee okay? DINARA SAFINA: Knee is fine.
Q. So the back is the reason why you're not serving as hard as you can again? DINARA SAFINA: No, no. The serve is here (pointing to her head). The back is fine. Let's say I had before the tournament, but once the tournament started, the back was perfect. There is no problems.
Q. Then you served very conservative tonight. Your service speed was below what it usually is. DINARA SAFINA: Yeah.
Q. It's all mental? DINARA SAFINA: Of course. What else (smiling)? Everything is in the head because here everything knows how to do the right thing. It knows and it stops me.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 25, 2009 19:34:24 GMT -5
source: www.rusrep.ru/2009/36/interview_safina/7 questions Dinara Safina, the first racket of the worldVera MikhailovaDinara Safina - Russia's top tennis player. For 23 weeks it takes the first line of the world ranking despite stiff competition from American women by Serena and Venus Williams. How Dinara sees its future in tennis? Dinara Safina 1. Are you striving for records? Important to you, how many weeks you are the first in the rankings, who walked on these indicators, someone to beat?For me it is very important, how many weeks I was the first in the rankings, but this does not mean that every day I think about it. I understand that if I play my best tennis, then I'll be number one for a long time. I also understand that behind me, my opponent, who train and also want to be victorious. I think when there is a good, healthy competition, tennis has become more interesting. 2. You often meet on the court with the Williams sisters. Why Russia's tennis players so hard to resist them?
Yes, sisters - interesting personality. They can not speak for months, and then arrive at any Grand Slam tournament and win it. Probably no one would ever guess why that's such victories. But I know one thing: when they are in their best form, they are very difficult to beat. Venus and Serena - one of the best players in modern tennis. 3. Tennis - one of the most highly paid sports. In many disciplines, not less heavy athletes receive an order of magnitude less money. How do you think this is fair?Not me to decide that both should be paid. Perhaps it happened because tennis - one of the most popular sports in the world. Interest in him is big, and because of this swirling lot of money. But I think now our country is very much developed, and other sports such as judo and swimming. This can only rejoice. I just hope that it will soon pass the global financial crisis and everything will fall into place. 4. And you feel that the crisis has had on tennis?Let's just say in my profession, fame and money - not the main thing for me. I do know one thing: if I'm bad to do their job, there will be nothing. So for me it is very important to work well and honestly. I play tennis because I love this sport. Maybe I was just lucky that he was one of the most highly paid sports. 5. About men say that in life they must build a house, plant a tree and raise a child. And what three things would you call for yourself?To achieve success in their work, create a family and educate their children. However, while I was still quite young. I can not even say with certainty I would give their children in tennis or not. Tennis players have faced in my youth with great responsibility: we are beginning to work and earn much earlier than our peers. 6. From 17 to 25 October you will act in Moscow at the twentieth - the anniversary - the Kremlin Cup. As Russia's main tennis tournament looks at the background of the world's major championships? What they say about him foreign tennis players?Tournament Kremlin Cup is considered one of the best. The organization had a sufficiently high level, too many foreign players come to us for many years. Without exception, Russia girls and boys are very fond of this tournament and participate in it every year. A native walls help, others are beginning to worry a lot more. I have good wins and good matches at this tournament. And I played here with pleasure. 7. How do you reward yourself after successful interventions?Frankly: I sometimes can not afford to eat sweets. Just do not tell anyone!
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Post by ELIENE :) on Sept 27, 2009 6:51:01 GMT -5
source: in.reuters.com/article/sports...090927?sp=trueBy Alastair Himmer TOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - While the computer tells Russia's Dinara Safina she is the leading player in women's tennis, the crushing pressure to win a grand slam title is sucking all the fun out of being world number one. A shock early exit from the U.S. Open this month provided critics with further ammunition, but Safina insisted on Sunday her days of choking on the big stage were over. "It's sad what happened at the U.S. Open," the 23-year-old told Reuters. "But it happened. I put too much pressure on myself and didn't let myself enjoy it. "I went back home and had five days off completely disconnected from tennis. I just had to step back a little bit. I'll be better next year." Safina said big brother Marat Safin had coaxed her through her trauma after she crashed out of the U.S. Open to Czech teenager Petra Kvitova in the third round. "I speak with Marat a lot," said Safina, whose number one ranking was also mocked by Serena Williams after the American's Wimbledon triumph in July. "He became number one after winning a grand slam (the 2000 U.S. Open) so it's a little bit different, but he says just enjoy yourself. "We're completely different. He left home when he was young to go to Spain, so maybe he's not used to having a younger sister with him 24 hours a day. "But if I have a problem he's the first person I turn to for help." PARIS FLOP As she did after being thrashed 6-4 6-2 by fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in this year's French Open final. "I knew it was in my hands," said Safina in an interview organised by WTA Tour sponsors Sony Ericsson. "I was too pumped." Paris was followed by a 6-1 6-0 mauling by Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals. But Safina, defending her Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo this week, predicted her grand slam breakthrough would come soon -- and could trigger a flood of major titles. "It will come," she said. "You could win a grand slam and you're not number one and they say 'why are you not number one?' But one of my goals was to reach number one and I did that." Safina added: "Now all my focus is on winning a grand slam. Once I win one I could go on and win many. It's happened to many players once they break through." Back at the lucrative $2 million Pan Pacific Open she dominated last year, Safina looked far more relaxed than the player who was hounded out of the U.S. Open "I played the best tennis of my life in Tokyo last year," she said. "I just want to bring back my best tennis step by step." Her humour has also returned following her New York nightmare. "I went to Ginza but I didn't shop," said the multi-millionaire. "It's too expensive in Tokyo."
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Post by ELIENE :) on Oct 1, 2009 20:47:02 GMT -5
Dinara Safina: I hope good luck in the Olympic Games to restore desire
(Reporter Jia Xiao-Fei) start soon, the network ushered in the first big star Dinara Safina.
Last night, the current world number one women's tennis champion Dinara Safina of Russia arrived in Beijing, becoming the first big-name players who arrived in the net, but've slipped up just a "fun girl" looks a little tired.
September 25 in Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Open, Dinara Safina upset lost to Chinese Taipei's Kai-ching. As early out, Safina in the network contacted the organizing committee, hoping to Beijing ahead of hot warm-up.
9 o'clock last night, out of the Capital International Airport Terminal 3 International exports Safina a white and looks listless. To see her in the net to greet volunteers, Dinara Safina politely smile, which also became her last night at the airport, the only time a smile.
While pushing the luggage bags large and small lot, but Safina has not attracted much attention of visitors, after all, as compared to Yanguangsishe beauty star Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina in the degree of concern outside the lower much more. "Fen-mei" also maintained a low profile to do outside the camp, she has no make-up, frankly face with a face full of small acne photographer's lens.
In addition to Safina things, including Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ivanovic and other stars will also benefit from today arriving in Beijing, preparing for October 2 at the National Tennis Center in net games.
Dialogue protagonist
Thought of China's National Day at a walk feeling
FW: You look like the mood to be not too high, is because just lost the game in Tokyo?
Dinara Safina: Of course, losing in Tokyo, I am really disappointed, very disappointed. This is a blow for anyone. Now I just want to concentrate on playing in the net to obtain a satisfactory result can be yourself.
FW: more than a year ago, you get a silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games, this time at the same venue on a game, what are your expectations?
Dinara Safina: over a year ago in Beijing, I spent some happy time, let me very satisfied with results.
The place to get back into the old game, I hope I can continue my good fortune in the Lotus court.
FW: I heard that your brother Safin to retire after the race in the network, is that true?
Dinara Safina: brother to retire in the net? How do I not know?
FW: Now is China's National Day, and believe that Beijing will give you a lot of new feelings.
Dinara Safina: I heard that Beijing will have a very exciting variety of performances, I very much want to walk around. But I know that race is still the most important, therefore first looks at the time arrangement.
I can see at least from the television the grand celebration, of the feelings of the people of another country to celebrate National Day, it will be a very memorable experience.
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Post by ELIENE :) on Oct 4, 2009 6:21:46 GMT -5
Dinara Safina powers past a tough Roberta Vinci in first round
Dinara Safina made her Center Court debut in the 2009 China Open by defeating Roberta Vinci, 6-4, 6-4. But the world's No. 1 player had some bumps en route to victory at the hands of No. 59-ranked Vinci, who tested Safina's range with a barrage of well-placed shots.
Safina put Vinci on the defensive early in the match, easily outpowering the Italian and keeping her well behind the baseline. She hit her stride midway through the first set, but was occasionally surprised by shots from the quick Vinci.
Vinci responded well to Safina's game, especially her power serve, releasing quick forehand returns that took Safina off-guard. Midway through the second set, Safina double-faulted twice in a row attempting to shake Vinci from her serve.
When Safina used her power, Vinci slowed the game down, using slices and forcing Safina toward the net. In the post-match press conference, Safina acknowledged Vinci's slices as one of the reasons she's a difficult opponent to face in the first round.
"You have to pick the right shot against her slices," Safina said. She also talked about overpowering her feelings and playing a strategic game.
But while both players had their share of success, both also made significant errors. Safina had eight double faults, while Vinci had trouble at times getting her forehand shots to clear the net.
Overall, Safina said she was satisfied with her performance, but also said, "There is still room to improve my game."
Safina's critics have lambasted her for underperforming at the top ranking, most prominently after shaky matches and an early exit at the U.S. Open. But if today is any indication of how the rest of Safina's year will turn out, her critics will have less fuel for their fire.
Next up for Safina is Shuai Zhang, a wild card player from China, ranked No.. 228. (By: Eric Dundon)
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