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Post by russianlusia on Jan 2, 2009 10:43:26 GMT -5
I guess i will be a real fun)) looking forward to see it
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on Jan 5, 2009 8:41:45 GMT -5
Safina off to a flier in 2009 January 4, 2009
Russian world No.3 Dinara Safina made an impressive start to 2009 with a straight sets win over Italian Flavia Pennetta here on Sunday.
Teamed with her older brother Marat Safin at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, Safina looked in great shape for the upcoming Australian Open as she disposed of the feisty Pennetta, 7-5 6-3, in 91 minutes in their opening tie.
The Italian, ranked 13th in the world, played some spirited tennis, leading 5-3 in the first set and 3-0 in the second.
However, the 22-year-old Safina was able to lift her game when it mattered, reeling off the last four games of the first set and last six of the second in an ominous performance for her Australian Open rivals.
Safina has yet to win a Grand Slam singles title, but is fitter than at any stage of her career and could claim the No.1 ranking in women's tennis with a breakthrough triumph in Melbourne.
Speaking after the win here on Sunday, Safina was reluctant to make any bold predictions and said she was simply aiming to improve on her 2008 results in Australia, when she bowed out in the first round at the Australian Open.
She also heads for an appearance in Sydney after the Hopman Cup.
"I didn't have a great start to last year, so I have nothing (points) to defend," she said.
"I just want to play my game and get as far as I can in Sydney and Melbourne."
However, Safina admitted the No.1 ranking, which would give her and Safin the unique distinction of being the first siblings to have both topped the rankings, was in her sights.
"Obviously it is my goal," she said.
"I try not to put so much pressure on about No.1.
"I am working hard and giving 100 per cent day by day, and by doing this and being healthy, anything is possible."
The powerful right-hander has vowed to be more aggressive on the court in 2009 and said the key was finding the right balance against Pennetta.
"It was not an easy match and she is a very good player," she said.
"We both struggled with our rhythm, having not played for a while.
"I was trying to be aggressive, but I had to wait for the right shots to be more aggressive and I think I did that pretty good."
In the meantime, Safina is enjoying the chance to play with her older brother for the first time at the Hopman Cup, even if she's not always fond of his on-court fireworks.
"It was my dream as I was growing up because he was my idol," she said. "When I was younger I was trying to copy him on the court.
"But obviously it is not very nice for a girl to behave like him."
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Post by CoolGirl on Jan 5, 2009 18:34:56 GMT -5
Media Conference Transcript - Dinara Safina (Russia) 4/01/2009
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DINARA SAFINA (Russia)
Well ladies and gentlemen, your world number three, and spearheading the Perth campaign for Russia, Dinara Safina. Dinara, it seemed like a very competitive match first up for the season, how did you find it out there?
(Dinara) Ah yeah, it actually was not an easy match and she’s a very good player. And I think at the beginning we were both a little bit struggling with the rhythm. You know like to find more points, you know you haven’t played for a while. But I’m happy that I could win this match and to give one point to our family.
Your coach gave us the insight that you’re trying to add real aggression into your tennis. How did you feel you were able to do that today?
(Dinara) Well, I was trying to be aggressive for nothing, that’s what happened. I was like was, when I won the first set I was like “okay, I’m going to be even more aggressive” and yeah, I started very good. I won one point in eight points, so I was like “okay, maybe I should go with that” and try to play two eight for the match and to be more aggressive. And I think I did pretty good after.
You seem have a really good rhythm going peeling off the last six games of the match.
(Dinara) Yeah, well she was really tough and I was like “okay, just”, I started to focus just one point at a time. And I came up with winning all the points and all the games.
This would seem like a season of such great promise for you. You seem in terrific shape. We’ve watched you practise. You’re obviously working extremely hard. And the mantle of the world number one is almost in reach. Is that a focus of yours?
(Dinara) Well, yeah I try not to put so much pressure, you know? Like world number one. ‘Cause the most important thing I think is being healthy. And I think like you said, that I’m working hard and I’m giving 100 percent every game. By doing this and being healthy, I think everything is possible. But obviously it’s my goal. But I’ll try to do everything that’s possible.
Well you’ve done your bit for the family. Now for Marat. Have you had a chance to catch up with him? He was just a late arrival last night.
(Dinara) Well, I saw him hitting with my coach and it was fun to watch them both hitting. I enjoy them. I just hope it’s gonna be a great match that the crowd can enjoy and then to play a nice mixed. I’ll look forward for it.
Is he okay? Is he ready to go?
(Dinara) I think he’s ready to go.
He better be!
(Dinara) I hope so!
Have you told him you want one of those diamond encrusted tennis balls?
(Dinara) I haven’t told him yet. I don’t want to put some pressure on him. But I said already to my coach, I said “it looks pretty good this diamond ball”. And he’s like “okay”. [laughs]
We’re really looking forward to watching the chemistry between the two of you. Are you looking forward to being out on the tennis court alongside him?
(Dinara) I’m really looking forward. I think it was my dream as, as I was growing up because he was my idol. And now I’m a little bit different on the court, but as I was young I was also trying to copy him on the court. Obviously it’s not very nice for a girl to behave like him, but [laughter] but as I’m a girl I was like “okay, maybe it’s something I’m doing a little bit too much”. And now I’m trying to be a little bit more calm and I think it’s helping me a little more.
You keep him on the straight and narrow. We look forward to it. Dinara Safina. __________________
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Post by CoolGirl on Jan 5, 2009 18:35:41 GMT -5
Transcript - Dinara Safina, Marat Safin (Russia) 4/01/2009
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ROB CASEY (Assistant Tournament Director)
DINARA SAFINA (Russia) MARAT SAFIN (Russia)
(Rob) Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
Marat, congratulations on your win. What’s it like to be back in Perth and playing at the Hopman?
(Marat) Oh thank you very much. It’s all a pleasure. Especially when we have a great companion and family team. Especially with my sister this time. So I couldn’t refuse the offer and I got to play with her. Especially the first time. And especially here. You know it’s a very nice atmosphere. Easy going tournament. And everybody’s enjoying, there’s a lot of people watching. So it’s nice to play. Especially it’s the first tournament, and the first tournament is indoors. So it’s not really rough and you can practise here and outdoors. It’s a really pleasant atmosphere.
It’s pretty much straight off the plane and onto the courts. How are you feeling physically?
(Marat) Well, struggling a little bit. I’ve been flying forever and we arrived very late last night. So I’ll keep on practising a lot. Yes, and yes we warmed up a little bit today, and I actually played my match. And of course it’s tough to play your best tennis, especially when you are just flying for such a long time. It’s difficult to move, difficult to serve, difficult to basically whole thing. Just too complicated to play and to play good tennis.
There’s been a lot of talk about, you know, possible retirement. So what sort of motivation are you carrying into this year then?
(Marat) Well, just it’s probably going to be my last year this year for sure. Because I’m moving to my new life, so I’m not quite sure, that’s why I’m playing. It’s easy for me to play, play good tennis. So hopefully I can enjoy it, and get me some great results.
What do you have lined up?
(Marat) Huh?
After your tennis career?
(Marat) Well, I leave it, I leave it up to me. You know I don’t wanna speak really about it, and just my bosses they know about it. And I wanna do it this way. You’ll see, you’ll see me.
Is this time probably your last time on the tour?
(Marat) Yeah most, most probably yes.
Marat, can we ask you how you damaged your eyes? Or how you got…
(Marat) Working hard. Practising hard.
You indicated that there were some problems in Moscow, or…
(Marat) Yeah well, just some small problem that I wasn’t, I wasn’t in the right place at the right time. So let’s put it at that.
Did you win the fight?
(Marat) Ah yes. I won the fight.
Marat, we see your thumb is injured as well. Was that injured in the same incident?
(Marat) Yep.
And is that ok? Did that…
(Marat) I’m, I’m good. I’m ok.
How long ago did the incident happen?
(Marat) A week ago.
How are you feeling out on the court? Does it affect your vision at all?
(Marat) No, I won my match. I didn’t play for two months, so I think it’s pretty good. It’s a pretty good match. [pause] Any questions for my sister?
Just, sorry Marat, one more on yourself. This will be your last Australian Open, obviously a tournament that you’ve won. How, what sort of a chance do you give yourself there, especially with the good preparation here if you continue to do well this week?
(Marat) Well, we’ll see. You know it’s still two weeks to go and I need to prepare myself a little bit more. And I’m still looking forward to play well there. And I’m looking forward to have a good draw. It’s very poor in there, and a couple of, two, a couple after two rounds I would prefer to play over there with somebody who can give me some pace and so I can get used to the courts and the conditions. And then afterwards there’s third round, third round would be already I can play with somebody, play a tough one. But first rounds I would love to be easy, to have easy. As any other player for sure.
Obviously you’ve shown us a real bit of what you can still do. With a farewell year on tour this year, are you capable of winning another grand slam?
(Marat) Well, it’s complicated. Too many players are playing well. Andy Murray, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer. So I’m not looking, I’m not really looking into doing some great things. But I don’t want to have any pressure on myself. And I wanna just enjoy it, and escape it. I don’t care what the results are going to be. I just wanna have, wanna have fun.
Knowing that it’s your last year on the tour, is that a good thing? It just takes all the pressure off and you can…
(Marat) Yeah, it’s much easier then, then when you have someone expects anything from you. So, so I think it’s much easier to play this way and I hope, that’s why I was saying, that hopefully I can have our best results this year. Because there’s no pressure.
Will you miss the game at all?
(Marat) Not really.
So, you’ve just had enough?
(Marat) I’m okay. I like to play, but I like to enjoy my life and also I’m not really crazy about it. So I just, I’m having fun right now.
Dinara, after having such a successful year last year, what are you hoping to pull from the Australian summer, to get out of it to set you up for this year?
(Dinara) Well, as I didn’t have a great start last year. Especially as I have nothing to defend, I just want to, to play my game and get as far as I can in Sydney and Melbourne in the upcoming tournaments.
And with Marat saying that he’s pretty much playing just to get a chance to play with you, what does that mean to you?
(Dinara) Well, I think I’ve said it already many times. Because it’s kind of a dream to play with him together, and I was like always looking forward to playing here together. And, you know, it came true so hopefully we can enjoy it together and have fun.
How are you finding all the new attention on you, with the new pressure of being one of the top ranking women in the world?
(Dinara) I don’t know. I…
(Marat) I would love to be her, be in her shoes, that’s for sure. So I think she’s, she’s having fun. She will not recognise it but she, she is having fun. For sure.
Dinara, this is your first Hopman Cup. Has Marat told you much about it over the years?
(Dinara) No, actually we try not to talk about tennis. So not really, but we speak about this, no. __________________
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Post by ¤º¤ Anik ¤º¤ on Jan 8, 2009 14:38:40 GMT -5
Tennis: Russians to play Slovaks in Hopman final Posted: 08 January 2009 2323 hrs
Russia's Marat Safin and Dinara Safina (L) after defeating France's Gilles Simon and Alize Cornet. PERTH: Russian siblings Marat Safin and Dinara Safina will play the Slovak Republic in Friday's Hopman Cup final, after beating France 2-1 in their final Group B tie on Thursday.
The tie was locked at 1-1 after the singles and Russia simply needed to win the deciding mixed doubles to remain unbeaten from three group ties and reach the final, while the French team of Alize Cornet and Gilles Simon had to win in straight sets to advance.
At 4-1 up in the first set the match was going to plan for the French but Safin and Safina suddenly found some cohesion to rattle off five successive games and break French hearts by claiming the first set.
With the French out of the equation, only Italy, with two wins from three ties, stood between the second seeds and the final.
The Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Flavia Pennetta had been handed a 3-0 win against Taiwan in their final tie on Thursday, after Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun pulled out injured.
But the Russians kept their composure to notch a 6-4, 6-3 win and give their country the chance at a second title in the mixed teams tournament, after Nadia Petrova and Dmitry Tursunov won here in 2007.
Safina had given the Russians the early ascendancy in the tie with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Cornet, before Simon beat Safin in their first singles meeting, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Safina said it would be a unique thrill to win the mixed teams event, with her brother entering the last year of a decorated and often colourful career.
"It is great, it is our first and last time playing together, so it is not a bad way to finish our family tennis career," she said.
"I really wanted to win today and to play in the final. We started a little bit slow but we picked up our level."
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Post by Happiness on Jan 9, 2009 16:16:41 GMT -5
Thanks girls for the wonderful job you've been doing around ;D Too bad Maratik & Dina couldn't win the final today But for me all in all was a great week for them. May they have many more like this one and next time win their tittles
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