Dinara Safina

D. SAFINA/S. Peng 7-5, 6-4 Q. How would you comment on your performance today against Shuai Peng? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know. Very far from my best, you know, but I'm still happy that I won the match in two sets. When you win the matches in two sets and you know you're far from the best, it just gives you confidence that even if you're not playing your best you still win the matches. I'm really looking forward for my next round. Q. Are you struggling with your game a little bit at the moment? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I just don't know. ... Read Full Story

Q. What was the key to your win today? What do you think you did better than she did? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think I was more aggressive today than previous matches. I think I was going a little bit more for my shots than she was going, and I was just really taking all my chances that I had today. Q. Was it an ideal match to go into a final? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think first set was really, I would say perfect. Second set, I had chances to break her like Love‑15 I had ‑‑ 15‑30, there I had to be ... Read Full Story

Q. What was the key to your win today? What do you think you did better than she did? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think I was more aggressive today than previous matches. I think I was going a little bit more for my shots than she was going, and I was just really taking all my chances that I had today. Q. Was it an ideal match to go into a final? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think first set was really, I would say perfect. Second set, I had chances to break her like Love‑15 I had ‑‑ 15‑30, there I had to be ... Read Full Story

Dinara Safina withdrew from the WTA Championships when a back injury left her crying in pain. Safina, her eyes welling with tears, said that one of the disks in her lower back was “starting to fracture.” The problem had been bothering her for months, since at least the US Open, but anti-inflammatory injections had helped smother the pain. By Doha, however, where she returned to defend her title, the injury had flared again. Safina was told by doctors that she may be sidelined for at least six weeks; it’s not likely that she will be in the best of shape for the Australian Open ... Read Full Story

Q. You said you weren't happy with your match against Cornet. Mentally you weren't quite with it. How was tonight's game? DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know. It's tough to say. It was not easy to play, you know, having the whole crowd against. Because when you have the whole crowd on your own behind your back, whenever you do a great shot, they pump you and then it makes you go for more and more. When you make a great shot and basically only my box is clapping for me, this was, I think, a little bit tough conditions compared to Cornet. Against ... Read Full Story