Dinara News Thread

[Happiness]

And here are a few articles about yesterday's match against Golovin


ALL-RUSSIAN CLASH IN SATURDAY'S SECOND SEMIFINAL

Two Russians seeking Top 10 returns battle in Saturday's second semifinal, as Vera Zvonareva and Dinara Safina both won their quarterfinals later on Friday. Zvonareva was the first to make it through, stopping the impressive run of Dutch teen Michaella Krajicek in straight sets, 61 75. The Russian had four match points whilst serving at 5-4 in the second set, but closed it out three games later.

"To make a Tier I semifinal is great," Zvonareva said. "I have had four tough matches and I'm glad to be through. But there's always something to improve."

After the win, the Russian was forced to pull out of her doubles match, due to a left wrist injury aggravated during the singles match.

"If I tried to play doubles, I wouldn't be able to come back on the court tomorrow for sure," she said. "I'll rest and get treatment. I'll do everything to recover, and then we'll see what's going to happen tomorrow."

Tatiana Golovin's right ankle injury was too much for her to finish her match; the No.10 seed, who had won Amelia Island last week and was on an eight-match win streak, retired to No.4 seed Dinara Safina after dropping the first set, 6-3.

"She came out playing really well and it was tough for me to start out," Golovin said. "It was chilly and tough to get warm and I hurt my ankle at warm-up today, so I tried to kind of play through it, and then it just got worse as the match went on. But we definitely had some pretty cool points. A lot of credit to her.

"I was happy to be here because I love this tournament and wanted to give it my best, which I did. I went out and played, and unfortunately I couldn't finish it."

Like Zvonareva, Safina was also forced to withdraw from her doubles match with a left wrist injury suffered during her third round. She was partnering Srebotnik.

"It was hard because I'm friends with Katarina, so it was disappointing coming to her and saying I can't do this. I mean, I'm scared that it's going to get worse, my wrist. But she understood me and I'm really happy about that."

Safina and Zvonareva have battled on four occasions, all on clay, with Safina up 3-1. Only one of those came on green clay, here a year ago, with Safina winning.

"It was a tough match," Safina added. "She's a tough opponent. She's playing very well now. She is beating everybody pretty solidly so I have to be ready, go out there and fight for every chance. We'll see who's stronger that day."

[Happiness]

FRIDAY'S FABULOUS FEMALES


TATIANA GOLOVIN (FRA) vs DINARA SAFINA (RUS)

No. 10 seed Tatiana Golovin was forced to retire against Dinara Safina at the end of the first set due to a right ankle injury. Golovin has had a heavy schedule recently including her win at last week’s clay court tournament at Amelia Island. “You know, we went from hard courts to clay, and I've played like eight matches in nine days, so definitely my body is starting to feel it,” Golovin said when speaking of her injury. “Like I said, I've been feeling kind of tired over the past days, and I was just really happy to be here because I love this tournament and I really wanted to give it my best, which I did. I tried to go out there and play today, and unfortunately I couldn't finish it.” Safina broke Golovin once to take the first set 6-3 which was enough to move her on to a semifinal match with Vera Zvonareva. Safina now leads the head-to-head series 3-1.

[Happiness]

VENUS GRABS SEMI SPOT


Unseeded Venus Williams marched into the Family Circle Cup semi-finals by beating Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4 7-5.

The American next meets second-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, who cruised to a 6-2 6-0 victory over Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik.

Fourth seed Dinara Safina will play fellow Russian and ninth seed Vera Zvonareva in the other semi-final.

"We have both played well to get to the semis so I'm looking forward to playing the same kind of tennis, aggressive but with patience," Williams said.

Medina Garrigues had high hopes of staging a fightback when she led 3-0 in the second set but the world number 29 had other ideas.

"I just felt like 'I'm not losing this set' and I said 'Come on V, get on with it'," Williams added.

The two women have not met since Jankovic's upset win over Williams in the third round at Wimbledon last year.

"I didn't expect to win so easy as I did today because we have had some tough matches," said world number nine Jankovic. "I stayed focused and I did well."

Zvonareva battled a sore wrist in her 6-1 7-5 win over unseeded Dutch player Michaella Krajicek, while world number 12 Safina emerged from the late match, when 10th seeded Tatiana Golovin of France retired with an ankle injury after losing the first set 6-3.

"I'll get treatment (for the wrist)," Zvonareva said. "I'll do everything I can to recover and then we'll see what's going to happen."

[Happiness]

And Dinara's interview yesterday


A POST-MATCH INTERVIEW WITH DINARA SAFINA

AMY BINDER: Questions for Dinara, please.

QUESTION: How hard of a decision was it to decide not to play the doubles match? I mean obviously you have a lot riding on tomorrow's outcome.

DINARA SAFINA: I mean it was really hard because I'm very good friends with Katarina, and she's one of my good friends on tour. So it was disappointing coming to her and said, listen, I can't do this. I mean I'm scared that it's going to get worse, my wrist. It was too tough for me to say, and she understood me and I'm really happy that she could understand me.

QUESTION: When did the wrist start hurting?

DINARA SAFINA: I injured it yesterday during my singles match. I called for a trainer at 4-1 in the second set. I mis-hit the ball and I hit the ball on the wrist. So when I had to hit the backhand, when I had to make contact with the ball, I could feel it. So you know, it's too risky, you know.

QUESTION: Did it get worse tonight?

DINARA SAFINA: It's better, but still, you know, if I would play more matches, like doubles, I for sure it would get sore, you know. It's still swollen.

QUESTION: Can you talk about your rivalry with Zvonareva?

DINARA SAFINA: We played last year actually here.

QUESTION: Can you talk about that match a little?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, it was a tough match. It was pretty close, and we played after also in the French Open. It was always very tough two sets, you know. And she's a tough opponent. She's playing, I think, very good now. I mean she beat everybody pretty solid, so I have to be really ready for that match and just go out there and fight for every chance and we'll see who's stronger that day will win.

QUESTION: You didn't play in your first tournament here until last year and you've had a lot of great success. Any second thoughts about waiting so long to come to Charleston?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, it's always for me I like to play on clay court, so I'm always looking forward to it, and even like it's a very long trip for me, but as tired as I was, I still said to my coach, no, no, I'm going to make all these four tournaments because I want to really come back here. I really enjoy it, you know, and obviously if I come second year to a tournament means I really enjoy it. So it's very easy to see if I like the city or not.

AMY BINDER: Any other questions? Thank you.

END OF INTERVIEW

[Happiness]

And some preview of today's match against Zvonareva


SATURDAY'S SENSATIONAL SEMIFINALS



VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS) vs DINARA SAFINA (RUS)

No. 9 seed Vera Zvonareva, currently ranked No. 20 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, will square off with her compatriot, No. 4 seed Dinara Safina, who sits at No. 12 in the world. Zvonareva defeated Nathalie Dechy, Meilen Tu, No. 7 seed Ana Ivanovic, and Michaella Krajicek en route to the quarterfinals. She has earned over $3 million in career winnings and reached as high as No. 9 in the world.

Dinara Safina, currently ranked No. 12 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, moved into the semifinals with a retirement from her quarterfinal opponent No. 10 seed Tatiana Golovin. After drawing a bye in the first round, Safina got to the semifinals by getting past Eleni Daniilidou and Lourdes Dominguez Lino before facing Golovin. Safina, standing nearly 6’, turned pro in 2000 and has earned 5 career singles titles.

[Happiness]

Dinara Safina (RUS) [4] defeated Vera Zvonareva (RUS) [9]: 6-3; 0-1 retired (left wrist injury)!!! Poor Zvonareva

I'm not really sure this is a good thing for Dinara! Two retired players after the first set!!!

I only wish she can rest and be at the top of her form because Jankovic certainly won't be an easy opponent to win tomorrow!!!

GO DINA GO!!!

[Happiness]

And here are some photos from today's match against Zvonareva

[Mrs. Fabregas]

Good luck for the final, Dina!!!!!!!!!!


And, Happiness, sweety ( for you!) .......
The last time Jankovich and Dina were in the final together......
JANKOVICH retired ;D...........

[reese]

I can watch the final - Eurosport is broadcasting it ;D ;D Wohoo

[Happiness]

And here are some news from yesterday's match against Zvonareva


JANKOVIC OUTLATS WILLIAMS, WILL FACE SAFINA IN FINAL

CHARLESTON, SC, USA - Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams didn't drop one set in reaching the semifinals of the $1.34-million Family Circle Cup, and on Saturday the pair put on an incredible show, fighting for over two-and-a-half hours before Jankovic finally won in a third set tie-break. She will face Dinara Safina for the title Sunday afternoon.

The unseeded Williams was the first to draw blood, reeling off three consecutive games from 3-all to grab a one set lead, serving it out at love. The second set was a mirror image, with Jankovic breaking away at 3-all and also serving it out at love.

"I was down a set and a break, and I was thinking, 'What should I do? I need to change something,'" said Jankovic, who was down a break early in the second. "I started moving her and playing her forehand. Her game started breaking down; I think she got a bit nervous. I changed my game plan and just hung in there."

The third set was a dogfight from beginning to end, with the two players trading breaks in the seventh and eighth games but remaining on serve through the rest of the set, going to a heated tie-break to decide the match. Jankovic went ahead 4-2 before Williams got her own run to move ahead 5-4; but the Serb snapped the momentum just in time, evening things to 5-all and then winning two more to clinch it, 36 63 76(5). Those two points were even more symbolic: at the end of the day, Jankovic won 109 points to Williams' 107.

"It could've gone either way; it was just a few points here and there," Jankovic added. "You have to hang in there and fight for every point, that's how I did it. I had to earn it; she wouldn't give me anything. I was about to die at the end."

"The encouraging part is that if I just clean up my game some, I know I can play a lot better and win that match," Williams said. "I had a lot of opportunities, but I just didn't capitalize, and it helped her to stay in the match. But I'm getting better with every tournament, so the next tournament I'll hopefully be better."

Despite the loss, Williams was happy with her week. And rightfully so, considering it was only her fourth event of the season and she had four straight set victories.

"This has been a really good week for me. I feel like I'm definitely hitting out and I have a lot of stuff I can definitely do better, but that's every match, whether I played great or average or below average."

This run is a much difference experience for Jankovic than her first round exit a year ago. In fact, her recent results in general are essentially the opposite of a year ago; she was in the middle of a 10-match losing streak at this point last year, whereas now she is one of the hottest players on the Tour, currently weighing in at No.9 and projected to rise to No.7 with this week's run to the final.

"I was playing terribly, and I was about to quit playing tennis; now here I am in the final," Jankovic said. "I'm a different player. I'm working hard. I'm enjoying the game and having fun. I really enjoy it. That's the most important thing."

Next up for the No.2-seeded Jankovic will be No.4-seeded Safina, who reached the final when No.9 seed Vera Zvonareva retired during the second semifinal, due to a left wrist injury aggravated during her quarterfinal. Safina was leading when her Russian compatriot stopped the match, 63 01.

"Also yesterday it was really a surprise for me but I can't go on court thinking about this," said Safina, who also won her quarterfinal through an opponent's retirement; it was Tatiana Golovin's right ankle injury that ended that battle. "I just have to think about myself. I hope it's going to be a full match tomorrow."

"It started at the beginning of the tournament," said Zvonareva. "It just got really bad to the point I wasn't able to perform; I thought it was better to retire. It got to the point where there was no chance I could do anything because I couldn't hit my backhands, and at this top level of tennis, you just cannot do that."

Jankovic and Safina have played once previously, with the Serb retiring due to a thigh strain at Paris [Indoors] in 2004. Both are much different players now.

"I played nearly three hours today but I'm looking forward to the final," Jankovic said. "I just want to play my game like I've done this week, and give my best."

"She's a great, solid player, so it's going to be a tough match," Safina said. "We'll both have to go out there and fight; the stronger one is going to go through."

[Happiness]

SATURDAY'S SENSATIONAL SEMIFINALS



VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS) vs DINARA SAFINA (RUS)

As the excitement of the Williams / Jankovic match was still simmering on Family Circle Magazine Stadium court, the second semifinal of the day kicked off under beautiful skies with a warm breeze blowing across Daniel Island as two of the heaviest hitters in the game entered the packed arena. From the moment they struck the first ball in warm-ups, it was apparent that each competitor was focused and determined to advance to the finals. Both from Russia, Zvonareva and Safina have each captured five Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles, and by the end of the day one would be one step closer to number six.

Zvonareva started the match with a mix of strong serves and clean winners that forced Safina to dig deep and rally from the baseline. Safina mixed up the pace and depth of her shots which seemed to stun Zvonareva, and proved to be enough for her to capture the set at 6-3. With the crowd starting to show support for Zvonareva whose energy seemed to be fading, she regained strength and rallied to win the first game of the second set.

Unfortunately, Zvonareva was forced to retire at that point of the match with a wrist injury. “Well, it was hurting really bad just in the beginning and the middle of the first set. It was really tough to compete, and then it got to the point where there's no chance I could do anything because I couldn't hit my backhands, and it's just at this top level of tennis, you just cannot do it,” Vera Zvonareva commented about her injury.

No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic will square off against No. 4 seed Dinara Safina for the 35th annual Family Circle Cup singles championship at 1:00 p.m. in Family Circle Magazine Stadium. Safina leads the head-to-head series 1-0.

[Happiness]

JANKOVIC SEES OFF VENUS

Serbian second seed Jelena Jankovic outlasted unseeded American Venus Williams 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to earn a meeting with fourth seeded Russian Dinara Safina in the WTA Charleston final.

The victory for Jankovic, ranked ninth in the world, came down to a line overrule by the chair umpire with Jankovic serving at 6-5 in the third-set tie-break.

A Jankovic backhand clipped the sideline tape but it took the chair umpire to check the clay-court mark and overrule the line judge's out call on a Jankovic appeal to end the two-hour and 31-minute match.

"I was about to die at the end," said Jankovic, whose three previous matches had lasted a total of only two hours and 18 minutes.

Safina had a much easier time for the second straight day as ninth seeded compatriot Vera Zvonareva retired with a wrist injury while trailing 6-3, 0-1. Safina also had received an easy passage on Friday when 10th seed Tatiana Golovin of France retired after one set with an ankle injury.

Williams, after powering her way to a one-set lead with her serve and big ground strokes, lost her control and surrendered the last four games of the second set. She was also ahead 5-4 in the decisive tiebreak but committed two errors to give Jankovic match point.

Jankovic and Safina have faced each other only once before. Safina won in 2004 on carpet in Paris when Jankovic retired in the second set.

"It was unbelievable," Jankovic said about the last point. "I just I hit that ball and then by her reaction I was confident that the ball was in because she was going to shake my hand and then she was in doubt. So I was really lucky on that one to win."

Williams, the 2004 Charleston champion, said, "It was tough because sometimes I'd play some good points, then I'd make two errors in a row, and it was tough because she wasn't really giving me any errors."

[Happiness]

And Dinara's interview yesterday


A POST-MATCH INTERVIEW WITH DINARA SAFINA

DANNY KENDALL: We'll take questions for Dinara.

QUESTION: I was just wondering if you've ever had anything like this happen where two straight matches and another player retired.

DINARA SAFINA: No, not really. Never, you know. I was really surprised. I even said to her, "What's going on?" "Like
everybody is retiring," you know. So it's strange. I don't know.

QUESTION: Are you hoping for somebody to retire tomorrow?

DINARA SAFINA: (Laughs).

QUESTION: Or are you feeling like you're up to, you know, playing a full match tomorrow?

DINARA SAFINA: I didn't think she was supposed to retire today, you know. And also like yesterday, you know, it was really a surprise for me, you know, and I cannot go on court thinking about this. I just have to think about myself. No, I mean I think it's going to be a full match tomorrow.

QUESTION: You spent a total of three hours and 31 minutes on court in this tournament in singles, and I was just wondering, you gotta feel like you're well rested anyway, huh?

DINARA SAFINA: I do. Even the first two matches I tried to be really focused, you know, especially here on clay the points are long. It's not like hard court. You don't get any free points like when you do ace, you know. So it's always good like with the first two wins I had, I was getting confident, you know. And okay. And those two matches I was really lucky.

QUESTION: You said last night your wrist was bothering you as well when you pulled out of the doubles. How is your wrist?

DINARA SAFINA: It's much better. I still have it taped for protection, because here on clay you can get a bad bounce and you hit it late. So I was just I do for the protection, but it's much better. I still feel it if I press it, like lose one more point, but it's much better.

QUESTION: In your previous match with Jankovic, ended in retirement also. Can you just describe that match and what happened in that one?

DINARA SAFINA: Actually it was a really long time ago. It was 2004. Yeah. I mean I don't know. It was too long time ago, you know. I don't remember.

QUESTION: Did you see or hear anything about Jelena's and Venus's match today?

DINARA SAFINA: I was watching it a little bit. Well, she was playing before me, so when I was waiting for my match, I was watching it. You know, I mean she's a great player, you know. She is a solid player, so it's going to be a tough match. It's like today. I think we both have to go there and fight, and the stronger one is going to go through.

QUESTION: What's your strategy for tomorrow's match?

DINARA SAFINA: I didn't even think about it yet, you know. I still have to relax a little bit. I'll think about this later
tonight.

QUESTION: She went two hours plus and three sets and tiebreaker and all that. I mean is that a significant advantage to you to be as well rested as you are going in there?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, well, she had, I think, 24 hours, something like this. You know, I had this year on Gold Coast I had maybe about like eight hours to recover. I finished like midnight. I had to play next day at 11 already. So well, you never know. Tomorrow is another day, you know. Sometimes you're so motivated, so you don't even feel that you are tired.

QUESTION: A lot of people are saying that the Jankovic and Williams match today was for the finals. Do you feel like you're kind of an afterthought and that like, hey, there's still a match to play tomorrow that I'm going to be at?

DINARA SAFINA: I didn't hear it. You're the first time telling me this. (Laughs). No, I don't know. Maybe it's going to be better tomorrow. Who knows. I will try to entertain the people.

DANNY KENDALL: Any more questions? Thank you very much.

DINARA SAFINA: Thank you.

END OF INTERVIEW

[Happiness]

And some preview of today's match against Jankovic


SUNDAY'S SUPERSTARS

JELENA JANKOVIC (SRB) vs DINARA SAFINA (RUS)



Jelena Jankovic is moving toward the Top 5 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She took one step closer to that elite level after defeating Venus Williams in three thrilling sets capped by a close tiebreak 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5). Jankovic has had a great week at the Family Circle Cup where she dismissed seeded players No. 16 Mara Santangelo and No. 12 Katarina Srebotnik en route to the final. In her four matches leading into Sunday’s championship, she dropped only nine games against the earlier opponents before being stretched to three sets by Williams. She needed less then 50 minutes to close out each of her three matches prior to Saturday’s semifinal.

Currently No. 9 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Jankovic will likely move into the world’s No. 7 slot. “Maybe now I'm 7 or close to 6, so I think I can do it,” observed Jankovic. “That's my goal is to crack the Top 5 and see how it goes.” With the move to No. 7, her career-high, she displaces No. 7 Nadia Petrova and No. 8 Nicole Vaidisova on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

In 2007, Jankovic has had victories over Martina Hingis, Amélie Mauresmo, and Nicole Vaidisova. This is Jankovic’s third appearance in a final this year. She has claimed over $372,912 in 2007, and boasts career earnings of nearly $2 million.



Dinara Safina is currently ranked No. 12 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She stands nearly 6’ tall and has earned over $2 million dollars since turning pro in 2000. Safina is making her second consecutive appearance at the Family Circle Cup after debuting in 2006 where she advanced to the quarterfinals.

Safina reached this year’s championship match by defeating Eleni Daniilidou, Lourdes Domingues Lino, No. 10 seed Tatiana Golovin, and No. 9 seed Vera Zvonareva without losing a set. The last time these two opponents met was in 2004 at Paris where Safina won in straight sets.

“You know, I mean she's a great player,” Safina said about meeting Jankovic in the final. “She is a solid player, so it's going to be a tough match. I think we both have to go there and fight and the stronger one is going to go through.”

With her semifinal victory, Safina moves to No. 10 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, equaling her career-best ranking she achieved in October, 2006. If she wins the title, she could reach a new career-high ranking of No. 8.

Safina is the younger sister of former US Open and Australian Open champion Marat Safin. She is a two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, a member of the winning Russian Fed Cup team in 2005, and a five-time Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titlist.

[Happiness]

frensje said:

Good luck for the final, Dina!!!!!!!!!!


And, Happiness, sweety ( for you!) .......
The last time Jankovich and Dina were in the final together......
JANKOVICH retired ;D...........

Awww ... Thanks sweetie!!!

I know that, but I doubt that this time Dina or Jelena will withdraw from the match!

Anyway I expect it's gonna be a wondeful final and hopefully Dina will win it and move to No. 8!!! ;D ;D

DAVAI DINA!!!