Maria Kirilenko reached her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal through unique circumstances Sunday, as No.2 seed Dinara had to retire while down 5-4 in the first set with a low back injury.

An emotional Dinara spoke about the situation to the press after the match.

“I didn’t think this could happen. I did an MRI before I came here. I don’t know what happened. It’s shocking,” said Dinara, who struggled with her back in the second half of last season. “It’s exactly the same injury as in Doha. Exactly the same. I cannot move anywhere. Whenever I try to move, it hurts terribly.

“The plan for me is see the doctor as soon as possible to see what happened. I don’t know how I will pack my bags. I’ll ask my team to help, because I don’t know how to move. Maybe I’ll stay here one more day. I don’t know…”

Kirilenko, who eliminated Maria Sharapova earlier in the tournament, will next play Zheng Jie.

Dinara Dominant in Round 3

Dinara had her most convincing victory of the Australian Open so far on Friday, as she dispatched Elena Baltacha in 57 minutes, 61 62, to advance to the round of 16.

“I think it’s nice to win this quick,” Dinara said. “I remember last year playing three hours in the heat. I like this better than three hours.”

Dinara’s superior power was a key component in the rout.

“My game is trying to put pressure on an opponent, not for them to put pressure on me,” she said. “So I managed to dictate play from the first point of the match.”

Dinara said she was pleased with her performance overall.

“I think it was better than medium, so it was a 7 [out of 10],” she said.   

Through To Third Round

Dinara recorded a routine 63 64 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Dinara is now 2-1 all-time against the Czech, though this was their first match-up in almost five years.

“In some moments I played not bad,” she said. “It’s good that I won the match and still there is so much room to improve. That’s such a good thing; you know   deep inside you have so much more to bring out.”

Next up for Dinara is Britain’s Elena Baltacha.

“She’s a good player,” Dinara said. “She’s won two matches. She has nothing to lose. So basically I just want to go out there and do better than I did today.”

Solid Start In Melbourne

No.2 seed Dinara defeated Magdalena Rybarikova, 64 64, Monday in first round action at the Australian Open.

Dinara, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, is now 2-0 all-time against Rybarikova, having previously routed her in the second round of the 2008 French Open.

“I had some good moments and bad moments, but overall I’m happy I got through, and I’m pretty satisfied with everything,” Dinara said during her post-match press conference.

This is Dinara’s first Grand Slam since brother Marat retired from the ATP World Tour.

“It’s weird,” she said. “But on the other hand, it had to happen, so somehow I was prepared. I knew it wasn’t going to be forever. And I still get the same support, so it’s good.”

No.5 seed Elena Dementieva beat No.2 seed Dinara, 62 63, in the quarterfinals of the Medibank International Sydney on Wednesday night. It was Dementieva’s fourth straight victory over her fellow Russian, giving her a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. In fact, their most recent match-up had been a three-set victory for Dementieva here in last year’s final.

For the second straight day, Dinara dropped the first five games of the first set, but this time she wasn’t able to mount a comeback.

“I don’t think it was a bad match, especially the second set,” Dinara said. “It was very close. The score was 3-2 for her, and it could have been 4-1 for me.  Some things didn’t go my way.”

Dinara said despite the loss, she can take some positive things into next week’s Australian Open and just needs to get some more big-match experience.

“The season is just starting,” she said. “I’m pain-free and healthy. I just need to keep on going.
“I can say I beat a Top 10 player and I lost to another one of the top players. The game is there. I still have a few days to practice and improve my shots. That’s basically what you look for with good tennis.  So now I just need to work a little bit on the things that were missing. Hopefully, I can do better each match.”

Successful 2010 Debut in Sydney

Dinara made a successful 2010 singles debut on Tuesday, winning her first round match at the Medibank International Sydney after receiving a first round bye.

Dinara took on the most dangerous non-seed in the draw - world No.10 Agnieszka Radwanska, just a single spot out of the seedings - and as expected it wasn’t easy. Dinara lost the first five games of the match before rallying, even saving a set point down 5-4; she would eventually complete the first set comeback and go on to win in straight sets, 75 64. 

“Well, it was a little bit of a slow start, but it was a start. It was a winning start,” said Dinara, who is now 2-0 all-time against Radwanska. “It’s not easy to play against Agnieszka. She’s a Top 10 player and plays very smart. I was missing my timing until 5-0 but then I found my game. It ended up being a very solid match for me for my first match of the year.”

Dinara said she had no problem with her back, which casued her to withdraw from the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009.

“Thanks God it’s fine,” she said. “I had a sad end of the year last year, but I had a big rest. I took really good care of it, and thank God I can play tennis now.”

In the quarterfinals, Dinara will play Elena Dementieva, who she lost to here in last year’s final.

In the first round of doubles on Monday, Dinara and fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko fell to No.1 seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 62 63.

Hello from Monaco!

The rehab for my back is going pretty good. I’m almost fully recovered and have been starting to practice again, so it’s definitely going in the right direction. I’m feeling better and better every day, and I’m happy to be doing it in Monaco, which is like my second home, after Moscow of course. I love spending time here.

A typical day for me here is lots of time in the gym! In the morning I have to do special exercises for my lower back, then I go on the court a little bit and play tennis, then I take a nap! After that I cook some lunch for myself then go back on court again to play just a little bit more, then it’s back to the gym for more exercises on my back. As you can see I’m spending a lot of time on the lower back!

Despite the injury, 2009 was my best season so far. I’m really proud of it. I’m really happy with myself and with the job my team did - we got to No.1! I finished with my highest year-end ranking ever, No.2, won two big tournaments and one smaller one, made two Grand Slam finals… it was just amazing. It was all maybe too much for my body but I can’t blame anyone for that. I’m very happy with my year.

Looking to 2010, the most important thing is recovering from my injury and staying healthy. It’s my first priority. Right now I don’t even care how the results go, because once I’m healthy, the results will come. I want to be happy going on court and playing without pain. Hopefully I can play fully healthy in Australia and I’ll just go from there.

I’m excited about the holidays. In Russia we don’t do Christmas but we do New Year’s. I’m going back to Moscow from the 23rd to the 26th and then coming back here, so I’ll be here for New Year’s. I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be nice to spend time with family and friends.

I want to thank you all for supporting me. I always read your comments on my website and I’m trying to recover and get fit for 2010, so I can hopefully show you all some good tennis again! I’m thankful for all of the nice things you write in, don’t give up on me. I’ll do my best!

If anyone is in Monaco you are welcome to come and see me practice, I’m here until the 23rd then I’ll be back from the 26th to January 1. I’d be happy to see you!

Have a great holiday and talk to you all again soon,

Dinara

Dinara’s lingering back injury has forced her to pull out of her first scheduled event in 2010, the Brisbane International.

“I am very sorry for the organizers of the Brisbane tournament and my fans there,” Dinara said. “I was looking forward to a strong start of season in Australia, where I achieved such good results in 2009. Unfortunately, the back injury that prevented me from performing at the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha is still giving me trouble and more treatment is needed to allow me to compete again at the highest level, as I intend to. I hope to have the opportunity to come to Brisbane in 2011.”

As of now, Dinara is scheduled to make her 2010 debut at the Medibank International in Sydney the week of January 11. She was the runner-up there in 2009.

In the second match of the day at the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009 on Wednesday, Jelena Jankovic took on Dinara and recorded the win when the Russian retired with a low back injury at 1-1 in the first set.

Dinara then withdrew from the tournament, thus surrendering the year-end top ranking - to Serena Williams. Vera Zvonareva replaced Dinara in the White Group.

“I’ve had this pain in my back for about three months now. I was advised to take a break after the US Open but at Tokyo and Beijing, it didn’t bother me that much,” Dinara said. “Then my body just gave up. I did everything possible to play here. I just couldn’t handle the pain anymore.”

Dinara said she will not be able to play for at least six weeks and could miss the Australian Open.

Dinara regained her No.1 ranking from Serena Williams this week, but by a very slim margin, which makes the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009 all the more meaningful, as whoever has the better results in Doha will finish the year No.1.

No.1 seed Dinara, who played in her first Tour Championships last year, is in the round robin White Group, which in addition to her consists of No.4 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 seed Victoria Azarenka and No.8 seed Jelena Jankovic. Dinara is a combined 8-4 lifetime against those players.

“To win here, it’s something very big,” Dinara said at her pre-tournament press conference. “From the first match, you have to be top shape. It’s not like a Grand Slam where you don’t always have to play 100 percent until basically the third or fourth round. Here, if you’re not ready, you’re out.”

Dinara, who has her first match of the week on Wednesday, also said she’s happy about her accomplishments in 2009.

“I think it was my best year so far in my career,” she said. “I played a great season. I just want to enjoy my last tournament, go on vacation and enjoy myself.”

With the biggest on-paper upset in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history, Dinara may have relinquished the No.1 ranking on Monday, as the Russian lost to No.226-ranked wildcard Zhang Shuai, 75 76(5), in the second round of the China Open in Beijing.

Zhang, 20, is now the lowest-ranked player ever to beat a reigning No.1, bettering the No.188 ranking held by Julie Coin as the Frenchwoman outdid Ana Ivanovic at last year’s US Open. Dinara had her chances, leading by a break early on in both sets and even having a set point in the second set.

“I’m having some bad losses. So many matches that are very close, ones I should win, having set points or match points every time,” Safina said. “It’s very disappointing. I’d like to take a break now. I’m very upset with myself.”

With Serena Williams’ victory over Ekaterina Makarova on Tuesday, she will return to No.1 when the new rankings are released Monday. Dinara assumed the top spot from Williams on April 20.

Dinara withdrew from her second round doubles match alongside Svetlana Kuznetsova due to a back injury suffered in singles.

Through to Round 2 in Beijing

No.1 seed Dinara defeated Roberta Vinci, 64 64, on Sunday in the first round of the $4.5-million China Open in Beijing.

Dinara raised her career record against the 26-year-old Italian to 4-0. Next up for her is 20-year-old Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai.

Dinara is playing this event for only the second time in her career, having lost in the round of 16 in 2004.

In doubles, Dinara and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the second round on Saturday with a 60 60 rout of Jill Craybas and Alexa Glatch.

After receiving an opening round bye, world No.1 Dinara lost in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open to qualifier Chang Kai-Chen on Monday, 76(5) 46 75.

The top seed and defending champion at the Premier-level tournament, Dinara was not on her A-game by any means but was also kept on her back foot for most of the match by the gritty Chang. The No.132-ranked teenager pummelled her two-fisted groundstrokes deep and hard throughout the match, earning particular success by picking on Dinara’s forehand. The Russian led 5-3 in the third set but that side broke down at the finish line, including hitting one last error on match point. Chang collected her biggest-ever win, 76(5) 46 75.

Chang is playing in the fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour main draw of her young career, her first three coming all in the last month, reaching the second round of the US Open, falling first round at Guangzhou and reaching another second round at Seoul. This is her best result yet.

Petra Kvitova, ranked No.72 in the world, stunned top seed Dinara in a nail-biter, 64 26 76(5), on Saturday. Dinara held three match points but Kvitova saved them all and edged her for her second Top 10 win, her other coming over Venus Williams.

“It’s disappointing. Very disappointing. I came back in the second set, winning six games in a row, playing so well, so solid. And in the third set I came back again,” Dinara said. “She definitely played well. I still feel I let it go.”

Dinara had a negative assessment of her execution.

“I go on the court and I really want to do one thing,” she said. “And I step on the court and I do completely the opposite thing.

Dinara admitted the pressure got to her this week.

“I go to the court wanting to win so much, and I put so much tension on myself not to lose, and that’s why I’m not playing relaxed, instead of just going out there and just playing,” she said.  

Regardless, Dinara will remain No.1 in the world.

Dinara Rallies Again At US Open

Dinara struggled past German 27-year-old Kristina Barrois in 2 hours, 13 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Thursday to advance to the third round of the US Open.

In her 67(5) 62 63 victory, the top seed rallied from a break down in the third set for the second straight match. She also struggled with her serve again, recording 15 double faults.

“Actually today I think I was serving in some stages better than the first round,” Dinara said. “At least I made some aces. In the previous round I didn’t make any aces 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 anything. Just in my head, so I know just to change the chip here.”

Dinara said she was fine with not playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I like Armstrong more because it’s less wind than Arthur Ashe,” she said. “Doesn’t matter if there’s no wind outside; it’s always windy on Ashe. Of course the crowd is much bigger on Ashe, but sometimes I prefer Armstrong.”

Next up for Dinara is 19-year-old Czech Petra Kvitova on Saturday.

Dinara Survives Round 1 at US Open

Dinara rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 in the third set to edge 18-year-old Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday, 67(5) 62 64.

The top-seeded Russian, a semifinalist here last year, said she can take some positives from the struggle, in which she broke her opponent’s serve nine times.

“It cannot be worse,” Dinara said. “So for now on it can be only better.”

Dinara said she is still confident she will win her first Grand Slam singles title at some point.

“When it’s going to happen, I don’t know,” she said. “But I’m sure it will happen, because I’ve been very close to winning. I’ve been in three finals, so just one more step.  Sooner or later, I will have to make it.”

Next up for Dinara is 27-year-old German Kristina Barrois.

The draw for the US Open draw was released Thursday, and top seed Dinara will face 18-year-old Australian Olivia Rogowska in the first round. The winner of that will play the winner of the Urszula Radwanska-Kristina Barrois match.

No.5 seed Jelena Jankovic is a potential quarterfinal opponent for Dinara, and No.4 seed Elena Dementieva could loom in the semis. Both Williams sisters are in the opposite half of the draw.

Dinara, who in Grand Slams this year lost in the final at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and the semis at Wimbledon, will be seeking her fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title of the year. Her semifinal showing here last year is her career-best result at the US Open. The last two years she has lost to the eventual champion, Justine Henin in 2007 and Serena Williams in 2008.

“New York is a special place for me,” Dinara said. “Particularly because it is where my brother won his first Grand Slam title in 2000. It would be wonderful to follow on his footsteps and also win my first ever Grand Slam title here. At the same time, winning this year would be my farewell gift to him, as this will be his last US Open before retiring from professional tennis at the end of the year.”

The tournament gets underway Monday. Dinara will remain the No.1 player in the world regardless of her finish in New York.