Third-seeded Dinara dropped a tight match to Alexandra Dulgheru in 2 hours and 40 minutes in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Tuesday.

Dinara, the defending champ, rallied from a 4-0 first set deficit to knot the set at 4 before eventually coming up short. Then in the second set, she was twice two points from losing the match before rallying. However, Dulgheru was too strong in the third set and prevailed, 64 67(5) 61, to advance to the round of 16.

“Obviously this was very disappointing,” Dinara said. ”The third set was particularly difficult. After winning the second set, I was 5-0 down in a second. I don’t know if I was over-hitting or over-waiting. I don’t think I was moving my feet enough. I’m going to watch this match on video. I think the only good thing about this match was that my back didn’t create any problems.”

Dinara’s next event, her third one since returning to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour after a three-month layoff because of her back injury, will be next week at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, where she is also the defending champ.

Dinara’s first event back on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour since a back injury caused her to miss several months came to an end Friday against Shahar Peer in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

The Israeli beat the second-seeded Dinara, 63 62, the fourth straight time she has come out on top in the series, after Dinara had won their first three meetings. Peer defeated fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the previous round.

“It was a good start,” Dinara said. “I was 3-1 up with a chance to go 4-1 up. I didn’t win that game, she won some points, I went a little bit down… I haven’t played many matches, that’s probably the cause. This was my first time playing points again, so to win my first match here is already not a bad result.”

Dinara will be back in action next week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, where she is the No.3 seed and defending champion. 

Second Round Success in Stuttgart

Dinara first match back after a three month injury lay-off wasn’t clean, but like the fighter she has always been she made it through, beating Agnes Szavay at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Dinara, seeded No.2 with a first round bye, drew Szavay in the second round. Szavay had been a giant-killer in the past, beating eight Top 10 players in her young career - including two wins over world No.3s. Facing the No.3-ranked Dinara, she came out on fire, storming out to a 4-1 lead on the strength of two breaks; Dinara fought back and took the set in a tie-break, but Szavay retaliated.

“There was no reason to panic for me,” Dinara said about losing the second set. “She won 12 points in a row. I just needed to put two balls in the court.”

That’s when Dinara turned into the player who spent 26 weeks at No.1 last year, taking the third set at love. She won, 76(5) 36 60.

“It’s nice to win easily but it’s also good to have a tough match,” Safina said. “At least I’m back on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Some people would have fear after such a long time injured but I had no fear. I was moving okay.”

Things will likely not get any easier for Dinara, as up next is Shahar Peer, who has won their last three meetings. Peer is also in form this week, taking out another seed - No.5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska - in the previous round.

On her emotions during the lay-off: “I saw what I would be doing without tennis. I can’t sit at home or stay in one place; it’s just not me. You miss the adrenaline, the competition, the nerves before a match… every athlete misses this. I’m still full of energy and desire to play tennis. Hopefully, I can play many more years.”

On coming back this week: “This will be my first tournament after being out of competition for about three months, and it will be the first big test for my back. I’ve been practicing here and I’m feeling good physically, and it’s not bothering me at all. Let’s hope my back problems are done for good.”

On her expectations: “I don’t have any. I can’t come in here and say I’m going to win it. All of these tournaments in the next few weeks, it’s all a test. Doesn’t matter how I hit or where I hit the ball - just standing on the court, I’m happy.”

Seven Top 10 players have descended on Stuttgart this week for the only indoor clay court tournament on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Dinara is one of those seven, as she is making her much-anticipated return to the circuit after being out of action since the Australian Open.

Dinara, who spent more weeks at No.1 last year than anyone else on Tour (26 weeks), retired in the fourth round in Melbourne with a back injury and has been sidelined with the ailment ever since, pulling out of Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami - but now, at the first Premier-level clay court event of the year, she is back. As the No.2 seed and after a first round bye she will face off with Agnes Szavay or Andrea Petkovic.

Dinara’s best-ever result in Stuttgart happened last year, when she went all the way to the final before falling to fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

All this time I’ve been here in Croatia, it’s been very nice and the people are very friendly and they always want to help. I’m really enjoying it here.

During all this time I was doing a lot of biking. This was the only thing i could do to stay in shape! I was doing some shoulder and leg exercise too, so I wasn’t on the hotel bed all the time!

During this time time to entertain myself I was watching Desperate Housewifes!! I love them!!!! And I also red the book from Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol. It’s a really amazing book!!!!

And now I’m reading from Dostoevsky Crime and Prime. Also very, very interesting!!!

Well now at least I started slowly to practice, so I’m much happier being on court, and I hope that you’ll see me soon!!!

Also as I had more time I was learning how to cook!!! I really enjoy doing it, and from what I’ve cooked so far, nobody got sick, so that’s good news. However, if they liked it or not, you better ask them ;-))

In Australia I bought two books from Julia Child and I cooked mille feuille. My mother tried it and she liked it. I also did tiramisu. My parents LOVE my carrot cake. I love doing desserts, but it’s a pity I didn’t get to try  any of them yet, as I’m keeping to my diet, and I also promissed my team that from the 28th  of October until my birthday I won’t eat any sweets or chocolate. I did this because I was a little bit overweight by the end of the year, but it was the most stupid idea that I could ever come up with. Because many times I’m lying in my hotel bed and thinking about the HUGE chocolate cake I’ll eat for my birthday!! I don’t like chocolate so much, but i love chocolate muffin or cakes!!! So after my birthday, if you see me with a small belly, it means that i really enjoyed my birthday!!! Just joking!!!

Well that’s all for now. I miss all of you guys. Cross your fingers for me and you’ll see me soon.

Dinara

Hello everyone!!!! I’m missing all of you as much as you are missing me.

I’m still in Croatia doing my recovery with my physio Tomislav Vrbnjak. He is really one of the best I’ve ever had in my life and he is really taking the best care of me.

My injury from Australia was pretty bad and takes so long to heal. The problem is that I had it since Cincinnati last year, and since then had been playing all the time while on pain killers. My back was really bad there but I didn’t feel anything the rest of the season until my last match at the Australian Open.

After that match, I had an MRI and I had two stress fractures on L5S1 and a rupture on the muscle. That was the worst news I could ever hear from a doctor, but now finally I’m recovering, though not as fast as I would prefer. My physio is really taking care of me and I’m slowly starting to practice.

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.