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.