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.