Blog From Monaco - 12/18/09
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
God bless you Dina! And advance Merry Christmas to you and to your family and to your team also and a blissful New Year!:)
Comment by eliene — December 19, 2009 @ 12:01 am
Динара,поздравляю тебя и твою замечательную семью с наступающим Новым Годом! Желаю в новом году удачи, побольше здровья и всего самого-самого наилучшего!
Comment by Big fan Alina — December 19, 2009 @ 10:52 am
Dear Dina!
It’s great to hear that you’re getting well and stronger.
First of all I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a lucky New Year!
And I still believe that you’re one of the most talented players at the tour,
so keep up the good work!!:)
Greetings from Hungary.
Comment by icequeen — December 19, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Happy holidays from Denver! Watching tennis wouldn’t be the same without you there as part of all the excitement. You are getting better and better, and is it so exciting watching you evolve as a player. I hope your back continues to heal.
I wish you only the very best for 2010! Happy holidays to you!
Jane
Comment by rabadi — December 19, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Dear Dinara,
I very hurry to see you in Sydney. I hope you are recovered 100%. You are always the best player in the world. I like very much to watch tennis when you are in the line up. I wish you very Merry christmas and happy new year 2010 and the grand performance at least as much as 2009.
GOOD LUCK ! I hope to see you in Montréal in 2010.
Bye Dinara.
Louise (Québec, Canada)
Comment by loui3903 — December 19, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Dear Dina!
Thanks for this blog!!You may don’t know we have already waited for your news from yourself for more than one month T-T!I’m so happy you’re recoverd.I hope you can play tennis with your cute smile in 2010.
Merry Christmas and Happy new year!Love you and never give up!
Comment by Tracy — December 20, 2009 @ 3:34 am
Wow…if only I could be there to watch you practice in Monaco…that would be so awesome! I’m glad you are feeling better…sounds like your rehab is going well and you will be strong and ready to face a new season soon…I’ve always heard that the best way to have a strong back is to have strong abs…so I’m sure you are strengthening your lower abs too! I live in California so I’m making it my goal to go to the Indian Wells tourney in March…maybe I can watch you play there…Until then keep getting strong! I’m happy to be your fan again in 2010! ~hugs, Lauren aka AlfaSunshine
Comment by AlfaSunshine — December 21, 2009 @ 1:56 am
Oh I forgot to say…Merry Christmas!
Comment by AlfaSunshine — December 21, 2009 @ 1:58 am
Wish u to be healthy!!And have the best 2010!!we all support u in Asia!!
Comment by chinwang — December 22, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Динарочка, очень рада что ты выздоравливаешь. Давай набирайся сил и уж очень хочется тебя увидеть на корте. Только вот очень жаль что нет сайта на русском языке, ведь у тебя много фанатов в России. С Новым годом и Рождеством!
Comment by Oksana — December 23, 2009 @ 5:53 am
Dear Dinara!
We are very glad that you go on the amendment.
We wish to congratulate you and your family on magic holidays: Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
We will be glad to see you on courts of Australia in health and in good mood.
We support you all heart!
Your Russian fan-club.
(vkontakte.ru/club3438865)
Comment by anna250492 — December 24, 2009 @ 4:34 am
динара с нетерпением ждем тебя в штутгарте!удачи и здоровья в 2010 году очень любим тебя сеьья майер
Comment by lena — December 24, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Hi Dina!
I really wish I could see you practice in Monaco! I’d love to meet you in person! I really look forward to the Australian Open when I can watch you on T.V, since it’s so cold here in the U.S.! I hope that your rehab will continue to go good and you can be back to play in the Aussie and beyond.
Hope you have a great New Year!
Comment by riley — December 24, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
динара удачи ждем тебя и любим
Comment by lena — December 25, 2009 @ 10:21 am
Hi Dina,
Happy New Year! (apologise in advance for poor english, it’s not my native language). 2009 was a great year for you and I hope that in 2010 you will perform even better. I have a some suggestions for improvement in your game. I think that you need to improve your service. A game like tennis can be played best when a player is physically and mentally very sound. For improvement in your concentration and strength you should try an Indian exercise called ‘Yoga’. Yoga will surely improve your concentration and game.
Comment by suhail — December 26, 2009 @ 5:47 am
Ich wünsche dir alles gute
Comment by lena — December 26, 2009 @ 10:11 am
que buenas noticias… sigue así, recuperandote y disfrutando de vacaciones… todos te esperamos con ansias ya que para mí y para millones de seguidores del tennis tú eres la mejor…. adelante mujer… con mucho ánimo para el 2010
Comment by monikitax — December 26, 2009 @ 11:23 am
I’m celebrating my birthday on new years day, but I’d like you to have my wish! I’d lost touch with tennis until I saw you playing at the French Open in ‘08, so I owe you one
I’d certainly share my birthday chocolate coconut brownie with you if I could, as well. You’re a remarkable person, deserving of all that you have achieved and more 
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou from Hawai’i
Comment by anaquot — December 27, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
hi dinara,
hope you do really well in Aus looking forward to watching you, and don’t worry, we won’t give up on you! I would love to came to Monaco to watch you train unfortunately I live in Australia
love and prayers bethany
Comment by prayer — December 29, 2009 @ 6:09 am
Hi,
Dying to see you rocking the Court.. I am really happy that you are feeling better.. God be on your side..
Best Regards,
Nandan (India)
Comment by natrix_1 — December 29, 2009 @ 8:29 am
Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2010. Hope you win GS this year.
We all support you.
Comment by your thai fan — December 30, 2009 @ 5:10 am
Happy New Year!
Comment by Babouchka — January 1, 2010 @ 1:13 pm
Hye Dina!Great to hear that you are recovering from your lower back pain.
I am glad to hear you will compete this new year 2010, Wish You A Happy New Year and May your wish come true. We will always support you because we knew that you will never give up, no matter what you are the great athlete in all of your fans hearts=) Love you and please take care of your health=)
Comment by norhidayah — January 1, 2010 @ 9:29 pm
Mucho exito Dinara! Espero te hayas recuperado de tu lesion en el hombro, te deseo lo mejor y sigue entregandote al 100% como siempre. Tus fans estamos muy orgullosos de lo que has logrado y lo que estamos seguros lograras!!!
Comment by tmurillo44 — January 3, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Hi Dinara Im so glad your back is doing better. I mis you on the tennis courts Wishing you a Happy nnew Year nand best wishes in the upcomiong tournamentsw. You are my favcriten player. I like yiour style:)
Comment by grandmadiane — January 4, 2010 @ 5:58 pm
It´s so nice of you to invite fans to see you pratice in Monaco, Dinara!
I hope you have just happy moments in 2010!
Best wishes,
Sara
Comment by sarah13 — January 6, 2010 @ 11:20 pm
Hi Dinara:
Good luck to you in 2010.
I believe you will have a great season! Hope to see you on court soon!
Best Wishes
Comment by jody — January 9, 2010 @ 8:18 am
Dinara
Good luck in Sydney, cant wait to see you playing again hope that backs better now.
Regards
Ollie
Comment by JollyOllie — January 9, 2010 @ 7:15 pm
Hi Dinara I want to say hello AND LET you know my family and i are pulling for you thisyear. Im sorry you didnt win in Sydney but you will win soon. Hope yiu stay well and healthy Blessings to you
Comment by grandmadiane — January 14, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
Welcome Back Dina, and im so glad to see you playing again ( and won) . i will be praying and rooting for you… Goodluck and may 2010 be a better year than 2009 and worse than 2011…
Comment by tintin tapiz — January 19, 2010 @ 9:10 am
I like you so much. As usual, I have not much to say except: beat everybody. Have a great year.
Comment by tosin — January 21, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Good results so far in Aussie Open. Best wishes for more and more!
Comment by soozka — January 22, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Sorry to know that your back injuries back again. Please take care of your back and take your time to recover your health. Love to see you on court.
Comment by your thai fan — January 24, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
hi dinara safina, i like you a lot, would have loved to see you finish at the top of the rankings last year, nonetheless am very happy for you…take care.
Comment by murali03 — February 10, 2010 @ 4:26 am
hi Safina, i became a very big fan of your brother Marat Safin after seeing him play 2005 australian open finals against Federer. When I saw you play the way you played last year i became a fan of yours. Wish you all the best for your grandslam success which awaits you this year. Also(sorry if am rude) i really wish you had the serve of your brother.
Comment by murali03 — February 11, 2010 @ 6:18 am
Hi Dinara Im sdo sorry your back is still not better. I miss you on the courts. But its very important for you to rest and be completely recovered. Warmest wishes to you from a devoted fan:)
Comment by grandmadiane — March 11, 2010 @ 12:13 am
Hello Dinara, Hope your back get recovered. Take your time. We are waiting to see your come back.
Cheers. \(^_^)/
Comment by your thai fan — April 15, 2010 @ 11:19 pm