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.