Day 8 - Interview with Dinara Safina

D. SAFINA/A. Rezai

6?1, 6?0

Aninterview with:

DINARASAFINA

THE MODERATOR: Questions inEnglish, please.

Q. You lost five games in four matches. What does it mean?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, it feels good getting intothe quarterfinals like this. Because Iremember Australia,and I don't know how many hours I spent there before I go to the quarters. I'm feeling very good right now.

Q. Obviously it's a big change from your progress in this tournament a yearago, but can we not say that actually becoming No. 1 has helped boost yourconfidence coming into this tournament?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know since I became No. 1. I think I'm playing better and better. I think it was a moment for me, like at thebeginning of the year when I was about to become No. 1 with Serena, we werechallenging.

It was too much pressure forme. It was always going on the courtnot to lose a match, and of course it's always difficult to play when you stepon the court and you're afraid of losing. Then you don't play even your game.

So I think once I go to No. 1 spot,I took it out of my shoulders. Like,okay, I'm there where I wanted to be. Now I just want to go out there and play.

Q. Have you played this well through four rounds of a Grand Slam?

DINARA SAFINA: Not in a Grand Slam.

THE MODERATOR: Question in French.

Q. It's only five games that you have lost. I suppose you're on a cloud, unbeatable this time. You're going to go to the end. You probably think this.

DINARA SAFINA: What?

Q. You probably think you're going to go to the end of the tournament. You're on your cloud.

DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course, you know, it's great, youknow, even ?? I'm just surprised that it's really like five games that Ilost before getting into the quarters. It's not a bad feeling, and I hope if I continue like this I can go along way.

Q. (In English) I've watched youplay the last week, the word that occurs to me is "efficient." It's like there's no wasted motion; there'sno distraction. Are you having fun? You look like you're going to work and sortof there's not a lot of emotion to it to it, but are you having fun?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course it's ?? really I'mtrying to really focus on what I have to do exactly, you know. I'm trying to be very, I mean, professional,how you say? You know, I take one pointat a time. I don't waste my energy.

You know, like I just want ?? herethe ball comes. I want to win everypoint. So I think this is something newin me, that before I would maybe just go out there and play and then waste myenergy.

I would still win a match, but like6?4, 6?4. Then of course by the end of,you know, the second week, you already spend like much more time. Now I have a match, I try to focus, and everypoint is important. No free points. No stupid mistakes. Just point by point I'm playing.

Q. Can you just talk a little bit about Ivanovic and Azarenka? Azarenka, sort of the up and comer, andIvanovic, you lost to her here last year. Maybe she's playing at a better level now.

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, I still have to play. It's going to be a good match. Both of them I lost last time, so I wouldlike to have a rematch from both of them. I would like just to go out and there and just same: play point by point, game by game, and showmy best tennis.

Q. You consistently talk about playing aggressive, that you need to playaggressive. Has that been the tactichere? Have you found you need to play alittle more patient at times?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I'm trying always to play aggressive,because there is no other way for me. IfI start ?? okay, sometimes I can defend, of course, because other one isstarting to play aggressive.

Overall, I'm trying to dominate,because there is no other chance for me. I'm not a roadrunner player, otherwise it's going to be long match.

Q. When you think back two or three years ago to yourself and maybe youweren't so mature, and now you're more mature, does it frustrate you that youweren't more mature sooner?

DINARA SAFINA: Sometimes I think about the past, but Iguess, you know, sooner or ?? you know, it's good that I went like thisslowly. By the age, 22, I'm 23 now, I'mhere. Maybe if I would be 17, 18 here, Iwould not know how to handle the other things. So I went through everything. Ilearn everything.

Now I think it's better thisway. At the end of the day, I still gotto where I wanted to be: No. 1. Doesn't matter fast or slow. I'm there.

Q. Did you like the old days maybe when nobody saw you as much and you walkaround more freely and you weren't No. 1? Was that a nice time, and is it different now?

DINARA SAFINA: No, it's different, of course. Now people recognize me. But that's what I wanted, you know.

I always wanted people recognize meand get the best out of what I'm doing. I did it, so why to get shame of myself? Why to hide myself?

Q. In which department of your game do you feel you still need to improveto make sure you'll win this tournament?

DINARA SAFINA: Honestly, I still feel I can do much better,but I don't know. It's going likethis. I think still if somebody wouldpush me more I still can get much more out of myself.

Overall, I think I can serve muchharder still. I don't know. I think I'm playing good enough ?? good,but I still feel like I can do better.

Q. (In French.) Have you met your brother recently? Did you discuss with your brother? And what did he say about your excellentwins? Have you discussed with Marat?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, actually, we trying not to speak aboutthe tennis. But last time I went fordinner when he was here, he told me, like, So who earned the most money last twoweeks please pay for dinner. (laughter.)

Q. Your brother is a big star in Russia, and obviously there's lotsof very talented and well?known Russian women players. Do you have any sense of what the reaction toyour ascension to No. 1 has been back in Russia, in your home country?

DINARA SAFINA: Since I have been No. 1 I haven't been in Moscow, so I have noidea.

Q. What do you hear from people?

DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. I didn't see. Like maybe when Icome back to MoscowI will go to my club and see some kids.

But I guess ?? I think from myclub they're happy. I hope they'rehappy. I don't know.

Q. But you don't hear anything?

DINARA SAFINA: No, I didn't hear.