News & Photos / Interviews / Interview with Dinara Safina

D. SAFINA/D. Cibulkova

6‑3, 6‑3

An interview with:

DINARASAFINA

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Must be a great feeling to be back in the final, but you didn't lookvery happy with your game today?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, yeah. I think I didn't play aggressive, I mean, when I had to from thebeginning of the match. Once I was downI started to play better, but I think still I have to be much more dominant on thecourt.

Q. Just a matter of rhythm in your strokes?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, just overall I think I had to be ‑‑I had so many chances in the beginning. But then once I was down a set or two, use my chances, and again Istopped using my chances.

I think after winningthe first set I think to level up myself, but it was good enough to win in twosets.

Q. The fact that you can win in two sets when you're not playing your best,is that down to the confidence you feel now from being No. 1 and winning somany matches in the clay court season?

DINARA SAFINA: Obviously it gives you much more confidencewhen you know that you still can do much better, even without playing yourbest.

It so just shows thatif I level up myself it can be much better.

Q. You were in the final last year. Can you compare the two situation, last year and today?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, last year it was everything mucheasier, you know. Like I step on thecourt and I have nothing to lose, like same way she was. She has nothing to lose. She steps in, she hits the ball, she swingsaround, she slides on the court.

Me, I know that I havea chance and I want to win it, so it's a little bit more pressure for me. But still, you know, being under pressure,and for sure people expect me only to win, and I still win in two sets. I'm really happy with myself.

Q. There have been big discussions about the grunting, the screaming of thegirls on the court. You're making somenoise as well during your rallies. Doyou think it should be banned, that it should be stopped?

DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. I mean, when it gets long rally, I mean, at the end, you're obviouslytrying to give your best. So it just helpsyou to swing the shots, you know. Imean, I do it naturally. I don't knowhow loud I scream. I don't realize it.

Q. Is it part of your game?

DINARA SAFINA: It is part of me, you know. I don't pay attention. I know some of the girls, they scream. I mean, I'm trying to focus on myself, notabout how loud the other one screams.

Q. You were talking to French TV and telling them that you felt verynervous at the start of the match. Ifyou were to face Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final on Saturday, do you think itwould be easier to handle that pressure because she's a player that you knowpretty well?

DINARA SAFINA: I mean, I know her, and I know SamStosur. I know both of them. I played Sveta two times this year, and Iplayed Sam Stosur this year once. Weknow each other very good, so I don't care who to play. I just want to go out there and give my best.

Q. And the fact that this will be your third Grand Slam final, will thatmake it easier to cope with the occasion?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's, how you say, third is thevictory? I hope this time I will do it.

Q. Could you tell something about Fed Cup and Serbia, please?

DINARA SAFINA: Oh. Imean, we still in this year and we're in May, June. You're talking me about next year...

Q. February.

DINARA SAFINA: February.

Q. But the draw was yesterday, so...

DINARA SAFINA: I don't know. It's too far to think about it.

Q. Soon after you became No. 1, the player you replaced said that she wasthe real No. 1. But yesterday she saidthat you authenticated your position as No. 1. I'm just wondering if you feel already that you've done that by yourperformance here in the last few tournaments, or if you need to win one morematch to really feel that deep down inside?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think since I became No. 1 I'mplaying finals and winning the titles, so how much more proof I need to givethe people that I think I deserve that spot?

Q. What about to yourself?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, of course it gonna be great if I have aGrand Slam. But the way I'm playing, Ithink it shows enough that I think I deserve this spot.

Q. A couple of days ago when Justine Henin held a press conference, shesaid that WTA needs like a boss, leader. You could be biggest candidate to be like a leader or like a boss ofWTA. What do you feel about it?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, at the moment since I became No. 1, Ithink I'm playing the finals, so I'm kind of trying to show.

Q. You have a strange voice.

DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, since two days that I am sick, so...

Q. Really?

DINARA SAFINA: I guess you can see.

Q. Last year on the day before the final and the morning of the final, it was going to be your first one. Can you remember what you were like then,what it was like?

DINARA SAFINA: I don't remember. It was simple, that I will do like simpleroutine. I did last year, and I will dothe same this year: wake up, breakfast,come here, warmup, have lunch, and get ready for the match.

Q. Do you think you handled it well enough last year?

DINARA SAFINA: I wouldn't say that I was too nervous lastyear. I was just, I think as I said,like tired overall, because I had such a tough draw and so many matches I hadto pull out.

So this year I spendmuch less time on the court, so I'm much fresher.

Q. Can you just talk about your two potential opponents, those matchups,and also, if it is Svetlana, what an all‑Russian final would mean to you?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think it's going to be just great,you know. Again, it's going to be greatfor the young kids who was watching us. I think it was 2004 when it was all‑Russian finals, so just ‑‑ it'sgoing to be great.

I want to go out thereand play my game.

Q. If you play Sveta or Sam, what do you need to do well against those twodifferent opponents?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, they both go in similar. They both like to play forehands and like torun around. Well, I just need to go outthere and hit the ball and use my weapons.

Q. Sveta was quite philosophical yesterday about why Russian girls aredoing well. She said it all started inthe war because our grand, grandparents had to fight. They teach us to survive. She said this yesterday. Do you agree?

DINARA SAFINA: Okay. I agree with her.