Safina returns for Sydney showdown
Dinara Safina
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Dinara Safina will return to the WTA Tour for the Sydney International after recovering from the persistent back injury that threatened to rule her out of the Australian Open.
The world no.2 has not featured on tour since October after being forced to retire with a recurrence of a lower back problem during her first round-robin match of the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha.
And despite withdrawing from the Brisbane International – one of several warm up events for Melbourne – Safina says she is now free from pain and ready to take on the world’s best at the Sydney event.
“I’m glad that everything is past and now I can play on the court and enjoy.” – Safina
“I’m ready to play and I’ll try to do my best. If I play my best, let’s see what can happen,” said the 23-year-old.
“I’m glad that everything is past and now I can play on the court and enjoy it.”
Defeated by Elena Dementieva in last year’s final, Safina returns to Sydney alongside a star-studded field. Venus Williams is the only absentee from the top 10 in a tournament certain to provide an early indication of form ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2010.
But while most of the world’s top women will be keen to perform well in Sydney as a signal of intent for Melbourne, Safina – runner-up to Serena Williams last year – is unconcerned with setting targets so soon after injury. Instead she plans to relish her time back on court, confident that results will soon follow suit.
“After my injury I would say I want to be healthy – this is the most important thing and the rest will come,” said the Russian.
“But if you’re not healthy you cannot play so I think health is the most important thing right now.
“I’m just happy to be back on court.”
