Dinara Safina to play at Brisbane International 2010
Dinara Safina to play at Brisbane International 2010
Dinara Safina to play at Brisbane International 2010
Dinara Safina, who withdrew from the WTA Sony Ericsson Championship and lost the world number 1 to Serena Williams, confirmed she will be playing at the Brisbane International in January 2010.
“After playing on the Gold Coast from 2004 to 2008, I am pleased to return to Queensland to play in Brisbane,” Safina said.
“The Brisbane International will be the perfect tournament to get some tough match practice in the lead-up to the Australian Open. I am looking forward to the challenge and I cannot wait to get there,” she said.
Safina will need six weeks of rest before stepping back on the court due to a lower back injury.
“I did everything possible to play here,” Safina said after withdrawing from the Sony Ericsson Championships. “As I was chasing this No. 1 [ranking], I was fighting with my body.”
Safina said one of the discs in her lower back was “starting to fracture” and that she has been dealing with the pain for three months.
“When I speak with the doctors, it doesn’t sound so good,” Safina said. “It is possible I may have to skip it (the Australian Open).”
On Friday, Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles said he was happy to confirm Safina’s appearance despite her recent injury.
“She joins Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and Ana Ivanovic in a very strong and competitive women’s field,” Ayles said. “We have been in negotiations with Safina for some time and it is just a shame that when we are ready to announce her attendance she suffers an injury in Doha.
“Safina is a fighter and I know she is really looking forward to returning to Queensland,” he said. “I have no doubt she will be here in January.”
Source AP
