Injury mars Safina win

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:35

The tournament top seed looked in trouble with her knee in the second set, which she won 6-3.

The Russian had already claimed the opening set 7-5, but moaned she was finding it difficult to put weight on her left knee in the latter stages of the second set.

“I have been having problems for two months with my left knee and at the end of the second set it was too painful,” said Safina.

“It was a pain to put all the weight on it and I was struggling but hopefully with treatment it will get better. I will be able to compete because I have a physio here. I will take care of my knee and there is always painkillers.”

Safina had already had to fight hard to win the first set against a determined opponent. The Spaniard, who had never been beyond the opening round at SW19, stunned Safina by taking advantage of a double fault to break her serve and equal the scores at 3-3.

Dominguez Lino then held serve to take a 4-3 lead and Safina was in trouble again in the next game when the Spaniard fought back from 0-30 down. But a poorly hit service return into the net allowed the top seed to draw level again.

With the scores at a crucial 5-5, Dominguez Lino lost her nerve and the 11th game to give Safina the chance to win the opening set. The Russian seized her chance with alacrity, racing into a 40-0 lead and clinched the opening set 7-5 when she gave Dominguez Lino no chance with an angled forehand smash.

Safina began in style in the second set winning the opening two games. But the Russian was pegged back as Dominguez Lino won the third game of the set – forcing the top seed to hit wide and long on her service return.

Safina broke the Spaniard’s serve again though with a sublimely executed chip shot over the net. That gave the Russian a 4-1 lead and there was no way back for her Barcelona-based opponent, as Safina closed out the match to win 7-5 6-3.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here