Safina to take indefinite break from WTA

 

Originally published on: 13/05/11 09:49

Former world No.1 Dinara Safina will take an indefinite break from tennis in the hope of recovering from her chronic back pain.

The 25-year-old Russian, who reached the French Open final in 2008 and 2009, is certain to miss this year’s tournament in Paris.

“I don’t know how long the break will be,” said Safina, who is currently ranked at a lowly No.68. “I don’t want to torture myself and my body any longer. I want to take as much time to recover, so I don’t have any regrets at the end of my career.”

Persistent back trouble heavily disrupted Safina’s season and she has lost in the first round in each of the last three Grand Slams she has entered, starting with a three set defeat to 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm at last year’s French Open.

Safina won the last of her 12 career titles in Portoroz in July 2009, and though she reached the last four in Fes in April, the sister of two-time Grand Slam champion Marat opted to take an extended break after losing to Julia Goerges in their second round encounter in Madrid.

“Right now I don’t care when I might return – this summer during the American hardcourt series, towards the end of the season or next year,” she added. “I’ll take as much time as I need.”

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