Safina pulls out of Sony Ericsson Championships 2009

Doha, Qatar
October 28, 2009 

World No. 1 Dinara Safina pulled out of the season ending Sony Ericsson Championships 2009 with a back injury. In her first round robin match against Jelena Jankovic, Safina retired at 1-1 in the first set. This means that Serena Williams will end the season as World No. 1. Safina said a disk in her lower back was starting to fracture and that she has been struggling with this injury for the past three months. She may miss the start of the next season and might not be fit for the Australian Open as doctors told her she will be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Quotes

Dinara Safina

"I went yesterday to have injections, cortisone," "But I just couldn't handle this pain."
"The beginning of next year is under question. I don't know if I will be able to play in Australia,"
"It's possible that I might even not be 100 per cent fit for the Australian. Maybe I'll have to skip it."
"I've been playing on the pain for about three months, on anti-inflammatory," "That's why I was advised to take a break after the US Open."
"I was fighting with my body. In Tokyo and Beijing (this month) my body was quiet and I was still hoping but then my body just gave up."

Serena Williams

On ending the season as World No. 1
"It's such a great feeling," "Dinara is such a great player. She must be really hurt, because she never gives up."

« back