From Idolizing Her Brother Marat Safin to Beating Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, Tennis Legend Dinara Safina Gets Candid in an Exclusive Interview

The former Russian tennis star Dinara Safina has secured multiple accolades in her career after turning pro in 2000. Although she did not win any Grand Slam titles, she did reach the final of the grandest stage three times. After playing for almost 14 years on the WTA circuit, she finally decided to hang up her rackets in 2014 and end her illustrious career.

Even though Safina turned pro in 2000, she did not reach the top straightway. In 2001, she played her first qualifying round at the Madrid Open. The following year, Safina improved consistently as she reached the top 100 in the WTA rankings (68) for the first time while also winning her first WTA title as a 16-year-old in Sopot, Poland!

Read More: ‘We Are Even More Consistent That the Guys’- Iga Swiatek Takes Down the Male Tour After Massive Prize Money Insult

Her real breakthrough came in 2008, when she played her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. Unfortunately, she lost to the Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic in the final. In the same year, she reached another final in the Beijing Olympics, where she won a silver medal for her country. She continued her dominance in 2009, as she reached the finals of the French Open and the Australian Open. While she lost the Suzanne-Lenglen cup to Svetlana Kuznetsova, the legendary Serena Williams overpowered her in Melbourne.

2009 was certainly a successful year for Safina, as she achieved the no.1 ranking for the first time in her career. Apart from playing in the Grand Slam finals, she also won 12 WTA singles titles and 9 doubles titles in her career. Safina last played in 2011, as her back injury played an unfortunate part in ending her career.

Her brother, Marat Safin, who is a 2-time Grand Slam champion, opened up about Safina’s back injury. Although, he said at the time that his sister has most likely retired, Safina did try to make a comeback a few times. Unfortunately, her back injury prevented her from competing on the Tour and she announced her official retirement in 2014.

Recently, Dinara Safina sat down with Mahalakshmi Murali of EssentiallySports, where she talked about facing Serena Williams while also reminiscing about the most memorable matches of her career, Federer’s retirement and the changes that we are now seeing in the sport. She also talked about her life after retirement and whether she would like to return to coaching.

Hello, everyone! Today, we have former world no. 1 Olympic silver medalist Dinara Safina. She made it thrice to the finals of Grand Slams: one in Australia and two at Roland-Garros. She has amassed 12 WTA titles and she is popularly known as the younger sister of Marat Safin, who was a two-time Grand Slam champion. So, Dinara, welcome to our show!

Thank you. Really happy to see everyone.

And we, here at ES, we are a digital media house. We cover about 11 to 12 sports, and tennis is one of our thriving divisions. And last year, in 2022, there were more than 120 million page views for tennis.

Wow! That’s amazing! Congrats.

So, since your retirement, you have been coaching many junior players. And you have been involved as the liaison of WTA and ATP and several tournaments. And how does your retirement life look like?

Well, honestly, I worked with one player and which was one-in-one—and about working with juniors it’s not quite like this. I was more helping them like just, you know, giving some advice. But I didn’t have any of the player or any Junior that I would work, you know, like, constantly. And they just like several advice and all this. And yeah, I’ve been working, I think, three years or four. I worked in Madrid during the tournament. And then I worked for two years at St. Petersburg in Russia for the ATP and the WTA because they had a woman tournament in February, and then they had, I think, after the US Open straight after US Open; so I stopped after when the COVID started. So, I stopped working. And yeah. Now another situation which doesn’t exist at the moment, this tournament, they don’t play. And well, life is I would say more quiet, less traveling. And, I guess, more time that you spend with your friends and family.

Speaking about your family, how’s Marat Safin been doing?

Marat is doing good. He’s always doing good. Thank you for asking.

Do you guys still play tennis together?

Um, actually, I think last time we played together, it was one he had to participate in the, I think, it was Legends. They play in the Royal Albert Hall. And then, he had to practice, and I think, we played like couple of times, but not much actually.

Who beats whom and what do the scorelines look like?

Don’t even ask. There is no chance. No chance even to win one game (laughs).

It’s still the same?

It’s still the same; maybe even better because he’s more calm now. And he sees different way to tennis. I guess, physically, he’s not as fit as he used to be. But he’s much more wise now.

So your family is one of the rarest families in tennis. Like both, both of you, the siblings, your brother and sister you managed to attain the pinnacle of tennis? And how does it look like when you look back at your glory days?

I will tell you the truth. When you’re doing something like you when you play tennis, you play in tournament. I mean, everyone has their own schedule and own calendar. And you don’t really think about it during your career. While and afterward well, I think, it’s something that is really unbelievable what we achieved and I don’t know if it will be possible that some other family will achieve the same but it’s, I mean, I wish every brother and sister, you know, to achieve this goal because it’s something unbelievable and especially for their parents, it’s something that they can be, you know, like how you say this? Not the honor for them, they can be proud, I would say they can be really proud that they have really like, unique kids (laughs). 

I think, besides you and Marat, Venus (Williams), and Serena (Williams), do you know anyone else who has managed to attain this feat?

No, I mean, what Venus and Serena achieved, I think it’s something more than just an achievement. It’s something that is, it’s unbelievable. I mean, how many Grand Slams have Serena and Venus, and they both won together? This, I doubt that someone can achieve, because it’s, they put very, very high, you know, like perspectives. But, you know, like, brother and sister, you know. I mean, me, unfortunately, I don’t have a Grand Slam title but I played a couple of finals and my brother has two. So this, I think it’s more possible to get to achieve.

And your family is really established when it comes to tennis. Like you’ve come from a tennis family, your parents were well-read and educated in tennis, and your brother need not to mention like World Number One, Grand Slam champion. And while growing up, you mentioned it wasn’t easy growing up in a sporting family as since there was constant pressure on you. And even before you understood the world outside and the sporting world, there was intense pressure on you. So, how did you handle all this as a kid?

Well, I think it’s one other thing that besides that Marat is an unbelievable player, he also had lots of attention from the woman’s side, from the crowd that because I mean, the people that really love to see him play. I mean, I think the way he was playing, when he was playing at his best, even not in his best, it was always fun to see him, to watch him, to see his emotions on the court. I think he was pretty alive when he was playing. If you can understand correct what I mean by saying alive, like, he would never hide his emotions and, and it was entertaining to watch him. And from my side, it was honestly from one part, it was not easy.

But you know, it’s not easy, maybe for the first and second year, but then if you just accept it, and you say, ‘Okay, I will be always his sister and no matter what’, but you know, you deep inside you say like, but I have my weight. And you just don’t pay attention on it, you know, like, it’s something that will be always with you that you’re in is his sister. So I cannot erase it, you know, in your life. So at the moment when I said, Okay, doesn’t matter what I will achieve or what I will win or lose, I will always be his sister. Okay. And then it started to be easier. But before it was something from one side, it was my motivation, because I wanted to see, you know, like to be, I was like, I want to be better than you better than you.

But then I realized because he’s very I think very popular as a person. It’s not, it’s not someone you know, he’s good. But you know, the people that don’t really pay attention in him he was just like some good player. But Marat, besides being a great player, he was always very interesting to the people. So if you start to compete with this, and you know, to fight and try to get attention, first of all, you will start to lose more and more concentration, and you will start to focus on other things besides playing tennis. But at that moment, I just accepted it that his sister, and well, I have my own life and I have my own career. And I started to focus more on what I’m doing.

So I think the healthy competition at home made you a better player every day when you’re trained?

Um, no, I mean, it was not like competition, we have six years difference. When he was growing up, and at the moment when he started to play in the tournaments, I was still young, I would watch him play and said ‘I want to be there also I would I would love to compete in this tournament.’ So it was not a competition it was I think more motivation than competition, which is much different and much positive.

So you have had a fantastic career yourself. You have won multiple titles, medals. And so what is the one memory that stands out in your career in your head? Like when you look back, like okay, this was my moment. So, which was that one win, one victory that is close to your heart?

I think it was, I would say that tournament in Berlin which completely turned around my career. I was like, top 20 player I was okay. I think at first it was I think the tournament in Miami at the same year in 2008 when I beat Lindsay Davenport, I think I played one of the best matches ever. And then I was like, ‘Whoa, like, I can play this tennis.’ And then it was the tournament in Berlin. You know, when everything connected, you know, my will of winning, and then my game really clicked and, and believing myself and everything. And since then, I think I just started to play and play better and, not only play but I started to believe more in myself and started to believe that I can be let’s say higher than just 20. And yeah, and just focused on day by day on each match.

I remember you mentioned like your career before Berlin Tournament and your career after Berlin Tournament. Both of them, they’re like black and white. 

Well, I wouldn’t say that black. I still had some good moments; before 2008 I would say it’s more like gray because I still won a tournament, Gaz de France in Paris, I beat Amélie Mauresmo in the final. Being very young, I won the Fed Cup tournament, you know, at that moment it was Fed Cup; now, It’s Billie Jean King Cup, I think. Yeah. So I still had the, you know, like some good wins, but I didn’t have them constantly. I think in 2006, in one of the tournaments I played Final in Rome. And yeah, so I had some wins. You know, I would say better grey than black. I don’t like black (laughs). 

Berlin tournament was the only tournament where you beat Serena Williams, as well. If you remember.

Well, yeah. The only lucky time, I would say

Also, the year 2008 was definitely your year. Like I would say you made it to the finals of Roland Garros and also a silver medal in China.

Yeah, I think it was really nice year, it was unbelievable run. And, you know, like, sometimes how life can be like, 2008, the beginning of the year was so I would say poorly, like, I couldn’t win one of the matches, and, you know, and then suddenly, from just doing, you know, practicing and trying to do your best, you know, that one moment one tournament can change completely your career.

And sometimes I see some players when they struggle, and it’s, you know, like, you always want to say like, listen, like don’t worry, like, it’s just you need one good win one good tournament, and really, your career can turn around. And this is I think the thing that each player has to keep in their mind you know, if they do the right thing if they practice hard, and if they really dedicated to tennis, you know, it’s it there is always turn around. They generally like in life, even if it’s something not going in your way, but you know that you’re honest to yourself, there will be all this chance that you can change your life. That same in sports.

So at Roland Garros, if I’m not wrong, you played against your Russian compatriots?

Yeah, I think three of them.

Can you name them?

Yeah, I know. It’s Maria (Sharapova). Then (Elena) Dementieva and then (Svetlana) Kuznetsova. 

So, against Sharapova, you saved match points. Then against Dementieva, you saved match points and you saved match points against Kuznetsova as well. And then finally, it was Ana Ivanovic in the final. Ana was in conversation with us lately. She really praised about the level of tennis you played throughout the tournament and also during the final match. And she was telling like it was really difficult for her to overcome your power during that French Open Final. Do you still cherish that memory from that final I’m sure it wasn’t your best day? But still like, do you still cherish that memory? And are you in touch with Ivanovic right now?

Um, no, I’m not in touch with her, but I do follow her on Instagram. And you know, like, unfortunately, I quit tennis earlier than her. During our career in tennis, we were, you know, like talking a little bit with each other, but we were never very close. And when we stopped, like, we never got in touch until now. You never know, maybe, you know, like, this year, maybe we see somewhere each other. But yeah, for that final, I think honestly, like, I don’t have regret for the tournament, anything.

And I think Ana played some really… she was maybe a little bit more fresh physically and emotionally because I had the let’s say like you said, like, tough match against Maria and against Elena. Then against Svetlana, I played really well, and against Ana, besides that she was playing really unbelievable, honestly, like, I give all the credit to her that she really, really played well. And, and from my side, if I will be, you know, like, a little bit more fresh physically, mentally, emotionally, maybe. But you know, it’s, I could be more fresh and doesn’t change anything. You know, it was my run. And it was like this. And just that in the final Ana was much more, much better than me. That’s it.

So if given a chance, would you like to go back in time and change something from that match? Or something like, I should have got more rest, I shouldn’t have played more taxing matches maybe?

No, I mean, to do different what, I beat Maria and I beat Elena, not to play with them 3 sets. Well, when I was stepping on the court, I definitely didn’t want to, you know, play 3 sets and save much points. But sometimes this is what it takes to win the match, you know; until you don’t shake the hands, the match is not over. So to win those matches, I had to go through this. And no, I think I’ve done everything, what I could, and it was only good enough until the final.

And speaking about your rivalry with Serena Williams, both of you have played numerous competitive matches against each other. And she recently retired like last year in September. Do you feel it’s an end of an era in women’s game? Like she played almost for three decades? And three decades is what like six to seven generations of tennis almost? Do you think like it is an end of an era in women’s tennis?

I mean, I think it’s like everywhere, you know, like sometimes you think oh, this is the end of the era, you know, when you have some, maybe years when there is not really someone that you would say like oh, this is the next generation then someone comes up and plays even better. You know, it’s always like this. You remember when Pete Sampras was there, everybody was saying oh no chance that somebody can get to win more Grand Slam than he did and then you see Roger (Federer) then it’s like, okay, Roger, there is no chance, then Rafa (Nadal), then Novak Djokovic.

I think it’s always there, like when you look at something from the present position, you say, oh, there is no chance that somebody will be better. But then after 10 years, 15 years, you see like, oh, there is another one which is much better and much more interesting to watch. You know, if you take like players who were playing, you know, before, you would say oh, there is no chance, but tennis is improving. There is techniques, tactics, and everything is changing. And it’s changing much faster than it used to be before with all the technologies and everything. And I think like now we are just at the moment of transformation. You know, and it will come a couple of players. I’m not sure even maybe from this generation, which is competing now, but maybe in two years comes up like really three-four players, which are going to be with a completely different, you know, style mentality and the view of the game. I don’t know, it could be.

Since you mentioned about Roger Federer. He announced his retirement last year in September. Once upon a time, he was a fierce foe of your brother Marat. Also, they were really good friends of the court. So how did you feel when he retired from tennis?

Well, um, it’s sad, of course, you have to admit. You understand it, sooner or later it will come, you know, but to tell you like it’s sad that, you’ve been living with this person during the gland Grand Slam for so many years. And you’re like, how is it possible that he’s not in the draw anymore? But from the other side, you know, like, it will happen to anyone, sooner or later, you know. But just that he was beside that he’d been an amazing player, amazing person, competitor, athlete. And also, you know, he was just too perfect (laughs). That’s why the people are like, we’re gonna miss you because you’re too perfect, Roger, we need one more like this.

According to you, who is the GOAT in men’s tennis?

In men’s tennis, well, from now, I cannot say because all the players that are playing now, like already big names. I mean, if I would say, okay, (Carlos) Alcaraz. Yeah, but Alcaraz has already been number one. Jannik Sinner, he’s already top 10 player. So, you know, you have to look at the junior so maybe somebody who’s 15 years old. I didn’t watch any Grand Slam juniors, you know, to see that this one has a good potential. And the problem in juniors like you can see the player and you can say, well, he has amazing potential, and he can be a really tough one, and then suddenly happens, you know, and they say I don’t want to come play anymore when you know this transformation comes from junior to the ATP. And when they start to lose matches, you know, then they give up. So you know, it’s really tough one but I’m sure there are lot of players like who’s, I mean, let’s say, Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, (Alexander) Zverev, (Daniil) Medvedev, (Andrey) Rublev, (Karen) Khachanov all these players, their motivation for one big generation. This is my opinion, I can be wrong. I don’t know. But this is what I’m thinking well talking with you.

You mentioned like tennis is changing, tennis is evolving, tennis is improving day by day. And what are you know, the subtle differences that you find in tennis nowadays and which wasn’t there when while you were playing? And like about the current competition and all what’s your opinion on that?

Well, at least in America, there was no umpires, line umpires, there was already Hawkeye everywhere. It’s a big change (laughs). Yes, so now you cannot you know, sometimes you could have like a bad line call. Now there is no bad line calls because you know, everything is correct. I only see, I mean, in the women I would say it’s a little bit tough for me to see like big difference, but in men’s tennis what I see, I think Alcaraz.

Honestly, I don’t remember how Rafa was when he was 20. But the way Carlos is moving, the way he’s playing, the way his motivation on court, and his behavior. It’s really like very impressive, I would say from women’s tennis, I don’t see right now. I mean, I don’t want to take Iga Swiatek. I think she’s one of the I mean, she’s the best player on tour. But changing, I think they’re not afraid so much. They don’t have so much respect. Okay, now they don’t have anymore, let’s say before, it was big, different.

Sometimes it would be let’s say, you’d be 16 years old and somebody’s 29. So it’s a big, now they’re more or less all the same age, so they don’t have so much, you know, respect to the other one in a good way respect. Like they’re not afraid. They have respect and they got but they don’t have like that. You know that they’re not afraid. Oh my god, like this is the personnel. They’re like, they’re all friends. They’re all very close. So for them, this distance is very much shorter. So I think this really changed. They’re all friends. And that’s why their matches are much more entertaining and fun, because it’s not like oh, she lost.

I mean, sometimes it happens like 6-0,6-0. But with the big players, those were the three sets because they’re not so afraid. And they really play unbelievable matches, like you would see (Elena) Rybakina playing against (Aryna) Sabalenka, unbelievable match. First in the final in Australia, then they play the final in Indian Wells. Yeah. And then you would watch Rybakina in the final at Miami, you know, they all play unbelievable matches. And really interesting to watch them play, how they compete with each other.

That’s interesting to know. Also, like just before COVID, during Australian Open finals, 2020. We saw you in the box of Sofia Kenin. So, are you considering coaching as a career, coaching tennis professionals?

Well, I mean, to say like, to coach full time, it would be very difficult, you know, like, because you really have to dedicate, and then you have to, you know, to travel full time. I mean, then you don’t have time for family. I mean, you start, let’s say, preparation, middle of November, and you finish until beginning of November. So you will never see I mean family. It’s okay, if someone is living and practicing in Monaco. But if someone says, okay, you know, I’m from, I live in America, and I practice there, you know, this is my base. And I would like that you come there, and then you will say, like, okay, then I have to move everything. And so, but what I really would love to do is to be maybe like to do few weeks, I mean, some weeks, which would be interesting for me. Maybe it could be also interesting for the players?

Because I mean, sometimes to do a full schedule for them, with the same coach. Maybe also not really necessary. Or maybe because they would need someone you know, like to have advice from the side. So I think this would be could be interesting. Yeah. I don’t like to say mentor, no. I think I would be like, or, you know, like additional coach, which is maybe not, but like a head coach that I could share, you know, my experience. And maybe I can help them to grow their game. Yeah like, part-time, definitely. It’s something that I’m interested in. 

Whom would you like to coach? Be it like ATP or WTA? 

I mean, I definitely it would be like WTA.

Which team you would like to join?

I don’t know. Right now, I was not really thinking any of the team, you know. Because I haven’t been in a tournament lately. You know, like, I mean, I would watch some matches on TV. But I wouldn’t be, let’s say, to go in watching Grand Slam and say, ‘Okay, this player is interesting.’ We know he has, you know, like you can you can really help. I don’t want to say like top players because I don’t want to, they have already unbelievable team. And say how can I improve if they’re already there.

Who’s your WTA favorite from the present generation? Your favorite tennis player.

I love to watch Rybakina and Sabalenka. 

Okay, and both of them have been doing really well, this year.

I mean, I’m really happy for them. And I especially know for both of them, I’m really happy. Because I remember how last year, Aryna was struggling. You know, she had a very tough year, and how she stayed with her team. This really means a lot for her as a person. So I understand that she really and she was very honest to herself. And what they achieved during the Australian Open and the way she’s playing now. It’s really it’s really nice. And I’m really happy for them and also for Rybakina.

I remember I remember her since juniors and she was always a very quiet person. She’s like, just perfect, you know, and as a person, she’s very nice. And I remember her coach in 2017 he was working with another player. And when I saw him once in St. Petersburg tournament, and what he’s achieving now with Rybakina. It’s really unbelievable. And it’s really nice how you can see more and more new coaches, also in coaches their generation is changing because before it was more old coaches and their view. I don’t say they’re right or wrong, but it’s always nice to see always somebody new, some new faces.

Rybakina is still the same like you saw her in juniors? She’s still the same?

She’s unbelievable. She’s just so sweet.

Speaking about Sabalenka, I think this year, she really worked on her serve.

I mean, serves are all mentally you know, it’s not about the movement, it’s all in your head. Unfortunately, this is one of the shots, which is, it needs coordination more than other ones. And once you start to doubt, you just lose the coordination. You know. And so that’s why, you know, once you start to doubt they start to double fault. Because you lose your timing, your coordination during the serve. I read some of her interviews, and the way she’s talking and the way she sees it, you know, I have huge respect for her.

So you have been an advocate of mental health awareness. You spoke openly about your struggles with anxiety and depression. Can you share your thoughts on the importance of mental health in the world of professional sports? And how did you manage to, you know, handle your mental health, basically, and also, like players like Naomi Osaka and Mardy Fish, they have been really vocal about their mental health. And nowadays, you see, like tennis professionals are traveling with a mental coach on their team. So can you share your experience? Like how did you handle it back then? 

Yes, I had few moments. I mean, I had not the best years also, when I stopped with tennis. I’d say yeah, I’ve been not the happiest person if I could say, so. You know, at the end, maybe it all sounds a little bit weird or different, I would say. If I would know a little bit more history, I would say it happens to many people. First, realize this is normal. So you are not unique, that you’re having depression or you know, what you don’t know what to do or you know, like, I feel lonely or whatever.

If you read more, you know, history about people you would say 99% feeling the same. So, this already helps you to find that you are not unique and if something happens to you, that there are people who know how to solve it. Because you’re not the only one in this world, you know, this is first of all. And second, you know, to realize what exactly is the problem you know. Not only, apart from realizing and then second, what do you want at the end, you know. You’re not happy in something and you start to blame it, but what do you want for a change? What you want? You know, that the people they want to see you more. What is the deep inside, you really wish? How would you be happy? So, if you really take this point from your insight, what will make you happy? Not let’s say like, I want this because then the people you know will like me more. Okay, what will give you if the people will like you more, you know. And if you start to work on this, to get to the trigger point, you understand what is exactly your real wish from deep inside.

Then it will help you and then from time to you know, you will start to know more your body and you know, like and then sometimes to also to understand a little bit better yourself is you know. When somebody when you talk with someone, you start to feel a little bit nervous. And sometimes you can say like, is it my you know, inside I feel is something wrong with me. So sometimes when you start to do analyze, like, okay, everything is fine with me. Like you start to check like this, this is fine. Then slowly it also calms you down. Because sometimes you know as you speak with a lot of people, and at the end of the day, you can come home and feeling really, really nervous.

And sometimes it’s not your problem because you communicate with people and definitely you exchange energy. Maybe it sounds stupid, but it does. You know, like, if you know, you meet some people who are happier, then you come to the  home in the evening and you’re like, you feel positive. But if you meet 10 people, you know, who are depressed, you will come home, even if you’re the happiest person in the world, you will start to fuse. You know, you start, you’ll start to doubt. At that moment, you have to, I don’t know, like, take shower, you know, to calm down and say like, ‘Okay, Is it really me? Or it’s something that I took from other people, you know, like, the news that I read, maybe I don’t know, the, the news that I heard, or the people that I spoke’.

And if you realize that it’s something from outside, you’ll say, ‘Okay, this is not me,’ and then you will be coming more to yourself. So this is, I don’t know about what we’re talking. So this also helps you know, like this to understand a little bit more yourself, sometimes you’re nervous, because yourself nervous and doubting, or it’s because you spoke with so many people.

So what I understand is, you are not alone in the entire process. No matter how you feel like you are not alone, and there are people who can solve this problem.

Oh, yeah. This what I said like, yeah, from the beginning, when we spoke, just to say that when people that have been depressed, you know. In such things like nobody understands me, you know, and blah, blah, blah, blah. And what I said is when you you know, a little bit more history, you know. Like a little bit more biography from other people, you will realize that you are not alone, many people have the same. And this is already helps, because, you know if they solve this problem, there are people who can solve your problem. Yeah, and this is the, if I take the generally in the big part. And what I was thinking the other one, it’s more like that. Sometimes just during the day, like if you feel a little bit at the end of the day, tired or nervous. So this is just, you know, like, check up on your body if it’s.

Moving on to some fan questions, who was your toughest opponent while you were playing?

Serena. No doubt.

And whom did you idolize while growing up? I know, it’s your brother. Because at home, you didn’t have to go out. But besides your brother, who was?

Besides my brother? Well, I really liked watching Lindsay Davenport. Honestly, I really liked to watch to support anyone who was number one in the world, then it was my idol. So it was Venus Williams then it was Lindsay Davenport. And it was Serena Williams. So doesn’t matter who was number one was my idol. But I really never wanted to copy. This is the thing, but I would watch them and I would, I would look at them. 

Then finally you became World No.1.

Yeah. (laughs)

So like, what do you miss about the Tour? I know it’s all traveling, jetlags, training sessions, hours at the gym, matches. So what is the one thing that you miss about the tour?

Miss? I think the players that I used to compete. At the end of the day, it’s one big family you know, with who you compete, you live together for like 11-12 years, maybe more if it’s a longer career. So yeah, I would say is missing the family, the tournament family.

So I just have one last question for you since you said like missing the players and the family. Who were your best buddies on Tour?

I didn’t have like best, you know like they were all the same for me. Honestly, like, I really, I can not say best buddies, but I really had a lot of fun and admired a lot, Li Na. I think she was very nice.

And if I’m not wrong, you defeated Li Na at Beijing Olympics semi-final. So, if she was your best friend, didn’t you have issues and all?

No, no, she was always very correct you know. Like this was unbelievable from her. She was always correct, you know, and she was always very nice. And I wouldn’t say she was not my best buddy. We would never go for dinner, but uh, you know, it was somebody with whom it was always fun to practice. You know, she would be always happy saying hi, you know. She was quite positive, even something would be wrong, let’s say like in her during the year in her with her tennis but she was always positive and smiling. But to tell you the truth like okay I would say like right now Sabalenka and (Paula) Badosa, they’re really like hanging out and they have a lot of fun. At our time we didn’t have like this. And I also didn’t have any player that I would say like oh, she’s my you know, like someone that with who I would go for dinner and I would miss her like this.

Okay, so thank you very much Dinara for your time! Thank you! Lovely talking to you. And thank you so much!

Thank you too. 

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