STUTTGART, Germany - It was a very special day for one of the top players in the world on Tuesday, as Dinara Safina celebrated her 24th birthday ahead of her matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Safina, who spent 26 weeks at No.1 last year - more than anybody else - is playing for the first time since the Australian Open, having missed three months of action due to a back injury. But the big-hitting Russian star is back now, and she spoke about those last few months at the All-Access Hour.
On her emotions during the lay-off: "I saw what I would be doing without tennis. I can't sit at home or stay in one place, it's just not me. You miss the adrenaline, the competition, the nerves before a match... every athlete misses this. I'm still full of energy and desire to play tennis. Hopefully I can play many more years."
On coming back this week: "This will be my first tournament after being out of competition for about three months, and it will be the first big test for my back. I've been practicing here and I'm feeling good physically, and it's not bothering me at all. Let's hope my back problems are done for good."
On her expectations: "I don't have any. I can't come in here and say I'm going to win it. All of these tournaments in the next few weeks, it's all a test. Doesn't matter how I hit or where I hit the ball - just standing on the court, I'm happy."
Check out off-court pictures of Dinara and more of your favorites!
Last year, Safina spent her first week at No.1 during Stuttgart, making the final before falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova; she then went on a fierce 16-match win streak that brought her back-to-back Premier-level titles at Rome and Madrid and into the final of the French Open (where she lost again to Kuznetsova).
Seeded No.2 here, Safina will face Agnes Szavay in her opening match.
