Grand Slam Melt Down
By most accounts, Dinara Safina has had a fantastic season (and year), as her top ranking reflects. Celebrating her ranking success, however, has proven nearly impossible as the media spotlights her Grand Slam title void.
“It's not like you focus only on the Grand Slams. I won Rome. I won Madrid. I have been in the final of the French Open. I have been in the final of Australia. Yes, I haven't won it, but this is not the end of the world. But I still play consistent,” justified Safina.
In Australia Serena Williams beat Safina in 53 minutes,
6-0, 6-3. Then in Paris, Safina faced fellow Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova. Safina was pushed to an emotional meltdown and a two set demise.
“I put too much pressure on myself because I really wanted to win. I just didn't handle it. I was a little bit desperate on the court and didn't do the things that I had to do. I didn't stay tough mentally,” said Safina.
Grass, Safina admits, is her least favorite surface. When Safina advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon to play tournament favorite Venus Williams, few expected Safina to prevail. It took Williams 51 minutes to secure the win, 6-1, 6-0.
“I think she’s just too good on grass. She puts you under pressure from the first point,” said Safina.
As Billie Jean King wrote, “Pressure is a Privilege,” and until Safina learns to embrace pressure or, at the very least, accept it, a Grand Slam trophy may elude her.
