Q Klara Zakopalova d 3 Dinara Safina - 76(1) 76(3)
Sure it's a tough loss but I think Dinara had to know that coming back from a long injury break it was going to take a little time to get her confidence back to an optimal level. She did manage to get both sets into tie-breaks and that's traditionally where one can see exactly where a players confidence lies. She has a bit of distance to go yet.
This morning when the rankings were released she felt another slip falling from #3 to #5. As the defending champ in Madrid losing today will cost her dear - she will be just inside the top 10 when the next rankings are released next Monday.
Dinara will next head to Paris and should she fare poorly at Roland Garros (where she was the top seed and runner-up last year) she will sink like a stone in deep waters...
But fear not Safina fans - though it may take a little (more) time Dinara will be back among the elite of the women's tour before too long. That's my wish anyway.
Photo: Reuters
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