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MELBOURNE - Russian Dinara Safina, an Australian Open finalist last year, warned yesterday that she had bounced back from a late-season injury with purpose and motivation.
Safina, who rose to No 1 in the world for a time in 2009, was crushed in last year's Open final 6-0, 6-3 by Serena Williams and is clearly out to rectify her 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals.
She took the first step with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova, saying she was now in a different frame of mind.
"I think at the end of last year I was tired and exhausted, like I had no more fun on the court," she said.
"But now I feel like I'm back and I'm enjoying every moment on the court.
"That was missing last year. Last year I was pushing myself every time, like, okay I have to do it, but now I do it with much more desire."
The 23-year-old said that despite her lack of major silverware, she could reflect on an excellent season.
"It was a great season," Safina said. "I didn't win a Grand Slam but I still won big tournaments and I was again in two [Grand Slam] finals, so every year I'm doing better.
"I reached No 1 in the world. Some people never reach this and they have to finish their career, so I did more than many people expected."
Safina retired from last year's Tour Championships with a lower back injury but said she was fully recovered and had learned a valuable lesson from the problem.
"My doctor in Germany told me for the Australian Open I would be 100 per cent fit," she said.
"There was doubt over the tournaments before but my recovery went pretty fast so I was even ready for Sydney.
"Sometimes you cannot fight against the injuries so it was a good lesson, that I have to be smarter and take much more care of myself.
"I just had a good rest and I was much more motivated for practice."
- AAP
