TENNIS Live

French Open - Quarter-finals - Women

Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
Russian FederationD Safina166--
BelarusV Azarenka642--

62 comments - Leave a comment

Dinara Safina

Nationality RUS
Date of Birth 27/04/1986
Height 1.82 m
Weight 70 kg

Victoria Azarenka

Nationality BLR
Date of Birth 31/07/1989
Height 1.8 m
Weight 60 kg
 

Live Comments

  1. 15:07 - That's a great win for Dinara Safina after she looked all over the place in the first set and she will now face the winner between Maria Sharapova and Dominika Cibulkova, who are about to get their clash underway on the Suzanne Lenglen Court

  2. 6-2 - SAFINA IS THROUGH THE SEMI-FINALS as Azarenka's backhand return of serve across court hits the top of the tape and bounces wide.

  3. 40-0 - Safina works her way into the net a puts a simple forehand volley into the open court to bring up THREE MATCH POINTS ...

  4. 5-2 - But SAFINA BREAKS AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT with a forehand winner into the Azarenka backhand court. The Russian will serve for the match after the change of ends

  5. 40-30 - Azarenka plays a brilliant point to save the first forcing Safina out wide on the forehand side before racing up to the shorter ball and firing it into the backhand side of the court

  6. 40-15 - Safina unleashes a ferocious backhand return of serve across court that Azarenka can only return wide and the Russian has another two break points ...

  7. 4-2 - Safina holds again when Azarenka hits a backhand long. But it's not all going Safina's way on serve as Azarenka again pushes her deuce. Still no break point against the Safina serve though and the Belarussian is running out of time

  8. 3-2 - And this time Azarenka does hold with a forehand winner down the line off a shorter ball

  9. 40-Ad - Again the chance goes begging when Safina races up to a short ball and fires the smash away for a winner but Azarenka quickly has a second chance when a forehand from Safina goes astray ...

  10. 40-Ad - The chance goes begging though as Safina hits a backhand return of serve into the net and Azarenka quickly sets up a game point of her own by wrong-footing Safina on the baseline ...

  11. Ad-40 - An attempted forehand drop shot from Azarenka fails to clear the net and Safina has a point for the double break ...

  12. 3-1 - Safina does well to hold with a forehand volley, despite Azarenka getting lucky on a netcord, after being forced to once again recover from 0-30 down on her serve

  13. 2-1 - Better from Azarenka as she gets a hold to love on the board when Safina sends a backhand return into the net. The Belarussian remains within touching distance in this final set

  14. 2-0 - Safina recovers from 0-30 on her serve with a backhand winner down the line that actually even Azarenka gives the thumbs up

  15. 1-0 - But SAFINA DOES BREAK at the third attempt when Azarenka sends a backhand into the net. The crowd really are going to turn against the Belarussian if she continues to be stroppy - like considering smashing the ball into the ground at the end of that game

  16. 40-30 - A backhand return of serve followed by a forehand long (and a good talking to by herself) and the first two break points go begging ...

  17. 40-0 - Safina quickly sets up three break points in the first game of the third set as Azarenka battles to get her disappointment under wraps ...

  18. 6-4 - SAFINA LEVELS THE MATCH BY TAKING THE SECOND SET! Another forehand return of serve from Azarenka drops just long and she slams her racquet on the floor once again much to the dislike of the crowd, who whistle and jeer as she walks back to the chair

  19. 40-30 - Safina recovers from dropping the first two points on serve with a couple of huge serves and the Russian gets a set point when Azarenka hits a second serve return long ...

  20. 5-4 - And SAFINA BREAKS AGAIN! Another forehand long from Azarenka (and another racquet in danger of being slammed into the ground) and Safina will have the chance to serve for the set

  21. 40-0 - Safina lifts her level once again to set up three more break points when Azarenka hits a forehand long ...

  22. 4-4 - And AZARENKA DOES BREAK BACK TO LEVEL UP with a forehand winner down the line. Can Safina turn this around again to at least force a third set?

  23. 30-40 - Azarenka has another break point, to get things back on level terms as Safina misses another cross court forehand ...

  24. 4-3 - A love service hold from Azarenka to get back within touching distance in this set and now it is Safina's turn to smash her racquet on the floor when she misses a forehand down the line that she only needed to push into court having sent Azarenka very wide of the opposite side of the court earlier in the point

  25. 4-2 - And AZARENKA DOES GET ONE OF THE BREAKS BACK, despite being pushed out very wide on the serve, racing up to a shorter ball from Safina and firing the forehand winner down the line

  26. 40-Ad - Safina was 40-0 up in this game before things went awry and Azarenka sets up a break back point with a forehand winner across court into the corner ...

  27. 4-1 - Ouch! A double fault from Azarenka gifts Safina the double break and the Belarussian slams her racquet down on the court in anger. That won't endear the Parisian crowd to her!

  28. Ad-40 - Safina sets up a point for a second double by working Azarenka all around the baseline before taking the pace off the ball and firing a forehand across court for the winner ...

  29. 3-1 - Definitely signs that Safina is beginning to turn things around as she batters a forehand passing shot across court for a winner to hold to 30 and cement the break in this second set

  30. 2-1 - And SAFINA IS BATTLING HER WAY BACK INTO THIS MATCH as Azarenka hits a forehand into the net to hand the Russian the early break in this second set

  31. Ad-40 - But consecutive double faults from Azarenka gift Safina a second chance to break ...

  32. 40-Ad - Azarenka saves it though charging up to a shorter ball from Safina to fire away the forehand and a Safina forehand just long gifts the Belarussian a chance to hold

  33. 40-30 - Signs of life from Safina as she races out to 30-0 against the Azarenka serve. The Belarussian gets back to 30-30 with a forehand passing shot and a blistering forehand winner but Safina opens up the court with an inside out forehand winner of her own and will have a first break point ...

  34. 1-1 - Safina hits a couple of bullets of serves to get out to 40-15 but Azarenka drills a forehand down the line before Safina goes too much on a second serve and fires down a double fault to allow Azarenka back to deuce. But the Russian quickly holds with a ferocious cross court backhand before Azarenka hits long with a forehand return of serve

  35. 0-1 - Azarenka holds to get the second set underway. Safina absolutely batters a backhand return of serve right back at the feet of Azarenka as the Belarussian grins and nods as if to say "yep, that's what I was looking for - a reaction"!

  36. 1-6 - What is going on here? Safina has just lost more games in 20 minutes than she had in the entire first week of the tournament and Azarenka is just playing fantastic tennis. Safina though is not really getting into things, she doesn't look happy at all

  37. 1-6 - Azarenka only needs the one though and she takes the first set 6-1 when another Safina forehand goes astray!

  38. 15-40 - Azarenka produces her second drop shot of the game. Safina doesn't even run for it and Azarenka has two set points ...

  39. 1-5 - Azarenka holds again as yet another Safina forehand goes astray and that was a shocker. The world number one is all over the place

  40. 1-4 - But Azarenka gets the double break at the second attempt by again stretching Safina on the forehand wing and watching as the Russian's defensive lob drops long. What a blistering start from the Belarussian!

  41. 30-40 - The first goes begging as Azarenka hits a backhand long down the line

  42. 15-40 - Azarenka is stepping inside the court and dictating points brilliantly and she has another TWO BREAK POINTS after Safina goes just wide and long with another forehand at full stretch ...

  43. 1-3 - Azarenka has come out firing on all cylinders as she batters a backhand down the line to hold once again and maintain her early break lead. She really had to come out fast, once your behind against Safina it is very difficult to get back on level terms and turn things around

  44. 1-2 - Better from Safina as she hold to 15 with her first ace of the afternoon. The early signs though is that this is going to be tough, for both the players. The rallies are already fairly lengthy and it is HOT out there!

  45. 0-2 - Azarenka holds to 30 to cement the break and she is working Safina around the court in a manner that the Russian simply hasn't had to face yet in this tournament. Still there are signs that Safina is getting into her stride as she smacks a brilliant forehand cross court winner straight onto the line

  46. 0-1 - Not a great start from Safina as she struggles to find her range and Azarenka breaks to 15 when the Russian hits a forehand long

  47. 0-0 - So, the players are ready to go and it will be Safina to serve first and get us underway ...

  48. 13:12 - It's another stunning day in Paris with temperatures of about 24 degrees and winds of up to 16km/h

  49. 13:11 - Yes, it's been said many times already this tournament, but it's such a good statistic it's worth saying again - Safina is in unbelievable form having won back-to-back clay tournaments coming in to Roland Garros and has lost only FIVE GAMES in progressing to this stage

  50. 13:10 - Only one of those meetings has come on clay, in Berlin last year, which Safina won 6-4 6-1 before going on to beat Justine Henin from a set and a break down and win the tournament

  51. 13:07 - These two have met each other four times before with Safina leading the head-to-heads 3-1. Having said that Azarenka's win came in their last meeting, the Belarussian triumphing in three tight sets in the Indian Wells quarter-final

  52. 13:06 - Ok, minutes silence over and the players get will get their warm-up underway

  53. 13:01 - There will be a minutes silence before the players start their warm-up in memory in those involved in the Air France disaster over the weekend, the plane that went down after being hit by lightning

  54. 13:00 - French Open: Watch the whole tournament LIVE with coverage starting at 10am every day on British Eurosport and Eurosport HD (Sky 410/412, Virgin Media 521); Or watch your choice of courts on your PC via the Eurosport Player. Click here to subsribe to the Player

  55. 12:59 - Good morning and welcome to this quarter-final clash between world number one Dinara Safina and Belarussian ninth seed Victoria Azarenka

WTA Race 2009

Points
1 Dinara Safina 7730
2 Serena Williams 7575
3 Svetlana Kuznetsova 5771
4 Caroline Wozniacki 5345
5 Elena Dementieva 5215
6 Victoria Azarenka 4450
7 Venus Williams 4396
8 Vera Zvonareva 3550
9 Jelena Jankovic 3435
10 Agnieszka Radwanska 3340

Full Table »

Comment 23 - 42 of 62

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  1. When asked why don't you hold two balls like most­ of the other players Safina replied. "With my­ muscles and beer belly people would really think I was­ a man if I had two balls to play with".

    From Jamie C, on Tue 2 Jun 2:35PM

  2. Come on Azarenka, just calm down and start playing­ again, this match should have been yours but your­ throwing it away, so stop it now. Safina has to go,­ she's so blah

    From Daniel W, on Tue 2 Jun 2:31PM

  3. Dinara, you go Girl! You have everything you need to­ send this screamer to Minsk!

    From Pavel, on Tue 2 Jun 2:27PM

  4. Azarenka is losing it now !!

    From Tim, on Tue 2 Jun 2:27PM

  5. Once Azarenka conquers her immaturity on court.­ Azarenka WILL be No 1 VERY soon.

    From Kem-One, on Tue 2 Jun 2:24PM

  6. this match is getting interesting

    From jack, on Tue 2 Jun 2:24PM

  7. OMG!!!!!!!!! What happened DINA why u allow her to­ comeback!!! GUYS if safina lose this round surely­ she'll lose the number 1 spot in women's­ tennis!

    From mon p, on Tue 2 Jun 2:23PM

  8. Couldn't continue to watch this match due to­ irritating groans screams and moans of Azarenka. Is­ this really necessary???

    From Tony H, on Tue 2 Jun 2:18PM

  9. Lets go Dinara ! Crash her !!!

    From crni, on Tue 2 Jun 2:17PM

  10. azarenka will win 1000 percent come on azarenka you are­ still number one

    From asal, on Tue 2 Jun 2:16PM

  11. I think Azarenka plays the best female tennis­ currently, but her attitude is very annoying, and­ cynical yes.. and Audience knows how to prise that ;-)

    From Igor K, on Tue 2 Jun 2:14PM

  12. I don't believe vika can sustain this level. get­ ready for her to turn into very sick convulsion?? I­ hope dinara's class sees her through.

    From sanchez.santos, on Tue 2 Jun 2:13PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I'm from Georgia and I hate Russia, but Dinara is­ really the best player, so go SAFINA!

    From nikolaishvili_g, on Tue 2 Jun 2:11PM

  14. Hi Olga, " Tim u have to believe!! Yesterday u­ didn't believe­ in Maria's comeback, today - in­ Roger's ) U­ WERE WRONG IN BOTH CASES!)) Bravo­ Federer, stay­ confident further. " You are­ right,Olga . I did NOT have enough confidence in­ Federer and SharApova coming back but I'm glad they­ both won . I like Azarenka but she seems to­ self-destruct now . She is emotionally fragile but a­ good player nonetheless !!

    From Tim, on Tue 2 Jun 2:09PM

  15. 24.Azarenka has a habit of self destructing when­ things­ dont go her­ way.
    ___________________________
    you are very right

    i­ hope it recovers sooooooon or at least in third final­ set

    From Hamzeh O, on Tue 2 Jun 2:09PM

  16. That's what u call retalliate from safina. come on­ safina fight! fight! fight!.

    From mon p, on Tue 2 Jun 2:06PM

  17. come on, dina !!!

    u can outclass her
    it's clay...

    From zizou, on Tue 2 Jun 2:06PM

  18. go Safina! show them why you are number 1 in ranking.

    From Lovie, on Tue 2 Jun 2:05PM

  19. Azarenka has a habit of self destructing when things­ dont go her way. Observe.

    From Kem-One, on Tue 2 Jun 2:04PM

  20. Your request Miss Olga is granted Dinara change and­ surely she will win the second set.That's why I­ love tennis.

    From Nemesio jr., on Tue 2 Jun 2:03PM
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