Russian Dinara Safina took the centre spotlight of the China Open yesterday just as her brother Marat Safin did, opening her WTA match with a conformable 6-3, 6-2 victory over China's Yan Zi in the Beijing Tennis Center.
The 17-year-old, sister of the inaugural China Open's ATP champion Safin, grabbed the spotlight thanks to her elite brother and brilliant performances in the past years.
Safina, who became the youngest prize winner in the Women Tennis Association (WTA) in 2002 and now has six WTA titles, won Yan's cheers and support.
In other four first round matches, Anabel Medina Garrigue of Spain defeated Japanese Saori Obata 7-5, 6-2 and Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela edged past Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6, 6-4.
Sixth seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina was the only seeded player competing yesterday as the 19-year-old powered into the next round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Aniko Kapros of Hungary.
The fifth second round place went to another Russian Tatiana Panova after her first-round opponent Tina Pisnik of Slovakia made a sudden withdrawal for unknown reasons yesterday.
Top seed Serena Williams, and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, fourth seed Vera Zvonareva and 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova enjoyed first-round byes.
Safina got an early scare and had to struggle in the first five games.
"It is difficult to play the first match. It was so windy that I had to concentrate," she said. "Actually, I was under pressure and a little bit nervous when I was broken in the first game."
But she held on and managed to break her opponent at 3-2 on her way to winning the opening set.
The second set was plain sailing for the 44th-ranked youngster. She did not give Yan Zi, who is about 200 spots lower on the world rankings, any more chances, taking advantage of her powerful serve and return and breaking Yan three times to seal the victory.
Safina, who will next face a tough match against Williams, said she met had problems in the first match and knows she needs to try her best in the second round.
"I can not think too much of my tactics when playing against a top 10 player. I will try to play my best. I will try to be better than today," she said.
However, she is a member of an all-conquering Russian women's tennis troupe which includes three players with byes, Panova, fifth seeded Nadia Petrova and qualifier Vera Douchevina who are all seeking to advance into the second round.
With the ATP final taking place between Mikhail Youzhny and Safin, an all-Russian WTA final is possible.
Safina, is more willing to count on herself to win some fame, despite the efforts of her brother.
When asked about what kind of suggestions her brother had offered, she said there are no professional tips as women are playing a different type of tennis.
"He just told me to enjoy myself. He said 'you are still young and you still have many years ahead. Just enjoy the tennis'," Safina said.
She also gave credit to her opponent and other Chinese players.
Yan Zi
"She (Yan Zi) has played a lot of tournaments before. She played well and was aggressive. But the wind seemed to affect her as well."
"Chinese players have improved a lot. I played against doubles players two years ago. It is a short time but they are always improving. I think like Russia's women players, there will be more Chinese in tournaments. It will be tougher to play against them," said Safina.
The Chinese proved the truth of her words yesterday as Li Na secured a first-round spot after two-day's of qualifying and will meet Nicole Pratt of Australia today.
A first round win could hand Li an encounter with second-seeded Kuznetsova.
The other qualifiers are Sanda Mamic of Croatia, whose first-round rival is China's wild card and Athens Olympics women's doubles gold medallist Sun Tiantian, Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland and Douchevina.
(China Daily September 21, 2004)
