[kubekniekubek]

MADRID (AP) -Dinara Safina may just be the most underappreciated No. 1 in women's tennis.

Why is that?

"I guess they're jealous that I'm so young and No. 1.," Safina said at the Madrid Open on Friday. "I don't know. I really don't know."
(...)
"To become No. 1 it's not just winning the Grand Slams, it's how you compete the whole year," the 23-year-old Russian said. "I won last year four tournaments ... I beat almost all the top-10 players so I think I deserve that spot."

Jelena Jankovic, another who rose to No. 1 without a Grand Slam win, endorsed that overall thinking.

"She's in this moment No. 1 and that's all that matters," Jankovic said. "What everybody else is saying it doesn't matter, everyone has their opinions and everyone can talk all they want but not everyone can say they're No. 1.

"I finished last year No. 1 and I didn't steal that, it didn't fall from the sky - I earned it."
(...)
Only a handful of journalists bothered to attend Safina's press conference after a quarterfinals victory over Alona Bondarenko in front of half-empty bleachers in the "Magic Box" tennis center's main stadium. http://www.cbssports.com/tennis/story/11750395

[freddystone]

Dina is wrong about one thing (more than one thing, depending on who you talk to)... Mauresmo was roasted for being #1 and not having a major in very much the same way. So that's not true.

Eleven finals in her last 19 events... That's really impressive.

And Jelena DOES have something to prove... Not to tennis fans, but to herself.

[ultramDoctoo]

Dina is wrong about one thing (more than one thing, depending on who you talk to)... Mauresmo was roasted for being #1 and not having a major in very much the same way. So that's not true.

Eleven finals in her last 19 events... That's really impressive.

And Jelena DOES have something to prove... Not to tennis fans, but to herself.

Kim also.

[freddystone]

Kim also.

Absolutely.

Actually, I can't think of a single major-less #1 since I've been following the game closely since 97 that was NOT maligned by the fans and the press... Male or female.

But Mauresmo and Kim seemed to get it worse than usual.

[Penisvergroesserung]

Too young? Uh this is the WTA not LPGA, see Hingis, Seles, Graf, Austin, Sharapova.

[Flatlytaize]

Talking about how young she is gets me too. She's middle aged by tennis standards.

[TheBest-Host]

I have a problem with the overuse of the word "haters" (I don't think it's in the article). A hater is someone who criticizes a player without a legitimate basis.

Criticizing Safina for being #1 without having won a major is legitimate criticism (especially when, in the same time frame, Serena has won 2 majors and been the runner up in another).

Safina is responding to her "critics", not "haters".

[FallJimerks]

I have a problem with the overuse of the word "haters" (I don't think it's in the article). A hater is someone who criticizes a player without a legitimate basis.

Criticizing Safina for being #1 without having won a major is legitimate criticism (especially when, in the same time frame, Serena has won 2 majors and been the runner up in another).

Safina is responding to her "critics", not "haters".

Shtexas you are a Hater hater (no a hater critic)

[XYTommy]

Talking about how young she is gets me too. She's middle aged by tennis standards.

And Kim was more than 2 1/2 years younger when she was Slamless #1, than Dinara was when she reached the 1 spot.

Easiest way to silence the critics, Dinara - Win the French. Till then, they have every right to say something.

[Penisvergroesserung]

And Kim was more than 2 1/2 years younger when she was Slamless #1, than Dinara was when she reached the 1 spot.

Easiest way to silence the critics, Dinara - Win the French. Till then, they have every right to say something.

I can almost feel the weight of expectation getting heavier heavier as the FO approaches. If Serena takes the French, I think Safina is gonna look awfully silly.

[freddystone]

I can almost feel the weight of expectation getting heavier heavier as the FO approaches. If Serena takes the French, I think Safina is gonna look awfully silly.

I'm worried about Serena's leg. If it doesn't hold up and she finds a teenage ball-basher in one of the early rounds, she may not make it past the middle of Week 1.

[PyncGyncliacy]

I'm worried about Serena's leg. If it doesn't hold up and she finds a teenage ball-basher in one of the early rounds, she may not make it past the middle of Week 1.

Man, do I hope to be there to see it

[PyncGyncliacy]

I can almost feel the weight of expectation getting heavier heavier as the FO approaches. If Serena takes the French, I think Safina is gonna look awfully silly.

Why? She's not been predicting she'll win the French

[Penisvergroesserung]

Why? She's not been predicting she'll win the French

Well she's ranked #1 and was a finalist last year, so I think there is an expectation. Don't question me. ; )

[freddystone]

Well she's ranked #1 and was a finalist last year, so I think there is an expectation. Don't question me. ; )

Dina is the favorite in my book... By far.

[aLZ9zKsO]

Dina is the favorite in my book... By far.

don't put pression on her. I think she will be tired and lose early

[PyncGyncliacy]

Well she's ranked #1 and was a finalist last year, so I think there is an expectation. Don't question me. ; )

Yeah, she's a favorite, but it's not like her ranking will be further diminished if she doesn't come through... because it's from the last 12 months, not the future. Of course, she'd lose all those points and probably wouldn't be No. 1 anymore.

[freddystone]

don't put pression on her. I think she will be tired and lose early

Oh good... Then I hope Venus lands in her half!


Not true, actually... For once I'm hoping Venus lands in Serena's half. Not that it matters. Venus is plant food. But I can always dream...

[suilusargaino]

No, Dinara. Nobody's jealous of you. They're laughing at you because it's a joke that your'e #1. Same with Jankovic and Mauresmo (before actually winning a major).

[suilusargaino]

Yeah, she's a favorite, but it's not like her ranking will be further diminished if she doesn't come through...

At the French? Hmmm, no. She can only gain points if she wins it. Otherwise, she can only stay the same or lose big time. It would be silly to just bank Safina through to the final.