[FakeMashabator]

Dinara Safina tells Sport Express in Russia that Victoria Azarenka’s No. 1 ranking is legitimate, even though she holds a career 1-10 record against world No. 4 Serena Williams and has lost to the American four times this year. Serena won two majors this year (Wimbledon and the U.S. Open) and the Olympic gold medal, compared to Azarenka’s one major win at the Australian Open. Safina, a former No. 1, has not played since April 2011 due to back injury. It is unclear whether she will ever return to competition, but she says she has not been hitting regularly is taking college classes.

“At another time, this topic was also relevant. The rankings were headed by Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Wozniacki and me [all former No. 1s who had not won a major]. The No. 1 is not the tennis player who selectively plays major tournaments, even winning them, but the one who is stable over the full season. Ranking is a set of performances at all tournaments. Azarenka won the Australian Open and was stable all this year - and it is very difficult to do, you need to be well prepared physically. Everyone has started to forget about the achievements of Vika, the same with Maria Sharapova, who won Roland Garros, after Serena Williams won gold and won the title at the US Open, and it is wrong. Let the younger Williams play a full season, and then we'll see who will be the No. 1.” Safina

http://www.tennis.com/news/2012/10/s.../#.UG4B8U2HKSo

[Stonerpova]

I mean consider the source. Of course a slamless #1 is going to feel this way. Plus she was openly mocked by Serena.

[flareon]

Dinara come back and win a slam that you truely deserved.

[Nicolás89]

Originally Posted by Griffin.

I mean consider the source. Of course a slamless #1 is going to feel this way. Plus she was openly mocked by Serena.

I don't think she ever cared about that.

[shoryuken]

still mad about Rome and Madrid

[sweetadri06]

Oh Dinara. Still bitter about the "Rome and Madrid" comment. It's ok, sis.

[Mr.Sharapova]

She's right though .

[Jimmie48]

Yeah, she's right of course

[F-R-E-A-K]

Originally Posted by shoryuken

still mad about Rome and Madrid

[Matt01]

Originally Posted by sickfalsetto

Not sure what's so funny about that.

[Olórin]

Originally Posted by Long and Hard

She's right though .

About what? About Victoria being the #1 player in the rankings. Absolutely, she's deserving of the rank, and with a YEC and Beijing title would have an even stronger case for being the best player on the planet. But, Serena has played the full season to get her own rank, is it just a bad translation or does Dinara not even follow her own sport anymore?

To anyone who can think critically Serena still has an argument for being POY right now, i.e. the best player of the year - rankings or not. Anyway, the rankings were a joke with Dinara at the top. She was an awful #1 and even called herself a chicken in a slam final. That pretty much says it all when that's the alleged best player on the planet. The #1 ranked player isn't always the "world's best". Anyone with half a brain doesn't treat the rankings as a black and white text book of "who is better than who" in male or female tennis.

[NashaMasha]

Everyone has started to forget about the achievements of Vika, the same with Maria Sharapova, who won Roland Garros, after Serena Williams won gold and won the title at the US Open, and it is wrong. Let the younger Williams play a full season, and then we'll see who will be the No. 1.”

good point , but in tennis world and for the general public achievements in Tennis are all about Slams. Multiple Grand Slam Champions are not thinking about $ bonuses from their sponsors , they are not thinking about growing popularity (for reaching and holding №1 position) , because they are much more popular than any ranking can ever make someone. They are competing not for current №1, but for instance Serena is fighting for №1 position among all players who has ever taken a racket in their hands since 19 century .....Sharapova is fighting also for her place in tennis hystory , already having achieved what only 9 women players could do in 120 years

Sharapova's opinion about №1 Ranking

Q. Is regaining the world No. 1 spot a priority for you at the moment?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it's tough to say because, you know, I have been in that position a few times in my career. You know, my priorities from maybe when I was 16 years old to now have changed a little bit.
You know, of course getting to the No. 1, you know, and winning the French Open in two weeks' time was an incredible achievement, but I think if I would have won the French Open and not been No. 1, I don't think I would have been very disappointed. It was just great that the two kind of came together for me.
And the way I look at things, the more matches you win, the better opportunity you have towards getting to No. 1. You know, you don't really have to look at other opponents or what the ranking is. You know, if you focus on, you know, your own results and trying to win matches and you do, then, you know, you're going to have a good ranking either way.

[starin]

She's played a full year though...
You can't call her a part timer considering how many matches she played during the summer.

[J4m3ka]

Originally Posted by starin

She's played a full year though...
You can't call her a part timer considering how many matches she played during the summer.

Yes, I was about to say the same

Serena has played a full schedule, Dinara needs to stop living in the past

[TheHangover]

in fact serena is not the world number one, but she is the best the ranking is for the other girls she is of another level