Former world number one Dinara Safina claimed a straight sets victory over Alona Bondarenko in the first round of the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego last night.

Former world number one Dinara Safina suffered a shock first-round loss to Kimiko Date Krumm at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, United States.

Former world number one Dinara Safina has withdrawn from Wimbledon with a back injury.

FRANKIE Dettori treated Chester racegoers to a flying dismount yesterday after boosting the prospects of his probable Investec Derby mount, Chabal, with victory aboard Azmeel in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes.

Frankie Dettori treated Chester racegoers to a flying dismount after boosting the prospects of his probable Investec Derby mount, Chabal, with victory aboard Azmeel in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes.

Second seed Dinara Safina retired from her fourth-round match with Maria Kirilenko today due to injury.

REIGNING US Open champion Kim Clijsters had a day to forget as she crashed out of the Australian Open yesterday.

Second seed Dinara Safina took less than an hour to end British number one Elena Baltacha's run at the Australian Open.

Justine Henin today fought back from a set down to keep her Australian Open title quest going just a month after returning from retirement.

Henry Cecil has enjoyed a fine back-end to the season at Newmarket today as he struck with Timepiece in the Listed Casino At bet365.com EBF Montrose Fillies' Stakes.

Dinara Safina was forced to withdraw from the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha with a back injury last night, leaving Serena Williams to end 2009 as the world's number one - a feat the American celebrated with a defeat of her sister Venus.

Dinara Safina has withdrawn from the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha with a back injury, leaving Serena Williams to end 2009 as the world’s number one.

Serena Williams will regain her world number one ranking after she beat Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the China Open.

Dinara Safina looks set to lose her world number one ranking after a shock defeat by wild card Shuai Zhang in the second round of the China Open today.

World-ranked one and two Dinara Safina and Serena Williams have both advanced to the second round of the China Open.

World number one Dinara Safina joined former champion Maria Sharapova as a third round casualty on a day of shocks at the US Open.

RUSSIA’S Elena Dementieva and Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic became the first big name casualties at the US Open.

Top seed Dinara Safina came through another shaky match at the US Open to reach the third round with a win over Kristina Barrois.

TOP seed Dinara Safina survived a huge scare to beat Australian world number 167 Olivia Rogowska 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 and reach the US Open second round.

Top seed Dinara Safina was dumped out of the WTA LA Women’s Tennis Championships by Zheng Jie last night.

VENUS WILLIAMS ensured the Wimbledon final would be another family affair with a devastating performance against Russia’s Dinara Safina at SW19 yesterday.

Venus Williams ensured the Wimbledon final would be another family affair with a devastating performance against Russia’s Dinara Safina

SERENA WILLIAMS claimed she would be prepared to match the men by playing five-set matches after making a perfect run through to the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Top seed Dinara Safina recovered from a set down for the second day running to book her place in the Wimbledon semi-finals with victory against German teenager Sabine Lisicki.

Top seed Dinara Safina cruised into the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.

LLEYTON HEWITT is targeting more Wimbledon success after dumping fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro out in the second round.

DEFENDING champion Venus Williams launched her bid for Wimbledon singles title number six with a 6-3 6-2 win over Stefanie Voegele yesterday.

Dinara Safina’s quest to win her first Wimbledon title may yet be scuppered by a knee problem encountered during her first-round victory over Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain.

Venus Williams will begin the defence of her Wimbledon title today, looking to carry on where sister Serena left off on the opening day.

DINARA SAFINA must be ruing the day her brother talked fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova out of quitting tennis.

Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed her second grand slam title after capitalising on a host of errors by Dinara Safina in the all-Russian French Open final.

ROGER FEDERER stayed on course for a first French Open title after coming from two sets to one down to defeat Juan Martin del Potro in nerveless fashion in the Roland Garros semi-finals last night.

Dinara Safina could not be in better shape as she heads into tomorrow’s French Open final against fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova looking to end her wait for an elusive grand-slam title.

Roger Federer will look to defy overwhelming pressure and reach his fourth straight French Open final when he takes on Juan Martin del Potro in the last four tomorrow.

DINARA SAFINA and Svetlana Kuznetsova will meet tomorrow in the French Open’s second all-Russian final after winning their respective last-four matches yesterday.

Svetlana Kuznetsova set up an all-Russian French Open final with Dinara Safina by beating Australian doubles specialist Sam Stosur in three sets in today's second semi-final.

Top seed Dinara Safina reached her second successive French Open final with a straight-sets win over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in the last four today.

FRENCH OPEN title favourite Roger Federer is receiving overwhelming support on and off the court as he moves a step closer to greatness.

ANDY MURRAY admitted he was left helpless by Fernando Gonzalez’s booming forehand as the Chilean ended the Scot’s impressive run at the French Open at the quarter-final stage, the 12th seed Gonzalez powering his way to a 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-4 win.

Top seed Dinara Safina came from a set down to defeat 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka today to reach the French Open semi-finals.

Top seed Dinara Safina continued her imperious form on clay with a comprehensive 6-1 6-0 win over Aravane Rezai at the French Open today.

PORTUGUESE 16-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito grunted her way into the limelight at the French Open on a day Venus Williams made her now customary early exit from Roland Garros.

TOP seed Rafael Nadal last night broke another French Open record as he stayed on course for a fifth successive title with a routine straight-sets victory over Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round yesterday.

TOP seed Rafael Nadal yesterday created a French Open record for consecutive wins in the men’s singles – but he admitted he was not at his all-conquering best in his straight-sets triumph over qualifier Marcos Daniel.