Dinara Safina snapped a six-game losing run by knocking Alona Bondarenko out of the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego.
Russian stops sliding form with welcome win in San Diego
Dinara Safina snapped a six-game losing run by knocking Alona Bondarenko out of the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego.
The former world number one progressed with a 6-1 7-6 victory that will give her a boost after a losing streak that saw her slide down the rankings to world number 35.
Safina went for her shots and in the first set was far too good from the back of the court, and although Bondarenko responded in the second she could not level by taking the tiebreaker.
"I needed the win," Safina said. "Last week I lost a tiebreaker and in practice I lost one because I was playing defensive.
"Tonight I said I'm not going to play defensive and be aggressive and whatever happens, happens."
Injury
A back injury and loss of form has seen Safina tumble down the rankings, but the 24-year-old hopes to start finding the same form that saw her top list just 12 months ago.
"I think my back is fine now," said Safina. "Every morning when I wake up and it feels good I say thanks."
Safina was joined in the second round by fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova, who defeated Aravane Rezai 6-2 5-7 6-3 to book a date with top seed Jelena Jankovic.
The 21-year-old produced an attacking third set to overcome her French opponent Rezai.
"In the second set I slowed down and went too far behind the court and gave her the opportunity to make more winners," Kleybanova said.
"I told myself in the third set that even if I'm missing to take her rhythm away and stay on top of the court. I was able to turn it around."
