Dinara Safina has reclaimed her place as world number one in the rankings and insists she is no longer concerned by criticism.
World number one untroubled by criticism
Dinara Safina has reclaimed her place as world number one in the rankings and insists she is no longer concerned by critics saying she is undeserving of the top spot.
The 23-year-old, who has never won a Grand Slam title, begins her 26th week on top of the standings this year after knocking 11-time major winner Serena Williams from the number one spot.
The Russian is now preparing for the season-ending WTA championships in Doha, where Williams will have the opportunity to regain the top spot to end the year as world number one.
Safina, who has come under fire for the glaring absence of a major title on her CV, is adamant that she has given up worrying about her critics.
"I don't care anymore. They can say whatever they want," said Safina.
"I have been in three Grand Slam finals and I've been in two semis. It's there. Last year I was winning every tournament and they were asking me why I'm not No.1.
"This year I became No.1, there is no Grand Slam. Every day is going to be something. It's not that I don't want to win a Grand Slam. But I guess I need to work a little bit more, improve some things, to make me stronger to deal with this."
Strain
Safina has a record of crumbling under the strain, particularly at the height of Grand Slam exposure.
She suffered defeat in the Australian Open final to Williams and was beaten again by compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the French Open title match.
Petra Kvitova sent her crashing out of the third-round of the US Open and just as destructive was her 6-1 6-0 loss to Venus Williams in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
"Some things I'm like this, I'm too open. It's very bad, I know," added Safina.
"Many people don't even have to say how I feel, I can show them. This thing I have to learn. I think I have improved compared to how I was before.
"But you're not robot that you play 100 per cent."
