With just seven days to go before the start of the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, world number two Dinara Safina is the first player to arrive in Doha.
The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2009 season will compete for the title and a share of the record Championships prize money of $4.55 million.
According to the Qatar media outlet, The Peninsula, Safina arrived on Sunday night in Doha with her coach Zelkjko Krajan, trainer Dejan Vojnovic, physio and hitting partner.
“We welcome Dinara Safina to Doha and wish her the best of luck and success for the Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009. We hope she will enjoy her stay and the beauty of our country”, said Qatar Tennis Federation President Nasser Ghanem Al Kholaifi.
The year-end Sony Ericsson Championships, set to take place for the second year in a row at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, will be held from October 27-November 1, 2009.
For her sake, she should really try to get used to the courts and surroundings. Last year, her time there was terrible.
Definitely hope to see a solid performance by Safina next week. Having a week to get used to the courts should hopefully boost her confidence before her last tournament of the year.
Not to seem to unkind but Dinara will probably be the first player to leave also.
sorry, Dave. No so this year. Dinara will win the YEC………….psych. But I hope she will do well.
Dinara never won a match last year in this tournament, so i wonder how she well going to this year , but will see in a few days time… but clearly she does not deserve No1.