Safina d. Stosur, 76 64.
Nailed, Coconut. NAILED IT.
Did anyone see this coming? Not just posting up a win over a top 5 player, but playing as well as she did? In between my moments of absolute disgust over Sam's level of play and my attempts to stave off depression, I was floored by Dinara tonight. That is, without a doubt, the best I've seen her hit the ball off the ground in over a year. Sure, she served 16 DFs and was pretty touch and go whenever she went up for that serve, but she moved fairly well, got a bunch of balls back, and played aggressively with success.
To quote Andrew Krasney, the on court announcer, during the post-match interview: "You look like you need a hug. Can I give you a hug?" I think the entire tennis world is with you, Andrew.
It was an amazing performance and if the person on the other side of the net wasn't who she was, I would be over the moon right now. Well done, Dinara. You so owned it and you absolutely deserved to win that match.
She'll play her fourth straight match on Stadium Court tomorrow against Masha (who destroyed Rezai in straights), another Russian trying to fight her way out of an injury-sparked slump. Asked about Masha, "She's coming back from injury, too. A little higher ranked than me. (pause) Just 100 spots." Heh.
After what I saw from Dinara tonight, you'd be an idiot to bet against her. You'd probably be an idiot to bet on her, too, so let's not be idiots and sit back and enjoy what's happening.
(Pics: Forty Deuce)
