Playing for the first time since withdrawing from the Australin Open with a back injury, Dinara Safina has defeated Agnes Szavay 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-0 to win her opening match at Stuttgart.
Safina went down 4-1 in the first set before eking out a tiebreak, but finished in emphatic fashion. "It's always nice to come back with a win, regardless how," said the former No. 1.
Before the tournament, Safina expressed concerns that her back condition could become career-threatening. "The back wasn't really okay, I still have to take care, but for now it feels good," she said after the match.—K.T.