Q. Are you quite pleased? Straight set victory again second round? Feel pretty good about the way you played?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I think it still could be better, especially I was 4-1 up in the first set and then I let it go to 4-All.
I was lucky that I hold my serve, because it was 15-30 on second set and I served well there. But still, I think there is much more room that I can play better.
So hopefully, next match I can do better.
Q. You've talked a lot about how hard you worked the last few years. What do you think is better about yourself? What do you feel is the most obvious thing that's improved recently for you?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I guess a little bit of everything, but I think also on the court, I'm much more aggressive than I used to be. I've been working a lot on every shot.
Then also physically, I think I also spend lots of attention on this, because for me I think this is the key of my game. If I'm faster, it helps me to play my game, to be aggressive on the court, to come and get better for the shots.
Now I have tennis coach and fitness coach. They are working together to get me better, so now I guess I have team that works for me.
Q. You talked a little bit about that few days ago the team around you, about your coach in particular, and that you feel you're on the same page. What has that relationship been like?
DINARA SAFINA: He was also a player, so he knows exactly how I feel. For me it's easier to communicate. I found a person I can trust, and I can say, Okay, I'm getting nervous. At least he knows what is these feelings nervous.
It's not somebody who never played. He cannot get exactly these feelings what you can feel on the court. So with these kinds of things he helps me also to control my emotions.
Okay, I never seen him play. Actually we played one year the same year, but I never seen him play. But he said that I'm on the court exactly like him. So I guess he knows what I was going through or what I'm going through some moments on the court.
He tries to help me, so I think this is the good thing that he understands me.
Q. How did you guys find each other, or you how did that work out?
DINARA SAFINA: Whew. It's a funny story. Last year I knew that after US Open I'm going to stop with my ex-coach that I had. Then I wanted to work with Heinz Guenthardt, and he could not travel a lot.
So we needed to find a guy who could, like, they could both work with me. And I need to thank Ivan Ljubicic, because he advise me him.
We started to work after US Open. After Australia, I felt like with Heinz it was a little bit difficult to work, because he could not spend so much time with me, like basically full time I needed coach.
Then I decided, okay, I'm going to work with him. First we give a try until French Open. Oh, well, it turned out really good, and now we working together.
So I think even Ljubicic I need to thank or invite for a dinner.
Q. You talked the other day about Marat, one of the things he worked with you when you were younger, was that you would cry and get very, very emotional. I think he said, as an example, don't act like me. He talked about that, also in his press conference shortly thereafter. Is that a bit of a family trait, to sort of wear your emotions on your sleeve? And if so, is that something that you really work really hard on keeping in control, so that when things don't go so well you can regroup?
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah. Because this thing I can say that the tennis coach he help me to kind of to keep more quiet, because sometimes I would get very disappointing on myself or be very hard on myself.
It was kind of like I would play the match and I would show to everybody like, You see. I'm trying hard and it's just not going my way. Then I would kind of show it to everybody.
He would say, You don't need to show me that you are not feeling. I can see it. And try just to don't show to your opponent. So these kind of things he said, like, I know how you feel.
So to me you don't have to impress or whatever, or start to cry that you are tired. I know that you're tired. Just go out there, do what you can. And somehow with the talking, communicating with each other, I think this is the main thing we communicate with each other and he's understanding me.
That's why I start, like, kind of, okay, you know, he knows that, I guess, I don't feel maybe one of the shots. He sees this. I'm trying to be positive on the shot, and then of course the match finish.
Okay, we discuss about the match and we go straight on the court and work on the shot what was missing.
Q. Your summer really took off after Roland Garros. I mean, obviously you're playing extremely well. What was the turning point this season for you? Do you think it's learning to control your emotions? Is it something you've learned in your coaching? What happened midsummer when you really started playing so well?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I guess just knowing what to do on the court. I found my weapons on the court, and I know when to use them. And I think this is -- and also by controlling my emotions.
So I guess like found when to use which shot and how to play, and that if something is not going well maybe this day that, okay, I'm still there. If this shot is not working, I will try to play it with other shot. That is also my good shot.
So somehow with emotions I start like to be more positive on the court.
Q. Did Marat have a lot to do with that?
DINARA SAFINA: It's not -- I would say more my tennis coach had to spend time with me, because I think my brother would not have so much patience (laughter.)
Because, I mean, I would never imagine that one tennis coach would have so much patience for me that I would scream, cry, whatever, and he would say, Okay, let's go. Keep on going.
So I think that he has patience for me.
Q. How long has he been your coach?
DINARA SAFINA: Just one-on-one that we work since February, but we started after US Open. So I think in this kind of way it's better, because before he was not the main coach.
Before it was main coach like Heinz, so he got to know me already through that period. It was three months we had been working together with Heinz.
So in this period he could see who I am. I think it was easier afterwards to start working with me.
Q. And you made that decision on your own to change coaches?
DINARA SAFINA: Mostly, yeah.
Q. Was it a question that you just had heard what your other coach had to say for so long and it wasn't quite working so you needed to try something else? Had you known your present coach for a while or several years or just...
DINARA SAFINA: What do you mean?
Q. In other words, your old coach, you had heard what he had to say for several years.
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah.
Q. Did you think that you had heard everything from him that you could hear, so you needed to have someone else tell you something different?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I mean, I was working with the Dutch guy almost two years. Just at the end we just stop listening to each other. He would not accept what I would say. He didn't want to hear my opinions. So.
This was tough, you know, when a coach doesn't want to hear a player opinion, even if I'm wrong, but at least he can talk -- he can listen and then we can discuss and not always say his opinion.
So I think this is the reason, like, why we started to fight a lot on the court. And then it was not -- I mean, I have enough stress on the court playing a match and if I go on practice and I'm still fighting with my coach, I don't need this.
So I decided, like, okay, right or wrong decision. I mean, we had with the Dutch coach some success, but after it was going ups and downs.
So I took a decision, like, okay, I better try with somebody else maybe who would listen a little bit more to me.
Q. Would it be the same with your at this fitness coach?
DINARA SAFINA: Of course. I mean, same with the fitness coach. He needs to know how I feel. It's not possible that I come to practice and I'm really tired and he would get me suddenly to run like some crazy things.
Or one day he can say, Okay, today I don't care that you are tired. We have to do this, because tomorrow you have day off. So he also needs to feel me, to know how I feel.
Q. The fact that Henin is not there anymore and there's not one clear player, does it make a difference for you and the other players if there's not one clear person who maybe seems to be above everyone else?
DINARA SAFINA: Well, now it's so much wide open to get to this No. 1 spot in the world. But we still have Williams sisters, you know. They're still dangerous.
I mean, I think now it's kind of changing a little bit. So many more young and young players coming through, so I think it's just changing there, the youngers coming now.
Jochen Rindt became champion after his death when his team-mate, the young brasilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi, won the USA GP. Chapman and all team Lotus could at least give Rindt a well deserved tribute.
Until the Belgium GP there were four different winners: Brabham (his own BT33) - South Africa, Stewart (rookie March 701) - Spain, Rindt (Lotus 49) - Monaco and Rodriguez (BRM P153) - Belgium. Then, once more Chapman�s creations appeared: Lotus 72 with a revolutionary body aerodynamic with coined nose, on- board brakes, torsion bars suspension and lateral radiators. Immediately Rindt took four straight victories. Failed only in his home town. Then, the fatal accident ended his career at Monza in the practices. Many drivers could get away the hopes of Rindt�s posthumous title, but only Jack Ickx and Clay Regazzoni, with Ferrari, seemed to have equipament to do it, but ...
Other worst fact
* P.Courage killed at Holland.
Curious facts
* Rindt did not finished any other race besides those whose he won where group by two of those came when J.Brabham had problems in the very last lap: Monaco (touched the barriers) and Brands Hatch (no gas) where group by
* The amazing sound of Matra�s V12 engine.
* Fittipaldi won his first GP in his fourth race and Regazzoni in fifth.
* March (South Africa) and Tyrrell (Canada) took pole in their first race, both driven by J.Stewart.
First appearance
* Drivers: E.Fittipaldi, C.Regazzoni, F.Cevert, R.Peterson, P.Gethin, I.Giunti, T.Schenken , R.Stommelen, R.Wisell, N.Galli.
* Constructors/Teams: March, Surtees and Tyrrell.
1971 - No adversary for Jackie Stewart.
This season was completely dominated by Stewart and his Tyrrell. He managed to win six times, one second and one fifth, getting no points only three times. Peterson got 2nd place four times, with a interesting March 711 with its high front wing car. The race of the year happened at Monza with an amazing final with Gethin (BRM), Peterson, Cevert (Tyrrell), Hailwood (Surtees) and Ganley (BRM) separated only by 0�61" seconds...and Gethin initiated the last lap in four place, but someway he managed to pass by all of them, cruising the line 0�1" ahead of Peterson!
Curious facts
* The first F1 turbined engine car, Lotus 56B, raced three times, the last one driven by Fittipaldi at Monza. The brasilian arrived in 8th place, but suffered with its overweight chassis and colossal brake consume.
* Jackie Stewart took six poles in a season, the same as the record of Clark (62,63,65,67).
* Also Stewart won the race number 200 � Mocano GP.
First appearance
* Drivers: M.Donohue, N.Lauda, H.Ganley, J.P.Jarier, G.Van Lennep.
1972 - Fittipaldi in a class of his own!
Fittipaldi became the youngest ever world champion with only 25 years old in a very special style: five victories, two seconds and one third. His victory at Austria GP is still remembered as one of the most beatiful of his career, but of course, the following victory at Monza became unforgettable. That one gave him the title, after struggling in qualifying with T-car set-up, used because his race car was damaged by a truck road accident. Stewart was a hard opponent, winning four times, but one phrase explain his opinion about Fittipaldi: "Well, I think he�s a good guy, a very good ping-pong player and...unfortunately also a very good driver!". This year also marked last BRM victory: Beltoise sliding between Monaco streets under awefull wet conditions.
Curious facts
* C.Reutemann became the third driver to take pole in his first race, exactly in his home town, Buenos Aires (Argentina).
* Stewart had a ulcera and withdraw one race. Some people named his ulcera "Fittipaldi threaten"...
* Incredible way Beltoise went through La Rascasse curve at Monaco in a fantastic power-sliding all the race.
First appearance
* Drivers: W.Fittipaldi, C.Pace, C.Reutemann, P.Depailler, A.Merzario and J.Scheckter.
1973 - Stewart: the new king!
In the beginning of this championship it looked that Fittipaldi would be unbeatable, but after a bad result in France, caused by Scheckter�s wrong move that put him out of the race, it seemed that more than lost that race, Emerson lost also his lucky. The worst moment came in Zandvoort, when a
rarely accident in his career happened. He had a foot injury and no conditions to ran more than three laps in the race. In the 13th round at Monza, the standings were: Stewart with 66 points, Fittipaldi with 42, Cevert with 39 and Peterson with 34. But Peterson won the race with Fittipaldi only 0�8 seconds behind. The momentum of the race was the ordered that Ken Tyrrell gave to Cevert, that was in fourth position, to let Stewart overtake him. If Colin Chapman would have ordered Peterson to do the same with Fittipaldi, Stewart would not take the championship there, but the order has never been given, so...
Talking about accidents, this year would be marked by a big confusion caused by Scheckter (again...). This time at Woodcote curve at Silverstone. He lost control of his McLaren and almost everyone had been envolved, with the italian Andrea de Adamich suffering serious injuries that ended his career prematurely. In South Africa, Regazzoni has been saved by Hailwood from his burning Ferrari. But two other accidents were much more serious: Cevert death at USA in the practices and Roger Williamson at Holland�s race. This one, wiht live TV coverage, were absolutely unacceptable: Williamson burned to death with no rescue service and a desperate David Purley trying alone to get him out of the car, with no success.
As a result of Cevert�s accident Stewart decided to retire, but he had broken Clark�s record of 25 victories, achieving his 27th at Germany GP in August.
Curious facts
* M.Hailwood and D.Purley received medals for their bravure.
* J.C.Pace (Surtees) took two consecutives fastests laps in Germany and Austria.
* In Germany the three brasilian were in the top six: Pace 4th, W.Fittipaldi 5th and E.Fittipaldi 6th.
* Ronnie Peterson stabilished a new saeson�s pole record: 9.
First appearance
* Drivers: J.Hunt, J.Mass, J.Watson, G.Follmer, L.P.Bueno
* Constructors/Teams: Ensign, Shadow, Iso (future Williams).
1974 - Fittipaldi twice!
Unhappy with Chapman�s treatment, Emerson accept the challenge to drive for McLaren. And it took just two races to win, this time in his home town. The championship were tremendously disputed between the renewed Ferrari team, now supported by Fiat, and McLaren team. The new italian 312T with transversal gearbox and V12 flat engine, driven by Regazzoni, was very quick and reliable. Fittipaldi, with M23 renewed, won three times, Regazzoni one. But with only three races out of points, the swiss man went to the final round, in Watkins Glen, with same points as the brasilian: 52 each. In the race, Fittipaldi demonstrated all his control to avoid Regazzoni�s attack in the very beginning and arrived in fourth place. This position gave him the title as Regazzoni failed to finish. The south american party was complete: argentinian Reutemann and brasilian Pace made one-two for Brabham team.
Curious facts
* Fittipaldi became the only driver to win at Nivelles track: 72 and 74.
* In 74, Fittipaldi survived a implacable Lauda�s threaten and cruised the finish line only 0�35 seconds ahead, after sustained a difference not more than 1�00 second all race. Asked about the short gap in the very last lap, he explained: "Well, I had to be carufully in the brakes last curve, because I knew I couldn�t make any error, even been slower, there will be no time for him to overtake me before the line..."
* Fittipaldi became famous by his extremely ability to set-up the car, to choose the right race tatic and always find a manner to overtake his opponents.
* Niki Lauda took nine poles in the season, same as the record of Peterson (73).
Worst fact:
* H.Koinigg killed at USA.
First appearance
* Drivers: H.Koinigg, H.Stuck, V.Brambilla, T.Pryce, J.Laffite, J.P.Jabouille, M.Wilds.
* Constructors/Teams: Hesketh, Parnelli, Penske.
1975 - First time for Lauda!
As in 73, Fittipaldi started the year winning, but ended as vice-champion. Lauda, driving a very reliable Ferrari 312T, took five victories adn gave to the italian team the taste of champion missed since 64. McLaren had anormally failed, six times, that impedited Fittipaldi�s fight for championship. His 14th and last career victory came at Silverstone, with his close friend Pace in second, in a race interrupted by bad weather conditions that caused a big mess: eleven cars out in the same curve!
Besides Lauda�s perfect driving and well deserved title, the name of this year must be given to Emerson Fittipaldi. At Montjuich circuit, Spain, he led drivers unwilling to race as an examination on the armco barriers demonstrated that they were uncorrectly fixed. As the organizers did not attend their exigency, Fittipaldi decided to slow in the qualifying and did not achieve time to start. He also let the country in the morning, meanwhile race starts. And it was a big disaster. Many accidents happened, but a tragedy will marke the grand prix: Stommelen, that was the moment leader with Pace on his tail, lost the rear wing causing a immediate accident. His car hit the left armco barriers, jumping over Pace�s car, transpassing the other side barriers and caused the death of four people. The race was sttoped, with Mass declared winner. Fittipaldi�s atitude contributed definitely to improve safety rules.
Worst fact
* Mark Donohue death in Austria GP.
Curious facts
* Niki Lauda took nine poles in the season again.
* The italian Lella Lombardi became the first woman to take championship points in the history at Spain GP.
* Double brasilian one-two, Pace-Fittipaldi in their home town and Fittipaldi-Pace in England.
* The new aerodynamic of Fittipaldi FD-01, absolutely covered chassis and with lateral exausts.
* First ever championship for V-12 engine.
* James Hunt declared after lost 1st place to Fittipaldi in Argentina: "The only matter of having Emerson in your mirror is, when you look at there and you can�t see him, it�s because he is already in front of you..."
* The remarkable and unique victory career for V.Brambilla at Austria. As the race was stopped for bad weather conditions. Soon as received the flag, he lost control of his March and hit the barriers...
First appearance
* Drivers: T.Brise, H.Ertl, B.Lunger, B.Henton, A.Jones, L.Lombardi, R.Zorzi
* Constructors/Teams: Fittipaldi, Williams.
1976 - Hunt, but Lauda...
With new regulations for deformable front structure and roll-bar, the austrian Lauda demolished all the hopes of others drivers to win the 76�s championship after nine rounds: seven consecutives podiums - five victories, two seconds and one third. No one could figure that he could lose this championship. Then, at N�rburgring GP, he lost control of his Ferrari, crashed the armco barriers and his car was envolved in flames. He survived because three honorable men put their own lifes in danger to save him. Their names must be remebered, not only for bravure, but as a spirit of what sport is about: Arturo Merzaro, Harald Ertl and Brett Lunger. Hunt took advantage of Lauda�s absent and reduced the difference in twenty-two points. Lauda recovered in unbeliavable forty days, returning to cockpit at Monza and arriving in fourth place! Hunt would win two more times with Lauda making only one third place. In the final round at Monte Fuji - Japan, Lauda�s advantage was only three points. Then in the race, under very slippery and dangerous wet conditions Lauda abandoned the race and let the way free for Hunt. Also Fittipaldi and Pace pulled out for the same reason: there were no track conditions. Ferrari team informed that his retirement was caused by mechanical failure, but Lauda words let no doubt: "My life is my own and it�s more important than the championship".
Curious facts
* Tyrrell six-front-wheels.
* Fittipaldi moves to his own team, managed by his old brother Wilson and named Copersucar Fittipaldi.
* Fittipaldi negative response to Ferrari�s invitation when Lauda was recovering in the hospital, so Reutemann signed with them.
First appearance
* Drivers: G. Nilsson
* Constructors/Teams: Ligier.
1977 - Lauda reigning again!
Lauda was unstoppable at all the championship with his 312T2 car. Even leading the championship, his relationship with the team was getting worst. But he failed to score points only three times until guarantee his second championship. Then he deserted the team as a response to Ferrari�s decision to not renewal his contract for 78. Otherwise, Lotus showed that they were recovering their criativity as model 78, with its ground effect and new differential, won five times. Four with Andretti and one with Nilsson. Tragically Pryce was killed when a track marshall carring a fire extinguisher crossed the straight exactly in front of his Shadow. Both have instantly death. Also J. Carlos Pace died, but in a plane accident. This year, everyone in F1 believed that Pace would be the champion, as a result of the excelent development work done with his Brabham-Alfa in previous year...
Curious facts
* Wolf, driven by Scheckter, won their first entrance in F1 as the leader Pace suffered with his cold and slowed until stop after the finish line.
* Reintrance of turbo-charged engine: Renault V6, driven by Jabouille - British GP.
* 100th victory for Ford Cosworth engine, Scheckter (Wolf) - Monaco.
First appearance
* Drivers: P.Tambay, G.Villeneuve, B.Giacomelli, R.Patrese, H. Rebaque
* Constructors/Teams: ATS, Wolf, Renault.
1978 - Andretti and Lotus!
After five rounds, a surprising Patrick Depailler (Tyrrell) was in the leader board. He had 23 points, with Reutemann (Ferrari) and Andretti (Lotus) with 18, Lauda (Brabham-Alfa Romeo) 15 and Peterson (Lotus) 14. The, once more Colin Chapman geniality devasted the others teams: Lotus 79 appears at Belgium and the team made its first one-two of the year. This car was the first "wing car", with side-skirts and dominated the rest of the season. Andretti took six victories, with his team mate, Peterson, in second four times. The swedish took only one victory and another podium, third at his home town. At this race, Brabham presented a new BT46 with a large fan in its tail, producing the same ground effect of Lotus aerodynamic. The ideia was based in a project developed by american Jim Hall - the famous Chaparral�s creator. Besides Lauda�s victory in the race, the team was prohibited to use the system (classified as aerodynamic moveable part) and had to abandon the idea. But since model 79 went to the track, Lotus only didn�t win at England and Sweden. Unfortunatelly, Peterson crashed his one at Monza in the practices, and had to run with the 78 model. In the race start a big accident envolved many cars. Peterson had many injuries and died later in the hospital. Championship was over as no one could beat the american anymore. Even Peterson susteined his second position at the championship.
Curious facts
* Italian Riccardo Patrese was blamed for Monza�s accident and was suspended for one race. Almost one year after he was exonerated...
* Emerson Fittipaldi 2nd place in Rio was the best ever result with his own team. The crowd almost impedited him to complete the race as they went into the track to see him got the chequered flag!
* Ronnie Peterson won the race number 300 � South Africa GP.
* If Peterson were driving 79 model at the moment of the accident, maybe he would have the chance to scape with less injuries. Mainly because the new model had its tanks not lateraly installed as 78, but between the driver and the engine.
* Brabham Alfa Romeo tested a new panel using lights instead of pointers, but the drivers did not aproved, as they felt that lights were not so exactly as pointers.
First appearance
* Drivers: R.Arnoux, E.Cheever, D.Daly, N.Piquet, D.Pironi, K. Rosberg
* Constructors/Teams: Arrows, Theodore.
1979 - Scheckter, in a dominant Ferrari season.
J.Laffite stated this season, with Ligier JS11, scoring two wins and dreaming with the title. But Ferrari team just failed at the first race of the season to be in points, meanwhile the french team did not susteined their competitiveness. In all following fourteen races, Ferrari won six times (three one-two) and scored points. Gilles Villeneuve driving style made crowd�s happiness. The master point was his fight against Arnoux (Renault) in Dijon for second place. They overtake each other more than once, touching wheels during the last lap and when it seemed Arnoux would be in advantage, Gilles emerged, diving through, stoling the position. But Jody Scheckter took advantage of Gilles aggressively driving, been much more consistent and getting the points to guarantee his title. Great championship for Williams team, with Regazzoni and Jones scoring five wins and achieving constructors vice-championship. Another good surprise was newcomer Piquet, that outpaced his team-mate, Lauda sometimes in practices, but both suffered with many failures in their BT48 Brabham Alfa Romeo. The team launched new car, BT49, at Canada with Ford engine, as Alfa Romeo returned with their own team. Team Lotus had a year to forget, as the new model has never achieved what they expect.
Curious facts
* Tyrrell has experimented the first eletronic suspension, at Le Castellet - France. The test ended with a big accident in the end of Mistral straight, with a scared, but unhurted, J.P.Jarier driving. The team decided to temporarily abandon the project.
First appearance
* Drivers: E.de Angelis, M.Surer, R.Zunino, J.Lammers.
* Constructors/Teams: Alfa Romeo.
THE MOST OF THE DECADE:
winner: Niki Lauda - 17
pole-sitter: Niki Lauda - 24
fastest laps: Niki Lauda - 16
points: Niki Lauda - 291,5
ALL TIME:
* winner: Jackie Stewart - 27
* pole-sitter: Jim Clark - 32
* fastest laps: Jim Clark - 28
* points: Jackie Stewart - 343
London: Lewis Hamilton will stand before a Paris appeal court on Monday for a hearing that could ultimately affect the outcome of the Formula One championship.