Eleven-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams began her fourth stint as world number one last week after she fared better than Russia’s Dinara Safina at the recently concluded China Open. Safina lost in the second round of the event while Williams crashed out in the third round. The tournament winner was Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The reigning Australian and Wimbledon champion is currently on her 74th career week at the top of the rankings.

Finally, Jelena Jankovic has something to smile about.

The Serbian former world number one clinched the Cincinnati Open title on Sunday after beating top-ranked Russian Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2. This places Jankovic among the leading contenders for the U.S. Open title. The hardcourt Grand Slam tournament begins later this month.

“My smile is back and I’m having fun playing the matches. This is what I missed. I missed this for maybe seven months this year,” Jankovic was quoted as saying.

World number one Dinara Safina proved that she’s the most consistent player in the women’s tour right now after reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The Russian defeated Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals.This is Safina’s eighth final out of 14 tournaments she joined this season.

“Every match I feel better. Today, stepping on the court, I was feeling very good and confident. I was feeling very good stepping in,” Safina said after the match.

The impressive run of comebacking Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters in Cincinnati came to an end following a loss to the world’s number one player.

Top-ranked Russian Dinara Safina stepped up on her game to beat Clijsters 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open on Friday. The Belgian said after the match that her opponent, which she had beaten six out of seven times in the past, improved in her game immensely.

“I really felt today that Dinara played some of her best tennis that I’ve seen. I think by far that’s the best she’s ever played against me,” she said.

World number one Dinara Safina leads the women’s field at this week’s Banka Koper Slovenia Open, a $220,000 WTA International event that’s played on hardcourts, a perfect preparation for the upcoming US Open. Defending champ Sara Errani is the tournament’s fifth seed.

Here are the top eight seeds of the singles event: Dinara Safina (RUS)[1], Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)[2], Kaia Kanepi (EST)[3], Roberta Vinci (ITA)[4], Sara Errani (ITA)[5], Lucie Safarova (CZE)[6], Vera Dushevina (RUS)[7] and Petra Kvitova (CZE)[8].

For free, live Wimbledon 2009 online video coverage, click HERE.

Dinara Safina interview transcript, Wimbledon 2009 on July 2, 2009 following her semifinal loss to third seed Venus Williams of United States  1-6, 0-6. The Russian is still assured of the number one ranking after Wimbledon since she’ll be gaining additional points for her semifinal finish.

Q. Can you put into words how disappointed you feel.

DINARA SAFINA: Well, not really happy with end result, you know. I think she just too good on grass. It’s not my favorite surface and it’s her favorite surface, so she just honestly be too good today.

For free, live Wimbledon 2009 online video coverage, click HERE.

Dinara Safina interview transcript, Wimbledon 2009 on June 30, 2009 following her quarterfinal victory over Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-7, 6-4, 6-1. The world number one is slated to meet two-time defending champion Venus Williams of United States in the semifinals.

Q. At Rome this year when you played Zheng Jie you came back from 5?2 down to win 7?5, but you came off court upset saying, Sometimes I go out on court and it’s like someone else playing. It was frustrating for you. Do you still feel like that at times?

DINARA SAFINA: Well…

For free, live Wimbledon 2009 online video coverage, click HERE.

Dinara Safina interview transcript, Wimbledon 2009 on June 29, 2009 following her fourth round victory over former champion Amelie Mauresmo of France 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The world number one is slated to meet Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the quarterfinals.

Q. How did it feel under the new roof? It was lucky for you, wasn’t it?

DINARA SAFINA: Lucky? I don’t know. If I won, then that means that I was lucky. It was really nice atmosphere to play under the roof, because somehow you feel a little bit more the crowd. Even the crowd also wanted the roof, so it was like unbelievable atmosphere on the court.

The seedings for this year’s Wimbledon were released on Wednesday revealing world number ones Rafael Nadal and Dinara Safina leading the pack. Both were also the top seeds at the recently concluded French Open.

Wimbledon is known for having a unique ranking system. Aside from the world rankings, the organizers also take into account the achievements made by players in the grasscourt slam. There were speculations that 2009 French Open champ Roger Federer would get the top seeding due to his past six finals appearances but in the end it was defending Wimbledon champ Rafael Nadal.

Players that were bumped up the seedings were Marat Safin (seeded 15th despite being ranked 23rd) and 2004 champion Maria Sharapova (seeded 24th despite being ranked 59th).

World number one Dinara Safina virtually crushed her opponents in the first four rounds of this year’s Roland Garros. However, she had to tough it out in three sets against Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals. Will she encounter the same resistance against Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova?

On paper, Safina is favored to win the match with a 2-0 edge against Cibulkova. However, both matches were on hardcourts and this is a claycourt Grand Slam so anything can happen.

Click on this link to watch the match live online and for free.

Top seed Dinara Safina of Russia continued her impressive play at this year’s Roland Garros after cruising to the third round by beating compatriot Vitalia Diatchenko in less than an hour 6-1, 6-1.

It seemed like Safina would be handing someone another bagel score as she raced 5-0 into the first set but Diatchenko managed to hold serve once. The Russian world number one won her first round match 6-0, 6-0 against Anne Keothavong of Britain.

“Pretty good start for the tournament. I just played a good game today, good enough to win,” Safina said after the match.

World number one Dinara Safina gave a strong statement to all the doubters of her capability as the top-ranked women’s player by overpowering ninth seed Danish teen Caroline Wozniacki to win the inaugural WTA Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open on Sunday.The score: 6-2, 6-4.

On Friday, the Russian defended herself from critics who believe that she doesn’t deserve the number one ranking because she’s never won a Grand Slam (read related article HERE.) However, her performance for the past three weeks could simply be a preview of her triumph in this month’s French Open.