Match Summaries :: Press Box

	1	2	3
Paola SUAREZ (ARG)	3	6	6
Dinara SAFINA (RUS)	6	3	4

Suarez Back On Track With Win Over Safina

Argentina’s Paola Suarez was once ranked number one in the world in doubles. She was also ranked as high as ninth in the world in singles after reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2004.

However, after a strong start to her 2005 season, she suffered injuries and was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon last year. She ultimately had surgery for a hip injury and missed the rest of 2005.

Needless to say, her ranking fell and she needed a special ranking to enter the main draw of the 2006 Acura Classic.

On Monday afternoon in a first round match, fans on Stadium Court watched Suarez take an impressive step in her comeback as she dismissed the hard-hitting Russian Dinara Safina, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

After losing the first set, the Argentine jumped out to a 4-1 second set lead and at 5-3 easily served out the set to tie the match.

In the third set with fans yelling, “Vamos Paola,” Suarez used two early service breaks to take an early lead. Playing with confidence and tracking down Safina’s powerful ground strokes, she stretched her third-set lead to 5-3.

Safina, who entered the Acura Classic as the ninth-seed, served to stay in the match and fought off three match points to hold serve.

As the crowd cheered loudly for Suarez after the match, she acknowledged the crowd and thanked them.

Suarez has won 39 career doubles titles including the eight Grand Slam titles she has won with Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain.
Suarez is playing in her sixth career Acura Classic.
Suarez will face Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine in the second round.
Safina is ranked 15th in the world.
Safina reached the 2006 French Open singles quarterfinals.
Safina was making her second career Acura Classic appearance. She lost in the third round in 2005.

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