Dinara Safina was unable to work a third
comeback miracle as he first French Open final ended in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat
against Serb Ana Ivanovic on Saturday.
But the Russian said it was not for a lack or trying after reversing deficits on
earlier rounds against Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva.
"I tried, but I didn't have any more of that fire that I had those
matches," said the younger sister of Marat Safin, who might have been
expected to appear as a spectator but never made the trip from London.
"I was just down mentally and physically. My heart couldn't and my body
couldn't do it anymore."
The Russian, who could only boasts two quarter-finals in the first three months
of 2008, exploded into form on the clay, winning the Tier I Berlin title last
month.
She required major efforts in knocking off three top 10 Russians during the Paris fortnight to reach her title shot against Ivanovic.
Safina came to the final with more than ten hours on court as opposed to eight
for the Serb.
"If I would have been a little bit fresher it would be different,"
said Safina. "I spent way too much hours like for those two matches
against Maria and Elena.
"Comebacks always takes so much heart and mental strength.
"But if someone would have said that I'd win a big event and get to the
Roland Garros final, I'd say 'What are you talking about?'
"My coach believed in me. Even after bad losses, he was still tell me I was
a good player, just keep working.
Now that I've had a final I want to take all the experience that I had and just
to even work harder. Now I believe in everything, so I just want to be even
more tough on myself - not like a perfectionist but to keep going," said
Safina, according to dpa.