Danira Safina just got by Venus Williams in Rome, taking the 3rd set 6-4 in a tight and long match. Safina will take on her Russian buddy Kuznetsova in tomorrows final.

This is a fantastic win for Safina in so many ways.

1) 3+ hour match, putting on display her increased fitness levels
2) Taking out the sister of the woman that dogged her #1 ranking
3) Taking out a high quality player, and serious contender at the French Open

If, and big if, Safina ends up taking the French Open, I’d look back at this victory as the one to get her head truly in #1 mode. It is a super step in getting a much needed dose of “street cred” as the worlds best female tennis player.

MarkOskar

Original post by Mark Oskar