Before her withdrawal, Safina looked dangerous in the opening game of the match as she came out charging, breaking Kirilenko’s serve with a powerful backhand cross-court winner. She continued to apply pressure on Kirilenko’s serve in the third game, pushing her far behind the baseline as she could with deep groundstrokes. The second seed had a chance to gain a double break, but could not convert as Kirilenko held, securing the game with a forehand volley winner.

In an intense sixth game, Kirilenko worked Safina hard, ramping up the pressure on her compatriot. The 58th-ranked Kirilenko blew her chances to break as Safina managed to stave off six break points, eventually holding her serve with a smash to lead 4-2.

Kirilenko, who upset Maria Sharapova in the first round, clawed her way back into the match, winning the next three games to jump to a 5-4 lead. With Kirilenko at set point, Safina suddenly walked off the court, retiring from the match.

Post-match, Kirilenko said that she was left with bittersweet feelings after making the final eight of a major for the first time.

“Yeah, I mean, of course it's nice [to reach the quarter-final]. I'm first time actually in the quarter-final. But I prefer, you know, to win and get ‑ like to win all match and get to the quarter-final than to win like this,” Kirilenko said.

Kirilenko, who turns 23 tomorrow, [^] will meet China’s Jie Zheng, who is the first Chinese player ever to make the Australian Open singles quarter-finals. Zheng holds a 4-1 head-to-head lead over the Russian, and has won their past three encounters.

Maria Kirilenko, did your left leg hinder you at all at the match? You had the trainer out there.
In the beginning, I didn’t feel it. Then after three games, like we had such long points. I start to feel it in my right leg. Then the physio taped my right leg. Then after the break, the five minutes’ break, I start to feel it on the left again. I was kind of feeling pain everywhere. But, I know that I lost not because of my pain in my legs, just because she was playing much better than me today.

What makes her (Zheng) a tough opponent?
She was running very well. I thought that I’m making winners, and she’s there. Maybe I had to come more to the net today because on the baseline, I didn’t have a chance. Plus for me was difficult to move. She was moving great, without any mistakes.

Is there anything you can take out of this tournament for the future, for the rest of the year?
Of course, it’s first time I reach the quarterfinal. I think it’s the best what I did in the Grand Slam. It was nice tournament for me.

Do you think she’s the fastest mover on the tour? How quick is she?
There is some girls who is also fast as her, like Dementieva. I think they’re kind of similar, you know, moving on court. You need to do something different. If you feel that you losing on the baseline, you need to change something. But, I tried. I tried to come to the net. But, she was just good today.

You played doubles yesterday. Because of your injury now, was it a mistake?
Well, if I would feel bad, I would not play doubles. Physio, they did really good tape. I said to my partner (A Radwanska), « So I’m not going to run too much in the doubles, just help me a lot ». She was help me actually a lot. I could sit on the bench and you could play without me (laughter). I didn’t hurt myself at all in doubles yesterday.

Was it a hip, hamstring or thigh? What was hurting?
It’s hamstrings, it’s between my legs.

http://www.mariakirilenko.com/ 

birthday [^] after doubles at MCA

Kikri will next play Pattaya City in Thailand.

The news still has Kiri bound for Pattaya, but her webpage says not:

Hello everybody!

Thank you to all you for visiting my website. I have read all your emails in Australia !!!

Thank you a lot for such a kind words and for supporting me !

Tomorrow I am going back home to Moscow, and will get some energy there. I’ll not play in Pattaya but I’ll continue to make you happy soon on the tournaments !

Maria

The Thais will be sad. [:(]

 Wimbly '08 booty shot from Pattaya Daily News.

The news still has Kiri bound for Pattaya, but her webpage says not:

Hello everybody!

Thank you to all you for visiting my website. I have read all your emails in Australia !!!

Thank you a lot for such a kind words and for supporting me !

Tomorrow I am going back home to Moscow, and will get some energy there. I’ll not play in Pattaya but I’ll continue to make you happy soon on the tournaments !

Maria

The Thais will be sad. [:(]

 Wimbly '08 booty shot from Pattaya Daily News.

[/quote]

She has such a pretty face and they show a picture of her ass. [^o)]