Dinara Safina explains the one thing she wishes current players on the WTA Tour would do

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Dinara Safina enjoyed a stellar tennis career, becoming world number one and reaching three Grand Slam finals.

The Russian star competed on the WTA Tour between 2000 and 2011, picking up 12 titles, including five WTA 1000 victories.

Safina’s performances saw her become world number one in 2009, holding the ranking for a total of 26 weeks, before being usurped by Serena Williams.

Having retired from tennis in 2013, Safina recently re-joined the WTA Tour as coach, working alongside world number 13 Diana Shnaider.

Speaking after Shnaider’s loss to Iga Swiatek at this year’s Madrid Open, Safina revealed what she wished other players in women’s tennis would do.

Dinara Safina says ‘it would be nice’ if WTA players came to her asking for advice

During an interview with Daniela Hantuchova, Safina was asked what advice she would give to players on the WTA Tour today.

“You can give advice only to someone who is asking for your advice,” she said.

“On one hand, sometimes I see they don’t take it too seriously.

“It’s a very short period of time you play tennis, so I always say, like give your 100% day by day, doesn’t matter if you win or lose.

“Sometimes I feel like they practice on their work, but you have to go out of the court, squeezing your t-shirt, that was my mentality.

“Also, to learn how to deal with the pressure, because I see now the players have those tough moments and they can burn out.”

The 39-year-old suggested more women’s players should ask the stars of yesteryear for advice.

“I think they can speak more with the people who used to play, because we went through it,” said Safina.

“It’s not because we are smarter, it’s because we did exactly the same.

“If someone comes and says ‘I was so nervous before the match’, I always say why didn’t you tell me. To tell you the truth we were sometimes shaking so badly.

“It would be nicer if they ask, because at the end we’re here to help them, to share our experiences.”

Few players have more experience at the top level of women’s tennis than Safina, who won 65 Grand Slam matches during her career.

Safina came closest to winning a Major title at the French Open in 2008 when she fell short against Ana Ivanovic in straight sets, 4-6, 3-6.

Where does Dinara Safina rank among Russian tennis greats?

Russia has developed several top stars in women’s tennis over the years, but how does Safina compare to the likes of Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova?

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova is way out in front, having won more Major titles than the rest of Russia combined.

The 38-year-old won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon at the age of 17 in 2004, shocking the legendary Williams in straight sets.

Sharapova does, however, trail Safina in one key category, having spent five fewer weeks as world number one.

Of the modern-day players, Mirra Andreeva looks most likely to topple Sharapova’s record of five Grand Slams, having broken through to win two WTA 1000 titles earlier this year.

Andreeva won the Dubai Tennis Championships and Indian Wells back-to-back as she rose to a career-high ranking of sixth in the world.

Many are tipping the 18-year-old to threaten at Roland Garros in 2025, having reached the semi-finals last time around.

Only time will tell if Andreeva can break through to become just the fourth Russian woman to win a Grand Slam title next month.

The 2025 French Open is set to begin on Sunday, May 25.