Russia has produced a wealth of tennis talent over the past few decades, with stars like Maria Sharapova, Vera Zvonareva, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Anastasia Myskina leading the way on the women’s side. Among men, players like Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, and Marat Safin — Dinara Safina’s older brother and a major figure in the sport — made their marks as well.

Born six years after Marat Safin, Dinara found inspiration in her brother’s success but also had tennis in her blood through her parents. Her father, Mikhail Safin, directed the Spartak Tennis Academy, while her mother, Rausa Isalanova, coached many top Russian players, including Anna Kournikova, Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva, and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Dinara turned pro at just

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