No 1 Safina learning to get into the swing

ROME: World No 1 Dinara Safina knows she's a marked woman, but the Russian 23-year-old is enjoying her new, lofty position in women's tennis.

Safina, the younger sister of former men's No 1 Marat Safin, ascended to the top spot in the WTA rankings on April 20 and since then has reached two finals and won one title.

Having dismantled compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 on the clay at the Foro Italico here on Saturday, just a week after she lost to her fellow 23-year-old in the Stuttgart final, Safina admitted she is happy to be the target for other players.