Dinara Safina has recorded consecutive wins for the first time since the Australian Open, coming from 4-1 down in the third set to defeat Nadia Petrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in Montreal.
"I could play the three-set match against the top player and physically I could feel fine and this was a nice test for me, for my back for everything," said Safina, who missed three months this season with a stress fracture in her back.
Safina won the tournament the last time it was played in Montreal two years ago. "I guess the crowd still remembers that I won it," she said. "That [is] the nicest thing when you step on the court. The crowd is there, they are cheering for you."