Dinara Safina of Russia hits a return against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the Sydney International tennis tournament January 12, 2010. Safina beats Radwanska 2-0. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    CANBERRA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian Dinara Safina has returned from a back injury with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland to reach the quarterfinals of the Sydney International WTA event.

    Second-seeded Safina, runner-up at Sydney before her run to last year's Australian Open final, lost the opening five games before winning nine straight to take the first set and go up a break in the second.

    She was broken while serving for the match, but broke the No. 10-ranked Radwanska to finish the match.

    Safina was playing for the first time since a back injury forced her out of the first round of the season-ending championship in October and cost her the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland hits a return to Dinara Safina of Russia during the Sydney International tennis tournament January 12, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>