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In the second match of the day at the Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009 on Wednesday, Jelena Jankovic took on Dinara and recorded the win when the Russian retired with a low back injury at 1-1 in the first set.

Dinara then withdrew from the tournament, thus surrendering the year-end top ranking – to Serena Williams. Vera Zvonareva replaced Dinara in the White Group.

“I’ve had this pain in my back for about three months now. I was advised to take a break after the US Open but at Tokyo and Beijing, it didn’t bother me that much,” Dinara said. “Then my body just gave up. I did everything possible to play here. I just couldn’t handle the pain anymore.”

Dinara said she will not be able to play for at least six weeks and could miss the Australian Open.

Dinara regained her No.1 ranking from Serena Williams this week, but by a very slim margin, which makes the Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009 all the more meaningful, as whoever has the better results in Doha will finish the year No.1.

No.1 seed Dinara, who played in her first Tour Championships last year, is in the round robin White Group, which in addition to her consists of No.4 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 seed Victoria Azarenka and No.8 seed Jelena Jankovic. Dinara is a combined 8-4 lifetime against those players.

“To win here, it’s something very big,” Dinara said at her pre-tournament press conference. “From the first match, you have to be top shape. It’s not like a Grand Slam where you don’t always have to play 100 percent until basically the third or fourth round. Here, if you’re not ready, you’re out.”

Dinara, who has her first match of the week on Wednesday, also said she’s happy about her accomplishments in 2009.

“I think it was my best year so far in my career,” she said. “I played a great season. I just want to enjoy my last tournament, go on vacation and enjoy myself.”

With the biggest on-paper upset in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history, Dinara may have relinquished the No.1 ranking on Monday, as the Russian lost to No.226-ranked wildcard Zhang Shuai, 75 76(5), in the second round of the China Open in Beijing.

Zhang, 20, is now the lowest-ranked player ever to beat a reigning No.1, bettering the No.188 ranking held by Julie Coin as the Frenchwoman outdid Ana Ivanovic at last year’s US Open. Dinara had her chances, leading by a break early on in both sets and even having a set point in the second set.

“I’m having some bad losses. So many matches that are very close, ones I should win, having set points or match points every time,” Safina said. “It’s very disappointing. I’d like to take a break now. I’m very upset with myself.”

With Serena Williams’ victory over Ekaterina Makarova on Tuesday, she will return to No.1 when the new rankings are released Monday. Dinara assumed the top spot from Williams on April 20.

Dinara withdrew from her second round doubles match alongside Svetlana Kuznetsova due to a back injury suffered in singles.

Through to Round 2 in Beijing

No.1 seed Dinara defeated Roberta Vinci, 64 64, on Sunday in the first round of the $4.5-million China Open in Beijing.

Dinara raised her career record against the 26-year-old Italian to 4-0. Next up for her is 20-year-old Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai.

Dinara is playing this event for only the second time in her career, having lost in the round of 16 in 2004.

In doubles, Dinara and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the second round on Saturday with a 60 60 rout of Jill Craybas and Alexa Glatch.