 Safina was ranked number one in the world this time last year
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World number three Dinara Safina made a winning return after three months out with victory over Hungary's Agnes Szavay at the Stuttgart Grand Prix.
The Russian, who turned 24 on Tuesday, won 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-0 in her first tournament since pulling out of the Australian open with a back injury.
Safina said earlier this week that the injury could yet threaten her career.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki suffered a recurrence of her ankle injury as she lost to Lucie Safarova.
The 19-year-old Dane, who retired from the Family Circle Cup in Charleston two weeks ago with the same problem, went down 6-4 6-4 to Safarova.
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"I didn't feel like I could move 100% and if you can't move, you can't run," said Wozniacki.
"She was making me run a bit, but now I just want to get ready for my next tournament (in Madrid)."
On another day of surprises in Stuttgart, Russian qualifier Anna Lapushchenkova defeated sixth seed Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-3.
Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic did make it through to the quarter-finals after beating Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 6-2 in just 82 minutes, while Australia's Samantha Stosur beat Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru 3-6 6-0 6-2.
And former world number one Justine Henin, wearing a splint to protect the broken finger she suffered in training last week, saw off Germany's Julia Goerges 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.
"I had to change my splint before the match but it has been a week since the injury, it is getting better even if the finger is still pretty blue," said the Belgian.
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