Safina will fight to defend no.1 spot

Dinara Safina, yet to validate her status as world no.1 with a grand slam title, says she will not give up the top ranking without a fight.

The 23-year-old Russian promised to prove her point by successfully defending her Pan Pacific Open crown in Tokyo this week following an early exit from the US Open.

"If someone steals it from me, I will shake their hand and say 'well done' but I won't give it up easily," she said.

Safina's status has been a sore point after she repeatedly failed to make the breakthrough in the four grand slams.

A shock defeat by Czech teenager Petra Kvitova in the third round in New York earlier this month raised the stakes still further, but Safina was in bullish mood in Tokyo.

"I played the best tennis of my life here last year," she said before the $2-million event.

"I plan to bring my best tennis again and give 100 per cent to keep (the ranking)."