Serena Williams was dominant for several years on the WTA Tour, securing wins against the very best in women’s tennis.
The American legend won 23 Grand Slam titles during her career, more than any other women’s player in the Open Era.
13 of those titles came on hard courts, as Williams enjoyed particular success at the Australian Open and US Open tournaments.
She lost just five Major finals on the surface, as she proved to be a class above on hard throughout her time on the WTA Tour.
Looking back, one of Williams‘ rivals has revealed why she was so hard to beat on hard courts.
Dinara Safina says she had ‘no chance’ of reading Serena Williams’ serve on hard courts
During an interview with Daniela Hantuchova, former world number one Dinara Safina was asked whether, at her best, she felt she could beat anyone in women’s tennis.
“Except Serena [Williams], it’s true,” she said.
“I couldn’t [beat] Serena and Venus [Williams].
“Clay court, I still could make them because it was slower and for me it would be easier, hardcourt for me I knew I had no chance.
“I don’t know, it was impossible for me to change in my mind because especially against Serena, I knew whatever I do, she does better.
“I like to read the serve, with her, for me it was no chance.”
Safina played 11 matches in total against the Williams sisters, picking up just two wins, both of which came on clay.
| Match | Surface | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2009 Wimbledon – SF | Grass | Venus Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 2009 Rome – SF | Clay | Dinara Safina | Venus Williams | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2009 Australian Open – F | Hard | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 2008 WTA Finals – RR | Hard | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2008 WTA Finals – RR | Hard | Venus Williams | Dinara Safina | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2008 US Open – SF | Hard | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2008 Stuttgart – QF | Hard | Venus Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2008 Berlin – QF | Clay | Dinara Safina | Serena Williams | 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 |
| 2007 French Open – 4R | Clay | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2004 Beijing – 2R | Hard | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2002 US Open – 2R | Hard | Serena Williams | Dinara Safina | 6-0, 6-1 |
She would likely swap both of those wins for a victory against the younger of the two sisters in her one hard-court Grand Slam final appearance.
Dinara Safina lost to Serena Williams in the 2009 Australian Open final
Safina lost her maiden Major final in 2008, to Ana Ivanovic at Roland Garros, 4-6, 3-6, and was out for revenge in 2009.
Travelling to Melbourne as the number three seed, the Russian battled through several three-set wars on her way to the final.
- 2009 Australian Open SF – Dinara Safina beat Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 7-6
- 2009 Australian Open QF – Dinara Safina beat Jelena Dokic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
- 2009 Australian Open 4R – Dinara Safina beat Alize Cornet, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
- 2009 Australian Open 3R- Dinara Safina beat Kaia Kanepi, 6-2, 6-2
- 2009 Australian Open 2R – Dinara Safina beat Ekaterina Makarova, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0
- 2009 Australian Open 1R – Dinara Safina beat Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-3, 6-4
Standing between Safina and her first Grand Slam title was Williams, who had won in Melbourne three times before (2003, 2005, 2007).
Williams broke early in the first set and never let up, storming into a 6-0 lead, handing Safina a rare Grand Slam final bagel [6-0 set].
Determined not to let the occasion slip away from her, Safina took back the momentum as she broke Williams in the opening game of the second set.
Her advantage was short-lived, however, as Williams broke straight back before taking the lead when Safina double-faulted at 1-2 40-AD.
The experienced American held onto the one-break lead throughout the second set as she came through to win her fourth Australian Open title, 6-0, 6-3.
Safina was undoubtedly disappointed to come up short once more, but returned to one further Major final later that year in Paris.
Again, it was so close yet so far, as Safina fell to defeat against her fellow Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in straight sets.
Her performances in 2009 did, however, see Safina reach world number one, holding the ranking for 26 weeks in total.
She played her final professional match in 2011, retiring three years later as one of the greatest players in the history of Russian tennis.
