 Serena Williams at the Australian Open | |
| Full name | Serena Jameka Williams |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| Calendar prize money | $131,705 |
| Singles | |
| Season record | 12–4 (75%) |
| Calendar titles | 0 |
| Year-end ranking | 95 |
| Ranking change from previous year |  84 |
| Grand Slam & significant results | |
| Australian Open | 3R |
| French Open | A |
| Wimbledon | A |
| US Open | 4R |
Serena Williams' 2006 tennis season was hampered by injury. She was only able to play four tournaments and fell outside the top 100 for the first time since 1997.
"All I could think was that I so didn't want to be there, at just that moment. On the court. In Melbourne. Fighting for points I didn't really care about, in a match I didn't really care about. So what did I do? I cried. Right there on court... It started during one of the changeovers, but it continued when I went back out to play, and it was such a low, despairing, desperate moment for me. I don't know how I managed to keep playing, but I kept playing, because that's just what I did."
Williams did not have any preparation for defending her title at the Australian Open. She faced China's Li Na and won in three sets, dropping the second set in a tiebreak but winning the first and third sets comfortably. In the second round, she defeated Frenchwoman Camille Pin, dropping just four games.
Williams then faced Daniela Hantuchová in the round of 32. She lost the first set, winning only a single game. In the second set, Williams saved three match points in the twelfth game to push it to a tiebreak, but Hantuchová won on her fifth match point. The loss meant that Williams dropped outside of the top 40 for the first time since entering it in 1998. [2]
She then withdrew from tournaments in Tokyo (citing a lack of fitness) [3] , Dubai, and the Tier I NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne (citing a knee injury and lack of fitness). [4]
On April 10, her ranking fell out of the top 100 for the first time since November 16, 1997. Shortly after, she announced that she would miss both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a chronic knee injury. She stated that, on doctor's orders, she would not be able to compete before "the end of the summer." [5]
Williams returned to competition ranked No. 139 at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. In the first round, she faced world No. 11 Anastasia Myskina and won convincingly, dropping only four games. [6]
She then defeated Bethanie Mattek in the next round, once again losing just four games. In the quarterfinals, Williams faced compatriot Amy Frazier and won in similar fashion, marking the third consecutive match in which she dropped only four games.
In the semifinals, she took on Russian Vera Zvonareva but was defeated in straight sets. [7]
In only her third tournament of the year, Williams competed at the JPMorgan Chase Open. She cruised past her first two opponents, Maria Kirilenko and Ashley Harkleroad, winning both matches in straight sets.
In the third round, she faced Daniela Hantuchová and lost the first set, winning only one game. However, Williams mounted a comeback, winning the next two sets 6–3, 6–3. [8]
In the quarterfinals, Williams faced compatriot Meghann Shaughnessy. The first set went to a tiebreak, which Shaughnessy won, but Williams responded by dominating the next two sets to secure the victory. [9]
Williams then faced Jelena Janković in the semifinals. Janković broke Williams in the tenth game of the first set to claim it. She then took control of the second set by breaking Williams in the fourth game, paving the way for her to advance to the final. [10]
Williams was unable to enter the US Open as a direct entry but received a wildcard. [11]
Williams began her US Open campaign against Spaniard Lourdes Domínguez Lino and quickly dispatched the world No. 41 in straight sets. [12]
For the third time in four tournaments, Williams faced Daniela Hantuchová. Hantuchová served for the first set in the ninth game, but Williams broke back and won the next three games to take the set. She then secured the second set to advance. [13]
In the third round, Williams faced rising star Ana Ivanovic and cruised to a straight-set victory, becoming the first wildcard entry to reach the round of 16. [14]
In the fourth round, Williams faced top seed Amélie Mauresmo. Mauresmo took the first set with a single break. However, Williams responded by dominating the second set, winning it 6–0. In the final set, Mauresmo broke Williams in the fifth game and won the last three games to secure the victory and advance to the quarterfinals. [15]
| Tournament | Match | Round | Opponent | Rank | Result | Score |
| Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 16–29 January 2006 | 372 | 1R |  Li Na | #52 | Win | 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–2 |
| 373 | 2R |  Camille Pin | #130 | Win | 6–3, 6–1 | |
| 374 | 3R |  Daniela Hantuchová | #17 | Loss | 1–6, 6–7(5–7) | |
| Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open Cincinnati, United States WTA Tier III Hard 17–23 July 2006 | 375 | 1R |  Anastasia Myskina | #11 | Win | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 376 | 2R | Bethanie Mattek-Sands | #105 | Win | 6–3, 6–1 | |
| 377 | QF | Amy Frazier | #56 | Win | 6–2, 6–2 | |
| 378 | SF | Vera Zvonareva | 50 | Loss | 2–6, 3–6 | |
| JPMorgan Chase Open Los Angeles, United States WTA Tier II Hard 7–13 August 2006 | 379 | 1R | Maria Kirilenko | #21 | Win | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 380 | 2R | Ashley Harkleroad | #102 | Win | 6–3, 6–2 | |
| 381 | 3R | Daniela Hantuchová | #17 | Win | 1–6, 6–3, 6–3 | |
| 382 | QF | Meghann Shaughnessy | #77 | Win | 6–7(7–9), 6–1, 6–4 | |
| 383 | SF |  Jelena Janković | #28 | Loss | 4–6, 3–6 | |
| US Open New York City, United States Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 384 | 1R |  Lourdes Domínguez Lino | #41 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 385 | 2R | Daniela Hantuchová | #18 | Win | 7–5, 6–3 | |
| 386 | 3R | Ana Ivanovic | #17 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 | |
| 387 | 4R | Amélie Mauresmo | #1 | Loss | 4–6, 6–0, 2–6 |
Williams' 2006 singles tournament schedule is as follows:
| Date | Championship | Location | Category | Surface | Points | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 January 2006 – 29 January 2006 | Australian Open | Melbourne (AUS) | Grand Slam | Hard | 62 | Third Round lost to Daniela Hantuchová 1–6, 6–7(5–7) |
| 17 July 2006 – 23 July 2006 | Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open | Cincinnati (USA) | WTA Tier III | Hard | 55 | Semifinals lost to Vera Zvonareva 2–6, 3–6 |
| 7 August 2006 – 13 August 2006 | JPMorgan Chase Open | Los Angeles (USA) | WTA Tier II | Hard | 88 | Semifinals lost to Jelena Janković, 4–6, 3–6 |
| 28 August 2006 – 10 September 2006 | US Open | New York (USA) | Grand Slam | Hard | 96 | Fourth Round lost to Amélie Mauresmo, 6–4, 0–6, 6–2 |
| Total year-end points | 301 | |||||
Ordered by percentage of wins
Li Na 1–0 Camille Pin 1–0 Anastasia Myskina 1–0 Bethanie Mattek-Sands 1–0 Amy Frazier 1–0 Maria Kirilenko 1–0 Ashley Harkleroad 1–0 Meghann Shaughnessy 1–0 Lourdes Domínguez Lino 1–0 Ana Ivanovic 1–0 Daniela Hantuchová 2–1 Vera Zvonareva 0–1 Jelena Janković 0–1 Amélie Mauresmo 0–1| # | Event | Prize money | Year-to-date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian Open | $32,483 | $32,483 |
| 2 | Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open | $7,700 | $40,183 |
| 3 | JPMorgan Chase Open | $25,060 | $65,243 |
| 4 | US Open | $66,462 | $131,705 |
| $131,705 | |||
Figures in United States dollars (USD) unless noted.
Daniela Hantuchová is a Slovak tennis commentator and retired player. She turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first WTA Tour title at the Indian Wells Open, defeating Martina Hingis in the final and becoming the lowest-ranked player to ever win the tournament. She also reached the quarterfinals of that year's Wimbledon Championships and US Open, ending the year in the top ten. She was part of the Slovak team that won the 2002 Fed Cup and the 2005 Hopman Cup.
Meghann Shaughnessy is an American former professional tennis player. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 11 in 2001 and won six titles on the WTA Tour. Her best doubles ranking was world No. 4, and she won 17 career doubles titles, including the WTA Championships in 2004. She is best known for her serve, which was one of the most powerful on tour, and has produced as many as 22 aces in a match.
Anna Aleksandrovna Smashnova is a Soviet-born Israeli former tennis player. She retired from professional tour after Wimbledon 2007.
Amélie Mauresmo defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final, 6–1, 2–0 ret., to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2006 Australian Open. It was her first major title. Henin-Hardenne was suffering from stomach cramps resulting from the accidental misuse of anti-inflammatories for a chronic shoulder injury. This was Mauresmo's third match of the tournament where her opponent retired. Mauresmo and Henin-Hardenne would have a rematch in the Wimbledon final later that year, where Mauresmo would win in three sets.
Ashley Harkleroad Adams is a former professional American tennis player. She reached a career-high ranking in singles of 39 in June 2003.
Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated Kim Clijsters in the final, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2004 Australian Open. It was her third major title, each time defeating Clijsters in the final. Clijsters would eventually win the title seven years later.
Serena Williams defeated the two-time defending champion, her sister Venus Williams, in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–4, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2002 US Open. It was her second US Open singles title, her fourth major singles title overall, the third component of her first "Serena Slam", and her second consecutive major title won without losing a set.
Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated Kim Clijsters in the final, 7–5, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2003 US Open. It was her first US Open title and second major title overall. She lost only one set during the tournament, to Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals.
Serena Williams defeated Lindsay Davenport in the final, 2–6, 6–3, 6–0 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2005 Australian Open. It was her second Australian Open singles title and her seventh major singles title overall. Williams saved three match points en route to the title, in the semifinals against Maria Sharapova.
Defending champion Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships. It was her second Wimbledon singles title and her sixth major singles title overall.
The 2007 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London in the United Kingdom. It was the 121st edition of the Wimbledon Championships and were held from 25 June to 8 July 2007. It was the third Grand Slam tennis event of the year.
Maria Sharapova defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final, 6–4, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2006 US Open. It was her second major title. She lost just one set during the tournament. By reaching the final, Henin-Hardenne became the eighth woman to reach all four major finals in a calendar year, and remains the last woman to achieve the feat.
Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in the final, 6–1, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2007 Australian Open. It was her third Australian Open singles title and her eighth major singles title overall. Ranked as the world No. 81, she became the first unseeded player to win the title since Christine O'Neil in 1978.
Maria Sharapova defeated Ana Ivanovic in the final, 7–5, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2008 Australian Open. It was her third major singles title, and she became the first Russian to win the title. She did not lose a set during the tournament or face a tiebreak in any set. It was Ivanovic's second runner-up finish in as many major finals, though she would win the French Open a few months later.
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The tournament is remembered for containing many notable matches of the 2009 year, including the Nadal v Verdasco semi final and the Nadal v Federer final. It was the first hard court Grand Slam in which Nadal made the final or won.
Elena Viacheslavovna Dementieva is a Russian former professional tennis player. She was ranked world No. 3 in women's singles and world No. 5 in women's doubles by the WTA. Dementieva won 16 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, adding to a silver medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She was also the runner-up at the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open, and reached seven other major semifinals. Dementieva was part of the victorious Russian team at the 2005 Fed Cup. In doubles, she won six titles, including the 2002 WTA Championships with Janette Husárová, and was runner-up in two US Open finals.
Jelena Janković is a Serbian former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 17 weeks, including as the year-end No. 1 in 2008. Janković won 15 WTA Tour-level singles titles and two doubles titles, including the 2007 Wimbledon mixed-doubles title partnering Jamie Murray. Her career-best major performance in singles was a runner-up finish at the 2008 US Open.
Kim Clijsters defeated Amélie Mauresmo in the final, 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–0 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2003 Italian Open. It was her third title of the season, and the 13th overall in her career.
Serena Williams's 2008 tennis season officially began at the 2008 Australian Open. Williams finished the year ranked world no. 2, finishing in the top 5 for the first time since 2003. She also won her 9th slam at the US Open.
Serena Williams's 2005 tennis season was hampered by injury and was the first time that she didn't qualify for the Year-End Championships since 1999. Williams also failed to finish in the top 10 for the first time since 1998 despite winning a slam.
98 WTA Titles: 73 singles, 23 doubles & 2 mixed doubles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entourage |
|  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rivalries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable matches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year-end No.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam titles |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITF titles |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WTA Tour titles |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National representation |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Surface — Hard  Clay  Grass  Carpet  Category: SGL (singles), DBL (doubles), MX (mixed doubles) Serena Williams official website  Tennisportal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
