MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Serena Williams has been there before -- three times in fact. The closest Dinara Safina has been was watching her brother celebrate his title.
Serena is seeking Grand Slam title No. 10
January 30, 2009 at 5:04AM
On the line Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena will be the Australian Open championship -- potentially Williams' fourth here and 10th Grand Slam title. It would be the first for the 22-year-Safina after she lost the French Open final last year to Ana Ivanovic.
The No. 1 ranking also will be decided -- the winner takes it along with the title. Williams is 5-1 in her career vs. Safina, including a relatively easy victory in last year's U.S. Open semifinals.
While Williams has memories of hoisting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup three times, Safina can only recall seeing her brother, Marat Safin, win the men's title here in 2005.
"I watched my brother on TV winning this tournament, and even if I was to watch it now I would have tears in my eyes," said Safina, who beat fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 (4) Thursday. "It is great that I can follow in his footsteps because he was my idol, and he is still my idol."
Williams, for her part, never has been satisfied with her sterling résumé. "Obviously, I want to win," she said after beating Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-4.
By advancing to the singles and doubles finals here, Williams broke the record for career prize money won by a female athlete. Her total of about $22.7 million to date surpasses golf great Annika Sorenstam by more than $150,000.
"I remember earning my first check of $240 at Quebec City in 1995, and while I knew I could have a great career in tennis, I could not have imagined or dreamed of all of this," Williams said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
about the writer
If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy.
