Henin–S. Williams rivalry

Tennis players Justine Henin from Belgium, former world No. 1, and Serena Williams from the USA, current World No. 1,^{[1] [2]} who met 14 times during their careers. When Henin was an active player, their rivalry was one of the most heated and competitive between two female players on the WTA Tour;^[3] their contests were not solely athletic in nature, but interpersonal as well.^[4]

As of June 30, 2013, Williams leads the overall head-to-head series, 8–6.^[5] Henin retired for the second time in January 2011.^[6]

Head-to-head

Legend: Before 2009	Legend: Starting in 2009
Grand Slam tournaments (7)
WTA Championships (1)
Tier I (5)	Premier Mandatory (0)
Tier II (1)	Premier 5 (0)
Tier III (0)	Premier (0)
Tier IV & V (0)	International (0)

Henin–S. Williams (6–8)

Year	Tournament	Surface	Round	Winner	Score	J. H.	S. W.
2001	US Open	Hard	R16	Williams	7–5 6–0	0	1
2001	WTA Tour Championships	Carpet	QF	Williams	6–3 7–6(5)	0	2
2002	Berlin	Clay	F	Henin	6–2 1–6 7–6(5)	1	2
2002	Rome	Clay	F	Williams	7–6(6) 6–4	1	3
2002	Leipzig	Carpet	SF	Williams	6–4 6–2	1	4
2003	Charleston	Clay	F	Henin	6–3 6–4	2	4
2003	French Open	Clay	SF	Henin	6–2 4–6 7–5	3	4
2003	Wimbledon	Grass	SF	Williams	6–3 6–2	3	5
2007	Miami	Hard	F	Williams	0–6 7–5 6–3	3	6
2007	French Open	Clay	QF	Henin	6–4 6–3	4	6
2007	Wimbledon	Grass	QF	Henin	6–4 3–6 6–3	5	6
2007	US Open	Hard	QF	Henin	7–6(3) 6–1	6	6
2008	Miami	Hard	QF	Williams	6–2 6–0	6	7
2010	Australian Open	Hard	F	Williams	6–4 3–6 6–2	6	8

Breakdown of the rivalry

• All courts: Williams, 8-6
• Hard courts: Williams, 4–1
• Clay courts: Henin, 4–1
• Grass courts: Equal, 1–1
• Carpet: Williams, 2–0
• Grand Slam matches: Henin, 4–3
• Grand Slam finals: Williams, 1–0
• Year-End Championships matches: Williams, 1–0
• Year-End Championships finals: None
• Fed Cup matches: None
• Matches won after saving match points: Williams, 1–0
• All finals: Williams, 3–2
• Sets Won: Williams, 19–14
• Games Won: Williams, 164–146

Performance timeline

Grand Slam tournaments

Key

W

F

SF

QF

R#

RR

Q#

A

P

Z#

PO

G

F-S

SF-B

NMS

NH

(W) Won tournament; reached (F) final, (SF) semifinal, (QF) quarterfinal; (R#) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; competed at a (RR) round-robin stage; reached a (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; played in a (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; won a (G) gold, (F-S) silver or (SF-B) bronze Olympic medal; a (NMS) downgraded Masters Series/1000 tournament; or (NH) tournament not held.

To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated either at the conclusion of a tournament, or when the player's participation in the tournament has ended.

• Bold = players met during this tournament

By Year

1998–2003

Player	1998				1999				2000				2001				2002				2003
	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA
Justine Henin					A	2R	A	1R	2R	A	1R	4R	4R	SF	F	4R	QF	1R	SF	4R	SF	W	SF	W
Serena Williams	2R	4R	3R	3R	3R	3R	A	W	4R	A	SF	QF	QF	QF	QF	F	A	W	W	W	W	SF	W	A

2004–2009

Player	2004				2005				2006				2007				2008				2009
	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA
Justine Henin	W	2R	A	4R	A	W	1R	4R	F	W	F	F	A	W	SF	W	QF	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Serena Williams	A	QF	F	QF	W	A	3R	4R	3R	A	A	3R	W	QF	QF	QF	QF	3R	F	W	W	QF	W	SF

2010–2015

Player	2010				2011				2012				2013				2014				2015
	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA	AUS	FRA	WIM	USA
Justine Henin	F	4R	4R	A	3R	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Serena Williams	W	QF	W	A	A	A	4R	F	4R	1R	W	W	QF	W	4R	W	4R	2R	3R	W	W	W	W	SF

See also

• List of tennis rivalries
• Clijsters–Henin rivalry
• Williams sisters rivalry

References

1. Sony Ericsson WTA Tour: Justine Henin stats
2. Sony Ericsson WTA Tour: Serena Williams stats
3. Serena relishing Henin's return
4. http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/25/eight-years-later-serena-williams-cant-get-over-justine-henin/
5. Sony Ericsson WTA Tour: Head-to-Head
6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/9377012.stm