With the winner taking home a Grand Slam title and the No.1 ranking, there was a lot at stake in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday night.

And although Dinara had shown her talents and fighting spirit throughout the fortnight, it was Serena Williams who rose to the occasion, putting on a glorious display of power tennis during a 60 63 win for her 10th Grand Slam singles title.

Williams, the second seed at the year’s first major, came out on absolute fire against third-seeded Dinara, needing little more than 20 minutes to notch a bagel set. Serves, returns, forehands, backhands - a dozen winners but only two unforced errors flew off the Williams racquet. It was more of the same in the second set; Dinara was able to get three games on the board but Williams was always in control, serving it out at love, a missed Dinara drop shot closing out the match.

“I’m going to Disney World!” Williams joked afterwards. “I think I got in the zone in the last two games of my doubles match yesterday, and I didn’t stop after that. I’m so excited about this victory. I just want to stay consistent and fit and keep going like this. I’ve always said, when I’m at my best I’m really tough to beat.”

Dinara, who will rise to No.2 in the world, was gracious in defeat.

“I don’t have much to say - I felt like a ballboy on the court today,” she told the packed Rod Laver Arena crowd during the trophy presentation. “Congratulations to Serena. She played so well. To all the fans who supported me, I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better match. But I will be back next year.”

Williams has won all four of her titles at the Australian Open in the last four odd years - 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She is now tied with Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles for the most Australian Open titles in the Open Era; she is also the fifth woman in the Open Era to win 10 or more Grand Slam singles titles, after Court, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Graf.

Despite the loss, Dinara won over the crowds and earned the respect of so many during her fortnight in Melbourne. Perhaps her most entertaining show came in her fourth-round match, where she rallied back from 5-2 down in the third set - saving two match points down 5-4, as well - to beat rising star Alizé Cornet; she also went the distance against tournament darling Jelena Dokic, ending the run of the Australian sentimental favorite in three tough sets, 64 46 64. She then beat countrywoman and first-time Grand Slam singles semifinalist Vera Zvonareva.

“I wasn’t nervous today, not even close to what I was like before the French Open final,” said Dinara, whose first Grand Slam final came at Roland Garros last year. “I was feeling good today. I slept well and everything was fine. But once you step on the court it’s a different situation. She had been in this situation many more times than I had. She’s a champion. She just proved it.”

Dinara’s 6-3 76(4) semifinal victory over No.7 seed Vera Zvonareva on Thursday sets up a Saturday clash with No.2 seed Serena Williams in which the winner will be No.1 in the world and the loser No.2.

Dinara dictated play against fellow Russian Zvonareva, hitting more than twice as many winners (28-13). Zvonareva served for the second set at 6-5 but was broken easily, and Dinara secured the win with a scorching forehand passing shot to take the tiebreak, 7-4.

“I was more aggressive today than previous matches,” said Dinara, who had been heavily critical of herself after matches earlier in the tournament. “I think the first set was perfect. In the second set I had some chances where I could have been a little more aggressive, but I played a very good game down 6-5 on her serve and then played a solid tiebreak. I’m very pleased with how I played today.”

Dinara’s only pervious Grand Slam final was at Roland Garros last year. She’s looking forward to another chance at a title.

“Well, it would be amazing, you know, to have the same trophy as my brother have,” she said. “It’ll be a dream come true.”

Dinara is 1-5 in her career against Serena.

Dinara reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time by ending the Cinderella run of Jelena Dokic on Tuesday, 64 46 64.

Next up for Dinara is 22-year-old Vera Zvonareva, a fellow Russian and the No.7 seed.

Dinara, who will rise to No.1 in the world if she lifts the trophy on Saturday, had to dig deep to finally end the campaign of Australia’s comeback queen, who beat three seeds in Melbourne and lifted her ranking back inside the Top 100 for the first time since 2004 - in just her second appearance in a major in five years.

Dokic seemed to start nervously, dropping her opening service game and making 18 unforced errors in the first set. Although the Australian managed to break for 3-3, a missed forehand cost her another break and this time the Russian favorite didn’t let the advantage slip.

But if Dinara seemed on course for an uneventful straight-sets win, the 25-year-old Dokic had other ideas as she opened up a 3-0 lead in the second. Although she would hold on to take the set, it was not without drama: twice she broke the Russian’s serve, only to give hers back in return. Dinara helped the world No.187’s cause by serving two double faults in the 10th game, though, the second of them coming on set point.

The momentum swung back the Russian’s way early in the third set, but once again Dokic shone when playing from behind, leveling it at 4-4. However, helped by a string of loose points from the underdog, Dinara broke again, and in the end Dokic was unable to call upon the dazzling winners that had saved her so often during the tournament.

“Sorry I had to defeat today your Australian,” said Dinara. “I hope you’ll be behind me next time.”

Of the forthcoming matchup with Zvonareva, she added: “I hope it’s going to be a good match that we both enjoy and the crowd enjoys and whoever deserves to win wins.”

In her press conference Dinara sounded like she’s already dealing with a tougher opponent than Zvonareva.

“Most of the time it’s me against myself playing,” she said. “You know, I play against me, my shadow, myself, everything against me.  If one day I will play only against opponent, this will be the perfect day.”

Dinara had a wild first week of the Australian Open, but still finds herself exactly where she wants to be: in the quarterfinals.

The No.3 seed started with a straight-sets win in Round 1, had to come back from a set down in the second round, then routed No.25 seed Kaia Kanepi in the third round before things got really interesting.

In the fourth round, Dinara fought back from 5-2 down in the third set against No.15 seed Alizé Cornet and saved two match points en route to a 62 26 75 win.

“Maybe she was just not ready to win this match, because she had it all in her hands,” Safina said. “It’s the first time I’m actually in the quarters here, so I’m pleased about that. But other than that I’m disappointed with the way I played. What I did on the court today was really sad. But nobody’s playing great yet. We all need matches to find our best form. I need to improve for my next match.”

Next up is wildcard Jelena Dokic as Dinara’s quest for her first Grand Slam continues. If Dinara takes the title, she’ll also take over Jelena Jankovic’s spot as No.1 in the world. She can also claim the top spot if she reaches the semis and both Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva fail to advance to the finals.

Dinara knows what she needs to do to keep advancing.

“Just hit the ball at least 10, 15K faster, not pushing, you know,” she said. “Just play the way I can play, nothing else. There is no secret. The problem is that I’m doubting because I’m not playing the game I used to play. I’m just – I don’t know. Either somebody just smacks me so hard in my head that something shakes finally and I put the cables together.”

Dinara will be the No.3 seed at next week’s Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2009.

Dinara, whose world ranking is also No.3, will try to rebound from a first-round loss at last year’s Aussie Open. She reached the third round in 2004 and 2007, her best two showings in Melbourne.

“I always look for the Grand Slam,” she said “That’s what you’re playing for, you know, for the big tournaments. I’m really looking forward to play. I just want to go to out there and do the best I can.”

Dinara will open play against fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva, No.71 in the world. Fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic is a possible quarterfinal opponent; a matchup with top-seeded Jelena Jankovic looms in the semis if the draw holds true to form. Dinara is 1-0 all-time vs. Kudryavtseva, 1-3 against Ivanovic and 3-2 vs. Jankovic.

Coming off a career year in which she won four titles and reached the final of the French Open, Dinara has more confidence as she seeks her first Grand Slam.

“You’re coming [in a] different player,” she said. “Now I’m not as a tourist anymore.”
The tournament gets underway Monday, with 29 of the Tour’s Top 32 players competing. Last year’s champion, Maria Sharapova, will miss the tournament with a shoulder injury. Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic is the No.1 seed.

Dinara helped Russia to a second-place finish at last week’s Hopman Cup and was a finalist in Sydney this week.

Dinara finished her preparations for next week’s Australian Open with a runner-up performance at the Medibank International in Sydney.

The second seed had straight-sets wins over Sorana Cirstea, Vera Dushevina, Alize Cornet and Ai Sugayama before third-seeded Elena Dementieva stopped her 63 26 61 in the finals on Friday.

Dinara pocketed $52,500 in prize money, but more importantly, recorded another solid pre-Aussie Open result after helping Russia to a second-place finish at last week’s Hopman Cup.

“Of course I take only the positive,” said Dinara. “I reached the final. I played the final. Compared to last year I lost first round, so I just take the positive thing.

I played good the second set. I know there is my game, and I’m just looking forward for the next week and really to go out there and play the best I can. This is the only thing I want to do next week.”

Dinara lost only five points on serve in the second set of her finals loss.

Dinara got her 2009 season in gear by helping Russia to a runner-up finish at the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

The world No.3 contributed a 3-1 record in singles and 1-2 in doubles, with her brother Marat, during the weeklong competition featuring eight mixed teams.

Dinara’s singles wins consisted of a straight-sets victory over Italy’s Flavia Pannetta, a three-set thriller against Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-Wei and a straight-sets rout of France’s Alize Cornet.

Unfortunately, in the finals Dinara fell in three sets to the Slovak Republic’s Dominika Cibulkova at the Burswood Dome, and Marat lost as well, as the Slovaks took the Cup for the third time in the event’s 21-year history.

Dinara said it was “nice” to team up with her brother, but also challenging because both of them liked to be the “dominant person on the court.” She said she didn’t let him boss her around.

“He can play one way the ball, and I cannot play this way,” said Dinara. “I have only my way to play. So it’s very, very different. I would go for the winner. He goes, ‘Why you go for the winner? You have to push it there.’ And I cannot just push it. Either I go [or] either I don’t go for this shot.”