H2H data updated: 2026-09-14 00:00 UTC

Serena Williams vs Jana Novotna H2H: 1-0

Serena Williams holds a 1–0 lead over Jana Novotna in their WTA head-to-head. Across 1 main-draw meeting, Serena Williams leads 1–0 on hard courts. Most recently, Serena Williams won the 1998 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix round of 16 2-6 6-3 2-0 RET.

USA Age 44 Right-Handed 175 cm / 5'9"
H2H
1 0
1 main-draw meetings
CZE Right-Handed 175 cm / 5'9"

H2H Match Log

PlayerScorePlayerMatch DataDateRoundTournamentCategorySurface
Serena Williams #19 2-6 6-3 2-0 (ret.) Jana Novotna #3 Match data Oct 9, 1998* R16 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Tier II modern equivalent WTA 500 Hard

Estimated match date where the exact historical date is unavailable. Arrows show an edition's recorded category and documented modern equivalent; unresolved editions keep their recorded category. Asterisked totals include editions mapped from documented historical predecessor categories. Mapping details.

Career Comparison

Player Current Peak Pts Elo W L Win % GS Olympics 1000 including documented historical predecessor categories Finals 500 including documented historical predecessor categories 250 including documented historical predecessor categories Titles
Serena Williams #320 #1 13,615 2,399 837 172 83.0% 23 1 23 6 18 2 73
Jana Novotna #18 #2 5,063 2,240 510 201 71.7% 1 0 2 1 13 7 24

Career Progression by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. GS and Titles are cumulative career totals through that season.

Age Serena Williams Jana Novotna
YrW-LWin %RankEloGSTitles YrW-LWin %RankEloGSTitles
15 1997 3–2 60.0% #101 1,582 0 0
16 1998 26–11 70.3% #20 1,893 0 0
17 1999 38–7 84.4% #4 2,189 1 5 1986 0–4 0.0% #171 1,466 0 0
18 2000 37–8 82.2% #6 2,184 1 8 1987 21–17 55.3% #47 1,752 0 0
19 2001 40–7 85.1% #6 2,237 1 11 1988 24–19 55.8% #35 1,760 0 1
20 2002 57–5 91.9% #1 2,339 4 19 1989 45–17 72.6% #11 1,963 0 2
21 2003 36–3 92.3% #3 2,365 6 23 1990 40–16 71.4% #13 2,017 0 3
22 2004 39–11 78.0% #7 2,225 6 25 1991 45–15 75.0% #7 2,071 0 5
23 2005 21–9 70.0% #11 2,101 7 26 1992 36–18 66.7% #10 2,080 0 5
24 2006 12–4 75.0% #95 2,063 7 26 1993 46–15 75.4% #6 2,101 0 7
25 2007 34–10 77.3% #7 2,077 8 28 1994 43–11 79.6% #4 2,141 0 10
26 2008 44–9 83.0% #2 2,126 9 32 1995 30–12 71.4% #11 2,031 0 11
27 2009 50–13 79.4% #1 2,120 11 35 1996 52–13 80.0% #3 2,226 0 15
28 2010 25–4 86.2% #4 2,158 13 37 1997 52–15 77.6% #2 2,176 0 19
29 2011 22–4 84.6% #12 2,182 13 39 1998 50–14 78.1% #3 2,131 1 23
30 2012 54–6 90.0% #3 2,302 15 46 1999 26–15 63.4% #18 1,925 1 24
31 2013 77–5 93.9% #1 2,382 17 57
32 2014 52–10 83.9% #1 2,272 18 64
33 2015 50–6 89.3% #1 2,292 21 69
34 2016 38–6 86.4% #2 2,208 22 71
35 2017 8–1 88.9% #22 2,200 23 72
36 2018 18–7 72.0% #16 2,112 23 72
37 2019 25–8 75.8% #10 2,093 23 72
38 2020 16–5 76.2% #11 2,045 23 73
39 2021 12–6 66.7% #41 1,994 23 73
40 2022 3–4 42.9% #320 1,926 23 73
44 2026 0–1 0.0% #320 1,899 23 73

Surface Results by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. Results cover completed main-draw matches. Bold green marks the higher win percentage when both players have at least 5 matches on that surface at the aligned age.

Age Serena Williams Jana Novotna
Yr HardClayGrassCarpet Yr HardClayGrassCarpet
W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win %
15 1997 3 2 5 60.0%
16 1998 16 7 23 69.6% 6 2 8 75.0% 4 2 6 66.7%
17 1999 27 4 31 87.1% 6 3 9 66.7% 5 0 5 100.0% 1986 0 2 2 0.0% 0 1 1 0.0% 0 1 1 0.0%
18 2000 29 5 34 85.3% 0 1 1 0.0% 5 1 6 83.3% 3 1 4 75.0% 1987 6 5 11 54.5% 8 6 14 57.1% 3 2 5 60.0% 4 4 8 50.0%
19 2001 32 5 37 86.5% 4 1 5 80.0% 4 1 5 80.0% 1988 11 8 19 57.9% 4 6 10 40.0% 8 3 11 72.7% 1 2 3 33.3%
20 2002 28 3 31 90.3% 18 2 20 90.0% 7 0 7 100.0% 4 0 4 100.0% 1989 17 8 25 68.0% 18 4 22 81.8% 3 1 4 75.0% 7 4 11 63.6%
21 2003 13 0 13 100.0% 12 3 15 80.0% 7 0 7 100.0% 4 0 4 100.0% 1990 21 9 30 70.0% 6 2 8 75.0% 8 2 10 80.0% 5 3 8 62.5%
22 2004 23 6 29 79.3% 10 4 14 71.4% 6 1 7 85.7% 1991 23 5 28 82.1% 11 4 15 73.3% 4 2 6 66.7% 7 4 11 63.6%
23 2005 16 5 21 76.2% 2 2 4 50.0% 2 1 3 66.7% 1 1 2 50.0% 1992 6 4 10 60.0% 9 6 15 60.0% 5 2 7 71.4% 16 6 22 72.7%
24 2006 12 4 16 75.0% 1993 11 5 16 68.8% 11 5 16 68.8% 6 1 7 85.7% 18 4 22 81.8%
25 2007 24 6 30 80.0% 6 3 9 66.7% 4 1 5 80.0% 1994 21 5 26 80.8% 6 3 9 66.7% 4 1 5 80.0% 12 2 14 85.7%
26 2008 27 5 32 84.4% 11 3 14 78.6% 6 1 7 85.7% 1995 17 6 23 73.9% 2 2 4 50.0% 5 1 6 83.3% 6 3 9 66.7%
27 2009 36 8 44 81.8% 4 4 8 50.0% 7 0 7 100.0% 3 1 4 75.0% 1996 18 5 23 78.3% 13 3 16 81.3% 6 2 8 75.0% 15 3 18 83.3%
28 2010 10 1 11 90.9% 8 3 11 72.7% 7 0 7 100.0% 1997 11 5 16 68.8% 11 4 15 73.3% 9 1 10 90.0% 21 5 26 80.8%
29 2011 18 2 20 90.0% 4 2 6 66.7% 1998 14 5 19 73.7% 16 5 21 76.2% 11 0 11 100.0% 9 4 13 69.2%
30 2012 26 4 30 86.7% 15 2 17 88.2% 13 0 13 100.0% 1999 9 7 16 56.3% 7 5 12 58.3% 4 1 5 80.0% 6 2 8 75.0%
31 2013 46 4 50 92.0% 28 0 28 100.0% 3 1 4 75.0%
32 2014 41 6 47 87.2% 9 3 12 75.0% 2 1 3 66.7%
33 2015 30 3 33 90.9% 13 3 16 81.3% 7 0 7 100.0%
34 2016 20 5 25 80.0% 11 1 12 91.7% 7 0 7 100.0%
35 2017 8 1 9 88.9%
36 2018 9 5 14 64.3% 3 1 4 75.0% 6 1 7 85.7%
37 2019 16 5 21 76.2% 3 2 5 60.0% 6 1 7 85.7%
38 2020 15 4 19 78.9% 1 1 2 50.0%
39 2021 8 2 10 80.0% 4 3 7 57.1% 0 1 1 0.0%
40 2022 3 3 6 50.0% 0 1 1 0.0%
44 2026 0 1 1 0.0%
Career 533 103 636 83.8% 174 47 221 78.7% 107 17 124 86.3% 23 5 28 82.1% 185 77 262 70.6% 122 57 179 68.2% 76 20 96 79.2% 127 47 174 73.0%

Advanced Statistics Comparison by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. Metrics use eligible main-draw results; point statistics use matches with detailed data. Bold green marks the stronger value when both underlying samples are sufficient. Lower is better for Schedule because a negative value means a tougher schedule. Career Schedule is normalized per 100 matches.

Age Serena Williams Jana Novotna
Yr Elo P+ Serve+ Return+ PD TPW% Hard Elo Clay Elo Grass Elo Set Win % Set Margin Dec. Set Tiebreak Pressure+ Schedule Yr Elo P+ Serve+ Return+ PD TPW% Hard Elo Clay Elo Grass Elo Set Win % Set Margin Dec. Set Tiebreak Pressure+ Schedule
15 1997 1582 144.0 +42 54.5% +0.82 1–0 1–1 -0.18
16 1998 1893 158.1 -62 -201 -189 64.6% +1.29 8–5 (62%) 2–3 (40%) 106.2 -1.19
17 1999 2189 178.2 +12 -418 80.2% +2.10 8–5 (62%) 6–0 (100%) 108.5 -2.69 1986 1467 99.1 20.0% -2.40 0–2 0–1 +0.11
18 2000 2185 168.9 +24 -372 80.6% +2.43 6–1 (86%) 4–3 (57%) 102.2 +0.57 1987 1752 144.9 -44 -97 -159 54.0% +0.25 6–5 (55%) 7–4 (64%) 106.7 -1.10
19 2001 2238 172.8 +36 -434 -326 79.2% +2.45 7–4 (64%) 5–5 (50%) 100.5 -2.79 1988 1761 136.2 -22 -139 -14 54.6% +0.31 6–5 (55%) 9–9 (50%) 101.9 -1.23
20 2002 2339 173.4 +18 -278 -232 87.1% +2.70 9–3 (75%) 11–1 (92%) 111.5 -2.86 1989 1964 163.3 -23 -80 -211 72.3% +1.50 6–9 (40%) 9–3 (75%) 102.7 -1.47
21 2003 2365 170.4 +7.11 +5.95 1.527 58.7% +80 -218 -130 86.0% +2.74 6–2 (75%) 2–0 -1.67 1990 2017 161.3 -58 -59 -100 69.2% +1.75 8–10 (44%) 2–10 (17%) 91.7 -0.57
22 2004 2226 163.6 +6.68 +4.43 1.416 56.9% +107 -101 +86 74.8% +1.90 9–4 (69%) 4–3 (57%) 96.9 -0.38 1991 2072 167.7 +35 -34 -157 70.2% +1.55 9–6 (60%) 7–9 (44%) 100.2 -3.27
23 2005 2101 150.6 +5.70 +2.41 1.360 56.0% +157 -3 +122 70.0% +1.48 8–0 (100%) 1–6 (14%) 99.2 -0.26 1992 2080 166.9 +61 -79 -110 65.2% +1.13 5–7 (42%) 3–6 (33%) 97.1 -2.23
24 2006 2064 147.1 +4.12 +2.38 1.272 54.9% +120 69.4% +1.75 3–1 (75%) 0–3 (0%) 96.2 -0.43 1993 2101 165.8 +7 -93 -22 71.2% +1.78 10–7 (59%) 3–9 (25%) 94.2 -0.26
25 2007 2077 165.4 +4.80 +3.80 1.173 53.4% +88 +12 +155 78.3% +1.84 6–4 (60%) 9–3 (75%) 101.7 -2.31 1994 2141 164.9 -4 -150 -80 74.8% +1.88 8–3 (73%) 0–3 (0%) 98.5 +0.48
26 2008 2126 164.9 +6.89 +4.29 1.280 55.0% +42 -33 +130 80.0% +2.11 9–4 (69%) 5–2 (71%) 102.9 -1.00 1995 2032 157.0 +26 -87 +85 66.3% +1.14 9–5 (64%) 2–5 (29%) 95.1 -0.21
27 2009 2120 165.8 +9.20 +3.92 1.332 55.3% +59 -117 +157 75.6% +1.76 11–6 (65%) 8–8 (50%) 98.1 -2.33 1996 2227 173.1 -19 -153 -20 72.9% +1.64 12–6 (67%) 8–3 (73%) 110.0 -2.93
28 2010 2159 157.0 +8.78 +3.86 1.393 56.1% +37 -163 +212 79.1% +2.01 6–3 (67%) 10–2 (83%) 106.5 -1.14 1997 2177 170.8 +3 -94 +101 69.9% +1.51 20–9 (69%) 4–7 (36%) 96.6 -1.15
29 2011 2182 160.3 +9.93 +4.56 1.499 57.5% +57 +125 78.9% +2.33 6–1 (86%) 3–2 (60%) 101.2 -0.27 1998 2131 164.1 -27 -24 +279 75.2% +1.56 10–9 (53%) 11–3 (79%) 99.3 -0.45
30 2012 2302 168.5 +11.57 +6.33 1.597 58.7% -26 -157 +62 88.2% +2.98 6–1 (86%) 3–2 (60%) 103.3 -2.18 1999 1926 151.5 +61 +51 +418 60.2% +0.60 5–3 (63%) 3–3 (50%) 97.8 +0.16
31 2013 2383 177.8 +12.05 +8.21 1.643 59.9% -2 -40 +41 89.7% +3.22 10–4 (71%) 3–3 (50%) 101.0 -0.69
32 2014 2273 171.7 +9.98 +6.05 1.454 57.3% +55 +1 +33 83.6% +2.37 7–3 (70%) 8–0 (100%) 102.4 -0.53
33 2015 2293 165.1 +9.57 +5.97 1.514 57.9% +37 -12 +16 81.3% +2.24 17–2 (89%) 7–2 (78%) 105.8 -0.61
34 2016 2208 161.7 +10.55 +5.23 1.529 57.9% +31 +121 +136 83.0% +2.39 4–2 (67%) 8–2 (80%) 100.3 -0.68
35 2017 2201 137.8 +4.47 +1.79 1.354 56.0% +39 89.5% +2.32 0–1 1–0 -0.09
36 2018 2112 148.0 +5.23 +2.07 1.220 53.7% +22 +268 +229 71.2% +1.29 3–1 (75%) 3–0 (100%) 102.0 -0.74
37 2019 2094 156.8 +7.34 +3.63 1.352 55.6% +42 +282 +271 77.3% +2.05 7–1 (88%) -0.12
38 2020 2046 143.2 +4.70 +1.29 1.259 54.8% +19 70.6% +1.55 7–4 (64%) 4–3 (57%) 97.0 +0.57
39 2021 1994 145.6 +4.15 +2.90 1.229 53.9% +132 +333 68.6% +1.54 3–0 (100%) 2–2 (50%) 101.9 -0.19
40 2022 1926 119.5 +0.06 -0.90 0.934 48.7% +144 47.1% -0.35 1–2 (33%) 2–1 (67%) +0.04
44 2026 1899 96.8 +0.09 -3.44 0.931 47.3% 33.3% -1.67 0–1 1–0 +0.12
Career 2399 174.5 +8.45 +4.77 1.403 56.6% +43 -85 +34 79.6% +2.21 168–65 (72%) 113–57 (66%) 110.8 -2.44 2240 168.7 0 -77 +15 68.1% +1.33 114–86 (57%) 68–75 (48%) 96.3 -1.99

Career Rivalries

Each player's five most-played main-draw opponents. The current matchup is highlighted when it appears in a player's top five.