Safina’s defeat even worse than her final humiliation

World no2 Dinara Safina, thrashed in the Australian Open Final by Serena Williams, suffered more misery as she was knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships by Virginie Razzano.

She struggled with her return of serve against the Frenchwoman ranked 58 in the world, losing the second-round match 6-4, 6-2.

"This was worse than the Melbourne final," she said. "When it's not your day you can't pick one thing which is wrong."