Serena Williams can “absolutely’’ surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles if the American returns to tennis after giving birth earlier this year, a women tennis legend says. Former world number one Steffi Graf said that her ability to do this will however be dependent upon her determination and will.
Williams has not competed since winning the Australian Open in January but the 36-year-old posted several videos on social media showing her hitting balls during her pregnancy. She was about two months pregnant when she captured her 23rd Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne, one short of the all-time record held by Australian Court.
“Absolutely, yes,” Graf told fans and reporters ahead of Sunday’s (WTA) Elite Trophy singles final in Zhuhai. I think a lot of it is determined on her drive and if that is what she wants to do.” She said.
Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles which was eclipsed by Williams in January.
Williams told Vogue magazine in August about her ‘outrageous plan’ to defend her title in Australia, where the year’s first Grand Slam will be played from Jan. 15 to Jan. 28.
“It sounds from what I hear that she is looking to come back to tennis and, you know, everything that she has shown over her career just makes you believe that if she has that in her sights then she will go after it and achieve it,” Graf said.
Margaret Court is the most successful; player in Grand Slam history – the only player to win 10 or more titles of a single slam, lifting the Australian open a staggering 11 times between 1960 and 1973.
