As the Australian Open begins next week, all eyes are on Serena to see if she can match Margaret Court's record. Court set a massive benchmark with 24 singles Grand Slam titles, but given Serena's current momentum, experts believe she is capable of closing that gap. We'll soon find out if she can actually pull it off.
To put things in perspective, Margaret Court's dominance was incredible; by 1973, she had already won 13 of her 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Now 76, Court's peak between 1960 and 1973 saw her collect 11 Australian Opens, five US Opens, five French Opens, and three Wimbledons. She created a gold standard for the sport. The big question now is whether Serena will simply tie that record or surpass it entirely to set a new milestone. Since the difference in their title counts is so small, catching up is well within reach.
Chris Evert, another legend with 18 Grand Slams, notes that the overall quality of the game has evolved significantly. While she acknowledges the skill of players from her own era, she recognizes Serena as the powerhouse of the modern age, aided by better facilities and training. Margaret Court, for her part, has expressed that she isn't bothered by the prospect of Serena tying her record—in fact, she finds it pleasing. However, Court remains confident that her overall tally of 64 Grand Slam titles (including doubles) is a record that will likely never be broken. While there is little doubt that Serena has the talent to be the greatest, matching that total volume of titles will take considerable time.