Margaret Court says Serena Williams played in ‘much easier’ era

Margaret Court has questioned Serena Williams’ legacy after the American’s apparent retirement from tennis following her defeat at this year’s US Open.

Court holds the record for grand slam singles titles with 24, one ahead of Williams. But it is Williams who is usually described as the greatest player of all time.

The Australian played mostly in the amateur era, but she believes life on tour is easier now.

“I would love to have played in this era. I think it’s so much easier,” Court told the Daily Telegraph in an article published on Monday. “How I would love to have taken family or friends along with me. But I couldn’t. I had to go on my own or with the national team. People don’t see all that.

“We didn’t have psychologists or coaches with us. It’s a whole different world. That’s what disappoints me – that players today don’t honour the past of the game.”

Williams has not issued a definitive statement on her retirement, saying instead that she is “evolving” away from the game, in part because she wants to become a mother again. The 40-year-old was pregnant with her daughter, Olympia, when she won her last grand slam title at the Australian Open in 2017. Court said her titles had been won in a shorter period than Williams and while she became a mother of two.

“Serena has played seven years more than I did,” Court said. “I finished in my early 30s. People forget that I took two years out. I first retired ... when I was 25, thinking I would never return to tennis. I got married, had a baby, but then had one of my best years, winning 24 out of 25 tournaments.”

The 80-year-old added: “I came back after two babies. After having the first baby, I won three out of the four slams … Serena hasn’t won a slam since [she gave