Thinking too much about 24th Slam didn't help, says Serena Williams
Margaret Court's record did not help Serena Williams' quest, the American great admits as she prepares to hang up her racket after a sparkling career. It seemed only a matter of time before Williams would surpass Australian Court to become the most successful player in the sport when she won her 23rd major singles trophy in Melbourne at the start of 2017.
Read AlsoSerena Williams to retire from tennis after US OpenSerena Williams said on Tuesday that she is "evolving away from tennis" and planned to retire from the sport she dominated with 23 Grand Slam titles following the US Open, which begins later this month.
However, nobody could have envisaged that Australian Open title being the last time Williams would hoist a major trophy as she took a break from tennis to give birth to daughter Olympia the same year. "There are people who say I'm not the GOAT (greatest of all time) because I didn't pass Court's record, which she achieved before the 'Open era' that began in 1968," Williams said in a lengthy article in Vogue. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want that record. Obviously I do. But day-to-day, I'm really not thinking about her. If I'm in a Slam final, then yes, I'm thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn't help."
Read AlsoTIMELINE: Serena Williams' journey to the top of the women's gameSerena Williams on Tuesday announced her retirement from the sport after this year's US Open starting on Aug. 29.
In the world of sport there are few records that have quite stood the test of time as the one belonging to Court. Williams, who will turn 41 next month, came tantalisingly close to equalling the mark having reached the final in four majors since she returned from maternity leave in
