“It would be great to see her chase that record”- Monica Seles hopes to see Serena Williams win elusive 24th Grand Slam

Monica Seles and Serena Williams

Serena Williams has been the flagbearer of American tennis for more than a decade. Arguably considered as one of the greatest players of all time, Serena is the most decorated tennis player in the Open Era with 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. However, she remains 2nd on the all-time list behind Margaret Court(24) and that one Major win has eluded her and it looks a far-fetched dream given her struggles with injuries and also age catching up with the 40-year-old.

Former tennis great Monica Seles weighs in her opinion whether Williams needs to clinch a 24th Grand Slam to be the unparalleled GOAT. Seles responded it is hard to compare as both Court and Serena played during different eras and under completely contrasting conditions. Seles then was all praise for Serena for breaking barriers and paving way for other players. She hailed Williams for inspiring female athletes by not having to make a choice between professional and personal life.

Serena Williams, the athlete:

• $94M career prize money (twice as much as any female athlete)
• 72 @WTA titles
• 23 Grand Slam titles
• 4 Olympic ?
• Only person (male or female) to win 3 of the 4 grand slams 6 times
• Has slam singles titles in three different decades pic.twitter.com/QtcYrDIxdU
— Boardroom (@boardroom) February 12, 2021

“Selfishly, I really hope Serena comes back. I think it would be great to see her chase that record, kind of what we’re seeing with Rafa, Roger, and Novak. I think that’s a tough one because it’s so hard to compare different eras, different times in the history of the sport. She is one of the greatest. Who’s the greatest? I think they’re all truly great. For me, when I look at her, Margaret Court, Stefanie Graf, Chrissie Evert, Martina Navratilova,” Seles said in an interview with Richard Osbourne at the Indian Wells.

“I think also the barriers Serena was able to break were so huge off the court for us women. That she was able to have a daughter and come back to the sport is just fantastic to see. That’s fantastic that we, as women, don’t have to make that choice between a family and a career. In terms of that, Serena is just a champion to me both on and off the court, broken so many barriers.”

“She’s inspired so many young players“: Monica Seles on Serena Williams

Seles recalled the first time she met the Williams sisters. the nine-time Grand Slam champion said she already saw huge potential in both of them, but felt Serena had the x-factor when compared to Venus. Seles said it was incredibly tough playing against the duo and she felt she had to be on top of her game to stand a chance of winning.

Seles and Serena have clashed 5 times in the past, with Serena taking the bragging rights in 4 of them. One of them was at the 1999 US Open, where Seles was one of the high-profile victims during Serena’s maiden Grand Slam triumph. Seles then lavished praise on her fellow American for inspiring the future crop of players, including Coco Gauff.

“Both Serena and Venus, when I met them and their dad, Richard, when they were youngsters and I was starting to be well known in my sport, I sensed both of them had something special. But I always felt Serena — sorry, Venus — always had that something extra, even when I first met them. She has been an amazing competitor.

“When you played both Serena and Venus, you knew that every point was like a match point. I had to show up 110 percent. I think she’s inspired so many young players. We see how much they’ve inspired Coco. I think she’s going to be the next generation of American tennis,” she added.