Joining 18 grand-slam club in Serena's sights
American, who is in formidable form, hopes to match Evert and Navratilova
Serena Williams said yesterday that matching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's 18 grand slam titles was in her sights and insisted she can cope with the searing heat expected at the Australian Open.
The 32-year-old enters the opening grand slam of the season this week in formidable form, losing just five matches last year and winning the Brisbane International last weekend.
She is gunning for a sixth Australian Open crown, which would move her alongside Evert and Navratilova, and further underline her reputation as one of the greatest women players yet seen.
Obviously, the heat in Melbourne is just completely different than any other heat. But it's okay. I just got to be ready to play under any circumstances
Ahead of Melbourne, Navratilova said she expected Williams to match the record this month and go on to surpass Steffi Graf's 22 titles to become the most successful grand slam champion in the Open era.
Williams said it would be an honour to be in the same company as Evert and Navratilova, but she was taking nothing for granted after an injury-hit campaign last year ended with defeat to young fellow American Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals.
"It would mean a lot to be on the same level as such great players as Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova," she said.
"I still have a lot of work to do. I obviously want to be able to reach that level, but I'm not there yet. Hopefully I'll get there."
The top seed, who opens her campaign against Australia's Ashleigh Barty, is in such hot form that her French coach Patrick Mouratoglou on Thursday said she could pull off the exceptional achievement of sweeping all four grand slams in 2014.