Serena Williams has often been hailed as one of the greatest tennis players, and athletes, of all time following a stellar career – but not everyone agrees.
The American took the sport by storm after bursting onto the scene at 14-years-old and has managed to lift almost every trophy and individual accolade available. Four Olympic gold medals, 13 Wimbledon titles and eight US Open wins are among her many achievements, but one tennis great is not convinced Williams is the greatest of all time.
Retired Australian Margaret Court hit out at Williams after she retired from the sport, bowing out after a three-set defeat by Ajla Tomljanovic at the US Open. In an interview with the Telegraph, she said: “Serena, I’ve admired her as a player, but I don’t think she has ever admired me.
“I thought it was bad that Williams didn’t mention her opponent more when she spoke. We were taught to honour our opponent. We respected one another.” Williams, who was understandably emotional after the match, did acknowledge Tomljanovic, albeit briefly, saying: “I tried, but Ajla just played a little bit better.”
Court and Serena have held a slight animosity over the years, with the Australian holding the record of the most Grand Slam singles title wins in the history of women’s tennis; Court has 24 wins to her name while Williams is one behind on 23. While Williams leaves the game with her head held high, Court has come under heavy scrutiny in recent years. The 81-year-old has spoken out against same-sex marriage and has even talked positively about South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1970.
Court has taken aim at Williams’ achievements on the court. “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, like Ash Barty, 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. I came back after two babies! After having the first baby, I won three out of the four slams. And Serena hasn’t won a slam since. I would love to have played in this era – I think it’s so much easier.”
Williams has responded to Court’s comments in an interview with Vogue after announcing her retirement. “There are people who say I’m not the GOAT [greatest of all time] because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” she said. “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.
“The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression. But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary.”
