Can Serena Williams Clinch 7th US Open Title And Level Margaret Court's Record of 24 Women's Singles Grand Slam Titles?

At the ripe old age of 38 with nothing to prove to any critic, the resilient Williams is eyeing a 24th Grand Slam singles title which will level her with Australian legend Margaret Court's record.

(File Photo/ AFP)

The 2020 US Open is a first of its kinds in many ways as it will be the first grand slam to be played amid the pandemic. It indeed was a tough yet bold call taken by the USTA organisers to hold the after the Wimbledon Championships got cancelled and the French Open got postponed amid the persistent Covid-19 threat. The US Open will also be the first edition of the slam in many years without the defending champions in both the men's (Rafael Nadal) and ladies singles draw not competing and defending their respective titles. The grand stands at the much famed Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums at the US Open will be spectator less and playing behind closed doors without the fans cheering on their players loud will certainly take away a lot of sheen from the tournament. The 140th edition of the slam won't be that much of a starry affair due to former champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's absence and the top six WTA ranked women's players pulling out of the grand slam. However, one thing which will remain constant at Flushing meadows will be the presence of 6-time US Open Champion and the sport's living legend Serena Williams. While World No.1 and top seed Novak Djokovic is the favourite to win the men's title, Serena will be one of the top contenders to lift the women's singles title at the 2020 US Open. The American tennis great has accomplished everything in her 2-decade long glittering tennis career. 23 Grand Slam titles, 4 Olympic Golds, Fed Cup Title and a staggering 73 WTA tour titles makes Williams an all time great along with the likes of Martina Navrotilova and Steffi Graff. At the ripe old age of 38 with nothing to prove to any critic, the resilient Williams is eyeing a 24th Grand Slam singles title which will level her with Australian legend Margaret Court's record for most women's singles Grand Slam titles won in the history of grand slam tennis. After winning her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at 2017 Australian Open beating sister Venus at Melbourne, the younger of the much famed 'Williams Sisters' has come tantalizingly close to winning 'Number 24' on four previous occasions in the past but faltered at the final hurdle. In her earnest quest to level Court's 24-Slam record, Williams made it to four major grand slam finals both at the Wimbledon and US Open championships in 2018 and 2019. While Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep proved to be her deniers at Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu stole away glory from her at Flushing Meadows in the last two editions of the US Open. The multi-time Grand Slam champion might have lost to younger opponents but her indomitable spirit and lion heart made her believe that she has it in her to accomplish the herculean feat WILLIAMS STANDS A DECENT CHANCE OF GOING THE DISTANCE AND MAKING IT TO THE FINALS If one were to have a close look at the women's singles draw at the US Open, Serena Williams does stand a realistic chance of winning her seventh US Open title after six of the top ten players pulled out of the US Open citing coronavirus concerns. Despite the pull out of some potential challengers and title contenders, Williams won't have a run in the park as she will have to fend off stiff competition from the likes of Karolina Pliskova (No. 3), Sofia Kenin (No. 4), and Naomi Osaka (No. 10). Ashleigh Barty (No. 1), Simona Halep (No. 2), Elina Svitolina (No. 5), Bianca Andreescu (No. 6) who beat Williams in last year’s final, and Kiki Bertens (No. 7), and Belinda Bencic (No. 8) all announced their withdrawal from the US Open. *World rankings denoted in brackets ( ) Billed as the third seed and drawn into the third quarter in the bottom half of the draw, Williams faces a potential match up with either Garbiñe Muguruza (10) or fellow American Madison (7) Keys in the quarterfinals, both of whom who are in the same quarter as the American. Williams is lucky enough to not have Sofia Kenin (2), J Konta (9), E Mertens (16) and A Sabalenka (5) in her section, all of whom are placed in the last quarter of the bottom half. However, one of these strong contenders could be her semifinal opponent if the American comes out of the round of 16 and the quarterfinals from her section of the draw. The top half of the draw definitely looks more competitive with top seed Karolina Pliskova (1), 2017 champion Angelique Kerber (17), 2018 Noami Osaka (4), A Kontaveit (14), E Rybakina (11) and the big hitting giant killer Petra Kvitova (6) Recent Form or Build Up To The US Open Has Not Been The Best At 38, Williams is surely not the sharpest and most agile on the court and she looked vulnerable in her early round exits at both the US Open build up tournaments at the Lexington Open and Western and Southern Open. While she lost in the quarters to 116th-ranked Shelby Rogers at Lexington, Williams squandered a commanding lead in an upset loss to 21st-ranked Greek Maria Sakkari in New York. SERENA'S INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND A STELLAR TRACK RECORD AT THE US OPEN AND GRAND SLAM COUNTS Is it really about current form for the 23-time Grand Slam champion or the pugnacious Williams' stupendous ability to come all guns blazing when it comes down to the biggest tournaments of all - the Grand Slams ?. One can't forget the sheer consistency and longevity with which she has racked up 23 Slams over a 16-year stretch from 2002 to 2019. Not a fairy tale but real, there were only 3 years in which she could not win a slam. Apart from the 24-slam record, Williams is also eyeing a seventh grand slam title at the US Open, a feat which will make her the most successful female tennis champion at Flushing Meadows. Already tied at six titles with her own country women and legendary Chris Evert Lyold, Williams could finish off on a high in her final swansong on her home slam Serena Williams' ascendancy in the world of tennis started off when she first shot to the limelight as a 17-year old teenager winning her maiden Grand Slam in 1999 by clinching the US Open women's double title with sister Venus. 21-years later, the tenacious Williams is resolute in her pursuit to win her 24th Grand Slam singles title and script history at New York to etch her game as the Greatest Grand Slam Singles Player Of All Times.