Serena Williams takes aim at Margaret Court at French Open
Serena Williams will be hoping it's a fifth time lucky as she chases tennis history at the French Open.
Still trailing Margaret Court's record of 24 career grand slam singles titles by one, the American has come up agonisingly short on her last four occasions.
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Williams has reached the final of four major tournaments since returning from maternity leave in 2018, but that record-equalling 24th title has proven elusive on every occasion.
Leading into the French Open - which gets underway this weekend in Paris - the 38-year-old has perhaps one of her best opportunities yet to achieve something she's strived so hard for.
With World No.1 and defending champion Ash Barty, plus 2019 and 2020 US Open winners Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka out of the tournament, the French Open could see plenty of surprises and a chance for Williams to pounce.
However, making a fifth major final since returning from maternity leave is not going to be an easy feat.
Her most recent bid ended at the hands of her long-time rival Azarenka, who triumphed after taming early nerves in a three-set US Open battle earlier this month.
Azarenka went on to lose in the final to Japan's Osaka.
Speaking to reporters at Flushing Meadows, Williams had said she tried to embrace the pressure of chasing records.
"As Billie Jean King said, 'Pressure is a privilege'. So I wouldn't want it any other way," said Williams, who will be 39 when the French Open women's singles main draw begins.
"So I just try to think about how fortunate I am to have been in this position, and honestly, to be Serena. It feels weird to say that."
Clay is the ninth-ranked American's weakest surface despite the fact she has claimed the French Open title on three occasions.
Serena looking to end five-year drought in Paris
Williams last won at Roland Garros in 2015 and while the number of big-name players missing in the women's draw could play into her hands hands, several other rivals present dangerous obstacles for the American.
Top seed and World No.2 Simona Halep undoubtedly poses the biggest threat to Williams' quest for history, with the Romanian coming in to the tournament off the back of an Italian Open title triumph on clay earlier this week.
Spain's Garbine Muguruza and US Open semi-final foe Azarenka of Belarus are other tricky potentially tricky hurdles for the American.
Williams must also make a quick switch from hard court to clay, after an Achilles injury kept her out of the Rome event.
However, the 23-time major champion's powerful serve and fearsome backhand, which were on full display at Arthur Ashe Stadium, could once again level the field and confirm she is a perennial contender.
Halep herself conceded that there a significant number or women capable of winning the grand slam in Paris.
"I feel confident, I feel happy that I will have a chance to play another Grand Slam this year." 🧡@Simona_Halep talked to the press after her win.#IBI20 pic.twitter.com/Ko4NvIQ5Zv
— wta (@WTA) September 21, 2020
"As I said always, many girls from the top 10, top 15 have a chance to win a Grand Slam," Halep, who defeated Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, told reporters this week.
"Roland Garros is very open because it's clay court but it's a little bit faster (than other clay courts), so also the big hitters can win it easy."
with Reuters