2019 Australian Open: Margaret Court believes outsider could deny Serena Williams shot at history

Margaret Court pinpointed the ‘chopping and changing’ of slam winners over the last two years as reason why Serena Williams’ charge at the Aussie’s all-time singles majors record will likely stall in Melbourne.

Serena Williams is chasing Margaret Court’s record of majors singles titles.

Margaret Court predicts Serena Williams’ Australian Open quest could be ambushed by an outsider.

As revealed last month, Court won’t be attending Melbourne Park as Williams bears down on her tally of 24 singles majors – a record which has stood since 1973.

“I think it’s possible for Serena to equal me, if anybody’s gonna do it, it’s Serena,” Court said.

Serena Williams is chasing Margaret Court’s record of majors singles titles.

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“But I don’t think there’s a clear-cut favourite.

“I think it’s a pretty open tournament and I think an outsider can win it.

“There’ve been a lot of different winners over the past two years (eight different winners since Williams won the 2017 Australian) and that could continue.

“You’ve got Serena there with the experience but the girls seem to be chopping and changing a lot, so anything could happen.”

Court said it was, in many ways, simpler for first-time champions to succeed than proven stars such as Williams to repeat.

“When you’re young, you tend not to think about it too much,” Court said.

“I won my first Australian championship when I was 17 and I had no nerves.

Margaret Court says she wouldn't be surprised if an outsider won the Australian Open.

“As I went along – and I didn’t even know I had the record until (commentator) John Barrett said I had 64 grand slam titles – it became harder.”

Court counts 11 Australian titles alongside five French and US crowns and three Wimbledon trophies.

Williams has seven Australian and Wimbledon titles, three French and six US Open crowns.