Serena Williams is within two wins of equalling Margaret Court’s record

There are four women chasing an Australian Open dream over the next three days but only one is chasing history.

American Jennifer Brady celebrates reaching her second grand slam semi-final after defeating Jess Pegula in an all-American quarter-final at Melbourne Park Picture: Getty Images

There are four women chasing an Australian Open dream over the next three days but Serena William’s pursuit of history overshadows all of them.

When Williams made her professional debut in Quebec in 1995, her compatriot and fellow Australian Open semi-finalist Jennifer Brady was just six months old.

Naomi Osaka and Karolina Muchova, the other two women standing between the American equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles this week, were not yet born.

Watch over 40 live ATP Tour tournaments, 40 live WTA Tour tournaments, and every ATP + WTA Finals match live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The gulf in age between Williams and her remaining rivals in this Open is astonishing and so, too, is the gap between their achievements and on-court experience.

When the American steps on to Rod Laver Arena in her 77th major – the three other remaining rivals have played 49 grand slam tournaments combined – a historic milestone will be within reach.

After beating another compatriot in Jess Pegula 4-6 6-2 6-1 on Wednesday, Brady said it was difficult to believe she is sharing the stage with the American idol.

“I think just being in the same draw as Serena is obviously – when she retires, if she retires – it’s going to be something I’ll be extremely grateful for,” she said.

“I hope I get to play her before she retires. I think she’s the G.O.A.T. She’s the greatest of all time and definitely will be the greatest of all time.”

To put that claim beyond dispute Williams needs to win another two grand slam tournaments. And it is proving a challenge for her.

It is now four years since she claimed major title 23 in Melbourne in a brilliant triumph over her elder sister Venus in 2017.

The American has reached four finals since then but been overwhelmed every time.

The occasion more than got to her in an infamous US Open final against Osaka, her rival on Thursday, in New York three years ago.

Williams is adamant she is ready for what lies ahead. She has never lost a semi-final in Melbourne and has no plans to do so on this occasion either.

“It’s, like, first of all, I’m in the semi-final. That’s pretty awesome. So that’s exciting,” she said.

“And then it doesn’t matter who I’m playing, really, in the semi-final. It’s a semi-final of a grand slam. No one gets there by chance, so I have got to be ready.”

As Williams said, no-one gets to this stage by chance.

It is true of Osaka, the tournament favourite who produced her best tennis on the brink of defeat against Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round.

It is true of Muchova, who looked shot to pieces against Ash Barty on Wednesday before producing a stunning counter-attack that left the world No 1 floundering in a 1-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

It is certainly true of Brady, who is Barty’s doubles partner. A semi-finalist in New York last year, the American has shown fortitude to be the last remaining player to serve strict quarantine in Melbourne last month.

The fourth clash between Williams and Osaka shapes as the match of the Australian Open.

Osaka whipped Williams in Miami in 2018 and did the same again in the infamous final in New York later that year. The American rebounded at the Canadian Masters in 2019.

The seven-time Australian Open champion kept responses to questions about their meeting at Flushing Meadows short and sweet.

The pair have “had closure” and “reached out to each other”. It is clear from their dealings since that both have significant respect for each other.

Osaka has never been beaten in a major once she has reached the quarter-finals.

The challenge seems to sharpen her focus on the court and, when on song, her tennis is supreme. But she says her rival on Thursday still carries an aura about her.

“She’s Serena, someone that I feel really intimidated (by) when I see her on the other side of the court,” she said.

There is a belief the clash between Williams and Osaka is an effective final.

But that does a disservice to the talents of Brady and Muchova, who showed anything is possible when ousting Barty.

The stage is stark in difference to their only other outing in Prague in 2018. Brady earned just over $4000 when beaten in a deciding set tie-breaker by Muchova.

The vanquished on Thursday will pocket $850,000. The victor has a chance to become a grand slam champion and earn the $2.75 million on offer for winning the Australian Open.