KEY POINTS

  • Serena Williams recently played her final tennis match
  • She retired following her exit from US Open 2022
  • Serena finished her career with 23 singles Grand Slams

Margaret Court, who holds the Grand Slam record with 24 titles, has said she does not receive the admiration she deserves, especially from Serena Williams.

Serena recently brought curtains down to her decorated career that lasted for nearly three decades and saw her win 23 Grand Slam titles. While she holds the record for most titles in the Open Era, she fell short by one trophy in the overall record that belongs to the 80-year-old Court.

After Serena recently played her last professional match at US Open 2022, which was at her home Grand Slam in New York, Margaret claimed that while she has admired Serena as a player, the latter has not reciprocated the same.

"Serena, I've admired her as a player. But I don't think she has ever admired me," Court told The Telegraph in an interview.

While Serena played seven years longer than Margaret, the latter had more success following pregnancy.

"I came back after two babies. After having the first baby, I won three out of the four Slams. Serena hasn't won a Slam since [having a baby]," added Margaret, who completed a Grand Slam in 1970 by winning all four major titles.

Margaret Court has become a divisive figure at the Australian Open
Margaret Court has become a divisive figure at the Australian Open AFP / William WEST

Despite holding the record for most Grand Slams, among both men and women players, Margaret's record is mostly viewed as less remarkable than Serena's because the former played in the amateur era.

Serena last won a Grand Slam in 2017 when she lifted the trophy at the Australian Open while she was eight weeks pregnant.

In the same interview, Margaret went on to say that life as a tennis player back in her day was harder than what Serena experienced.

"I would love to have played in this era. I think it's so much easier. How I would love to have taken family or friends along with me. But I couldn't. I had to go on my own or with the national team. People didn't see all that," Margaret said.

The tennis legend went on to add that in her era, they didn't have psychologists or coaches and the current era is a whole different world. "That's what disappoints me — that players today don't honor the past of the game," added Margaret.