15 June 2020

Serena Williams’ trainer sets sights on US Open as ‘first opportunity’ to equal Grand Slam record

Serena Williams is expected to bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open later this year, according to her trainer.

The 38 year-old has lost her last four Slam finals and has remained stuck on 23 since her victory at the Australian Open in 2017.

Williams last won the US Open in 2014 when she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the final (ABACA/PA Images)

But coach Patrick Mouratoglou insists despite back-to-back defeats in the final in New York, the US Open offers her a chance to pull level with Margaret Court on 24 titles.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said: "She's definitely come back to tennis to win Grand Slams, that's her goal.

"For a player to be out of competition is extremely difficult. So the US Open will be a first opportunity to win one.

"There'll be a lot of restrictions and I have to speak with her to see if she will be able to accept and manage those expectations."

Williams’ US Open victories span 15 years, with her first coming in 1999 at the age of just 17.

The 2020 US Open is scheduled to go ahead as planned on August 31 but with strict measures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

This year’s French Open has already been pushed back to the end of September, while Wimbledon was cancelled altogether.

New York has been the worst-affected state in the United States during the pandemic with over 400,000 cases and more than 30,000 deaths.

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