Serena Williams’ legacy will not be tarnished by what happened at the US Open final last year, 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert said ahead of the Australian Open, scheduled to begin on Monday. Serena is seeking a record-equaling 24th Major title.
“That will overshadow everything at the end of the day. I think there will be a side-note that Serena has a lot of passion, that she, at times, lost her cool on court.
“But I don’t think for one minute it’s going to tarnish her whole reputation or record.” Evert, who will be a commentator with ESPN for the tournament, said.
Serena received a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for racquet abuse and a game penalty for calling the umpire a “liar” and a “thief” during the US Open final.
She last won a Major at the 2017 Australian Open when she was four weeks pregnant. In her comeback year, she reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open. “We all know Serena is very dangerous when she is fit and healthy. You know the motivation is going to be there. She had it when she was single. Maybe she has it even more now that she is a working mother,” Evert said.
The Australian Open will be telecast live and exclusive on SONY SIX and SONY TEN 2 from January 14, 2019, 5:30 a.m. onwards.