Will Serena Williams win another major?

There is no arguing the legacy of Serena Williams as she continues what is already a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Just the other day, on our set, our expert panelist Daniela Hantuchova was saying how incredible it is that both the Williams sisters are still competing at their age – Roger Federer, too.

But we’ve been having some fun debates on Live at Roland-Garros this week and Serena never fails to be a hot topic. She’s just over a year removed from having come back from giving birth to daughter Olympia in September of 2017 and already she’s reached two major finals, as well as the fourth round here a year ago (only to be stopped by an injury) and the quarter-finals at this year’s Australian Open.

Thursday afternoon she looked in imperious form, working through the first set and then flourishing in set two, closing out Japan’s Karumi Nara with a winner-ace-ace-ace flurry of power and poise in the final game that had me cursing out loud in amazement.

She’s five wins from her 24th major title, which would equal Margaret Court’s all-time record. It would, of course, be an extension of Serena’s Open Era record, having reached No.23 at the Australian Open in 2017 to surpass Steffi Graf’s 22-Slam haul before announcing her pregnancy that spring.

Yet, will Serena win here? And – in the spirit of debate – will Serena win another major title in her career?

My heart certainly wants to say yes. My head mostly agrees. My gut isn’t so sure, but who (what?) is my gut to doubt one of the greatest athletes of all time?

It was our debate Thursday night on Episode 5 of Live at Roland-Garros and, of the nearly 9,000 fans that voted across the official tournament Twitter and Instagram accounts that let their voices be heard, here’s what we found out: 58% said they thought Serena would win another Slam, 42% thought not.

To me – and I said this on the show – I think she’ll find a path again to major triumph, because she’s the best fighter the women’s game (and perhaps the sport) has ever known.

Camille Pin, who was 0-2 in her career against Serena, said in our next segment: “Serena is like a boxer. When I played her, I felt like I was stepping into the boxing ring.”

While she’s still alive in this event, the feeling, however, is that Wimbledon and the US Open are where her best chances lie.

“I think she has a great shot of one day winning another major,” said former top-10 player Jurgen Melzer in our around-the-grounds vox pop segment. “Probably Wimbledon or the US Open is her best shot. She’s a great champion, so why not? One more… even two more.”

I agree: If she’s going to win another, then I think two are in the cards. She doesn’t just want to *tie* Court’s record, she wants it all to herself. That is how Serena operates.

“She has all the tools in the box,” Magnus Norman, the former top player and coach of Stan Wawrinka said in the same vox pop clip.

My co-presenter Gigi Salmon added: “Of course she can, she has 23, but I’m not sure if she will. I think in previous years she’s gone into Grand Slams and if she’s there, she’s the favorite. I think a lot of things have to fall her way and if they do, I think it will be at Wimbledon."

Can it all come together for Serena again once more? We’ll find out over the next 10 days, and in the coming months (and years?) as she continues her quest.

Simply put, I’m in awe of Serena. And – if I can say so – I’d love to see her win another (and another and another… ).

Tune in tonight from 7pm to join our next debate: Is the underarm serve a legitimate play? It’s a shot that has been used more and more in 2019, including by Alexander Bublik on Thursday in his loss to Dominic Thiem. You can vote on our Twitter and Instagram when the polls go up! Let your voice be heard!