Why relentless Serena Williams is an all-time great

Just another bad example of 'recentism'. The record is 24 grand slam titles...Margaret Court. Steffi Graf had 22. The Americans need to get over themselves. Serena is nowhere near the greatest ever (8 grand slams).

For the same reason that living presidents shouldn't be pictured on currency, we shouldn't declare any player one of the greatest ever until they have retired. Look at how the doping scandal in baseball is affecting that sport's "best ever." Or how a tragic event such as befell Mo Connolly and Monica Seles derailed what seemed certain to be "best over" careers. Mike Tyson was a best ever one day, then he was noshing on Evander Holyfield's ear the next. I would also take issue with some sweeping claims about Serena: for instance, that she never gives up and that she can always come back. The reason she and her sister are still not playing Indian Wells is because of the crowd there booing them for doing exactly that several years ago. And Serena has certainly been guilty of giving up on her professional responsibilities/conditioning/focus as a tennis player, dropping off thecircuit for months at a time, jetsetting with the Hollywood crowd, gaining lots of weight and getting out of shape, leading to injury and withdrawal after withdrawal. In fact, the only reason one would say she "can always come back" is that she has so often dropped in the rankings for precisely that reason -- for being uninterested in the sport, unwilling to do the work, or only playing a handful of events a year.. Of course, Martina, Chrissie, Steffi, Billie Jean, etc., faced ranking fluctuations and loss of focus at time but due to injuries, challenges from a rival, distractions from parents, partners, etc. -- not because they couldn't be bothered to do their job as a tennis player or through arrogance that they could always come back and win even as a part-time player. In all, Serena has showed (or had the chance to yet) the longevity of Chrissie-Martina, the ability to compete at the very highest levels over several generations of players. It is that committment to the sport over the long-haul, the work to keep their games growing, the attention to fitness that kept them healthy enough to play most of the Slams each year, that enabled players like Court, King, Evert, Navratilova and Graf to win so many Slams .. not because "the game has changed." What has changed is that the top players don't play enough events, don't play long enough careers, and make such huge endorsement money early in their careers that they have no incentive (other than pride) to do such unpleasant things as practice, hire professional coaches, and add elements to their game. All that said, Serena (and Venus too) are both athletic prodigies; exciting, fierce competitors who have overcome many obstacles to rise to the top of the game; powerful role models for girls, minorities, and the non-country club set; and even given all the knocks I listed previously, have put together a Hall of Fame-worthy record, against tough (though not stellar) competition (Hingis, Davenport, Sharapova, not to mention each other), and are just at mid-career. No matter what Serena might say (or hope) winning Slams from here on out is just gonna get tougher for her, and doing so will require some real work on her part, but if she commits to that (and stays healthy) I see no reason why she (she more than Venus, IMO, for technical reasons) can't win 5 or 6 more Slams in the second half of her career, no reason she can't beat the title haul of Sampras and Federer, if noit Navratilova, Evert, Court, and Graf.

Serena Williams is the all-time great as well as women tennis is concerned

Serena Williams - in my eyes is the best player in history. I do not remeber the number of trophies of Evert or Navratilova, I do not remember any excitement by watching them play, nothing, but I will always remember Serena´s great game, her fight and her heart, her grace on and off the court, an excitement and an entertaiment by watching her play. Forever..!

Srena williams is the best female tennis player of all time. Do you people think that the amount of titles you win make you great? NO! it doesn't, Look at justine henin she has so much titles and she is a cheater! Being a the best is having people loving you and enjoy watching you play. Serena williams has it all. She has grand slams and she is a money maker. I enjoy watching serena play so much that I would go anywhere to see her play and her dominance on the court is magnificent. Who else but serena could make a comback like serena did last year when she won the aussie open! Look out she is still in the game and who know how much she will have when she retires! serena is simply the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No one has the title of being the best female tennis player other than Serena. Actively, so far no other player has held all 4 simultaneously. That is very difficult to do. If it were that easy, then more than Serena would hold the titles. Of course there are other good players such as Venus and Justine. Justine doesn't have the confidence that Serena and Venus possess. She has the game but gets intimidated too easily, particulary if she gets behind in the match against players such as Serena, Sharapova, Venus. Now, I do not think that Serena dedicates herself as much as other players on tour because she has set all types of records and I suppose she is not motivated sometimes because she has already reached the accomplishments that others players haven't or maybe never will. In my opinion if she would devote an entire season to the sport, there is no doubt that she could probably hold all 4 titles again. Of course that is a big "if" because I think she has a life outside of tennis. Can't say I much blame her! What if her health totally fails her? She is by far the greatest and most exciting female tennis player ever! That's why people talk about her negatively a lot because they are aware of her potential. If she wasn't good at it there would be no reason to discuss her. People do not write about insignificant people on a constant basis. Go Serena!

This kind of issue can be so subjective in part because it is so natural to respect the most modern player the most because she is closest in memory. I would say that Serena is the most talented player ever but that she has not lived up to her potential. Just ask Serena and I bet that she will tell you that she should have 14 grand slam titles by now, not 8. Still, talent is not enough. Sabatini had as much overall talent as Graf, although not as many athletic gifts, but she cannot be compared career-wise to Graf. You can see that talent is not enough. Also, Serena still has to prove that she is the best player of her generation; that is, Justine and Venus are hot on her tail. Hence, I go with Navratilova. She has 18 grand slam titles despite going directly against Evert in 80 matchups. Graf has 22 but she benefited from the Seles stabbing. Also, Court won 24 majors, but most of them occured before the Open era. Evert may have 18, too, but I think that Navratilova has a slight edge on her because MN was the only invincible player that I ever saw ('83-'84.) Serena is not done yet, and she is far from a quitter, so in the end of her career, I might change my mind, but at this point I go with MN.