Serena has Evert and Navratilova in her sights

MELBOURNE, Jan 11, 2014 (AFP) - Serena Williams on Saturday said matching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's 18 Grand Slam titles was in her sights and insisted she can cope with the searing heat expected at the Australian Open.

The 32-year-old enters the opening Grand Slam of the season next week in formidable form, losing just five matches last year and winning the Brisbane International earlier this month.

She is gunning for a sixth Australian Open crown, which would move her alongside Evert and Navratilova and further underline her reputation as one of the greatest women players ever seen. Ahead of Melbourne, Navratilova said she expects Williams to match the record this month and go on to surpass Steffi Graf's 22 titles to become the most successful Grand Slam champion in the Open era.