‘OUTSIDER CAN DENY WILLIAMS’

MARGARET COURT has claimed an outsider can deny Serena Williams a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

The American superstar (above) cracked under the pressure of equalling Court’s long-standing record in the US Open in September.

Williams won her 23rd Major title in her last appearance in Melbourne in 2017, but lost the finals at Wimbledon and in New York last season.

Court, 76, who won her last Grand Slam title in 1973, has predicted the recent run of eight different winners in the last two years in the Majors could continue.

“It’s possible for Serena to equal me – if anybody’s gonna do it, it’s Serena,” said the Australian.

“But I don’t think there’s a clear-cut favourite. It’s a pretty open tournament and an outsider can win it.”

No.16 seed Williams, 37, a seven-time Australian Open winner, plays her first-round match against Tatjan Maria tomorrow.