Everyone knows the slam mark of Court is fake. 24 slams but 11 at the Australian, when she couldn't win more than 5 anywhere else. The 22 of Graf could also be questioned due to the Seles stabbing. These are unique circumstances that go beyond the usual tedious tough and weak competition theories. There is a big difference between weak competition, and the competition (Australian Open for Court, Seles for Graf) not even being there.
So with that in mind how many slams does Serena need to set the new real slam mark. Anything from 20 (1 more than Wills) or 23 (1 more than Graf) seems a feasible option.
I just so disagree with the notion that there was anything that special about Seles that without her presence, the majors were not majors anymore but fake ones, for specific labeled and noted players and the work, effort and victories are all compromised for
Graf because Seles was not in her draw.
We did not decide that Court did not deserve her majors when Bueno who was number 1 was severely ill. We did not put asteriks behind Evert's wins after Austin's back went out. Or king's majors when Court went out pregnant. We sure did not do it for those women who got majors after Connolly got thrown from her horse.
NO SINGLE PLAYER has ever had the power to deprive anyone of a major or turn it into a 'fake ' major simply by not being in the draw to beat or put asteriks behind the round victories of everyone who would not have beaten that single player. We should not do it now. Graf does not have to beat 'prime Seles, to win a major. She has to beat the people in her draw.
That is what you forget. You cannot just put that asterisk behind Graf and not behind everyone in the entire tour who gained ranking, prestige and credibility for reaching heights in tournaments they would not have reached had they met Seles. You have to put the asterisk on the women's tour including Gabriela Sabatini, Sanchez, Fernandez, Navratilova, Capriati, Martinez, Maleeva, Novatna, Huber, Pierce during those years. They all gained benefit victories and a greater legacy because Seles got stabbed.
you cannot put an asterisk behind one champion (Graf) without asking how many other champions got fortunate, when for periods of months or years their great rival was out of commission.
Tennis elite told the world and players that women's tour would go on, the majors would be played and the trophies given. That one act of terror ought not compromise the sport. Graf worked and trained just like the rest of the tour on that basis. We did not tell her there would be 'half-credit' given to her alone, among all players or all time because someone stabbed one of her opponents.
