'Records are made to be broken' - Evert on Serena's quest for her seventh US Open

Chris Evert has spoken of her admiration for how Serena Williams makes the daily transition from mother to tennis player, "going from soft, warm, cuddly and loving" to "a fierce competitor and fighter". 

In an exclusive interview with wtatennis.com, Evert suggested Williams has "two almost polar opposite personalities" - one to care for her daughter, and the other to compete on court, including trying to eclipse Evert at the US Open by winning a record seventh title: "It's like night and day the difference between when Serena is with her child and when she's playing tennis." 

Should Williams win the US Open, she would both equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slams, and become the first woman in the Open Era to win the New York major seven times, breaking her tie with Evert on six titles.

"I wouldn't feel any sadness if Serena were to win a seventh US Open. At my age, I think that would be pretty narcissistic. Records are meant to be broken. I broke some and people are going to break mine. I would be very happy for Serena to break that record, especially as she is making a comeback after having a child," said Evert. 

Read more: US Open 2018 seeds: Halep No.1, Serena 17th

"It's not easy for Serena as a mother. I couldn't have played professional tennis with a child. I just can't imagine it. Once I had my first child, I didn't want to leave its side. So I admire her for trying to be really successful at both - as a tennis player and a mother. It's difficult. As a father, you don't really know how difficult it is for a mother," said Evert. 

"I don't think Serena thought it would be as tough as it is, once all the emotions start. It's not the physical side. After having my first child, I was in better shape than when I was on the tour. I got my body back. But the emotional tug that you feel, you can't always transition from being soft and warm and cuddly and loving to being a fierce competitor on the court. That transition is very difficult. 

"Other working mothers can go into the office, or go to court, or work as a nurse, or do whatever, and you can still have that same kind of attitude. But, with Serena, being the fierce competitor and fighter that she is, it's like night and day the difference between when she's with her child and when she's on the court. It's like she has two different personalities, and two different personalities that are almost polar opposites."  

Evert said Williams is under greater pressure in New York than she ever was.

"This generation feels more pressure to win Grand Slams than our generation. And with Serena, there's even more pressure on her at the US Open because of the Grand Slam record," Evert said. "The last few years, she has felt more pressure at the US Open because she has been breaking records at the Grand Slams. There are still more records to be broken and the next one is the Margaret Court one, and that brings more pressure."

Read more: When is the US Open draw?

Winning your first US Open title, you experience "childlike happiness", according to Evert. But if you become a serial champion, each subsequent victory feels even more meaningful.

"When you win your first one, you have a childlike happiness, but the more you win, and the deeper you get into your career, and into your 20s and 30s, winning takes on a much deeper significance. It's a deeper emotion. You have to work harder to win, and the pressure is on you, plus there is more competition from other women as the years go by," Evert observed. 

"It definitely doesn't get any easier to win the US Open. It's probably easier at the beginning when you win your first one. Also, when you're older, you've had some losses by then, you know that it's just tricker, and you've been through some adversity. It's just more meaningful." 

Evert regards Williams as one of the favorites for the US Open.

"I was amazed at Wimbledon [where Williams reached the final] and also when watching her against [Petra] Kvitova in Cincinnati [she lost that second-round match]. If Serena doesn't win the US Open, it will be because she's not match-tough. It won't be because she's not fit, or because she won't get back."