Evert thinks Williams will win at least one Grand Slam title this season.
"I just cannot bet against her," she said in a recent phone interview with The Associated Press. "I'd be surprised if she won two; I would bet on her to win one."
Evert knows a bit about records. Raised in a tennis family and taught by her father Jimmy in Florida, she turned pro at 17 in 1972 and promptly earned the No. 1 ranking two years later after winning the French Open and Wimbledon.
She won a record seven French Opens and reached the semifinals or better in 52 of 56 majors. The tennis Hall of Famer won 157 singles and 32 doubles titles in an 18-year career, which spanned the eras of Billie Jean King, Navratilova and Steffi Graf.
Her career winning percentage (90 percent) is better than top-ranked Roger Federer (82 percent). It remains the highest for men or women since the Open era of professional tennis began in 1968.
Here are a few more thoughts from the 63-year-old Evert, the publisher of Tennis magazine and mother of three adult sons.
ON SERENA
Evert says Serena's best chance of winning more majors rests on the grass of Wimbledon.
"Who knows how she'll come out of the starting gate," she said. "Wimbledon, that would be her best shot because that favors power, rewards power and the rallies aren't long. She's got the big serve. The U.S. Open is going to be tough because it's on a hard court, it's hot. She'll have to be moving well and be very, very fit."
Incorporating tennis and family becomes the new challenge after marrying Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and giving birth to baby Olympia. He recently bought four billboards along the highway to Indian Wells that say "Greatest Momma Of All Time."
"When you have a child, that's an emotional component that you've never experienced before," Evert said. "I keep saying this — whenever anybody doubts Serena, she thrives. That gives her more motivation, more incentive and she always comes out the winner."
ON COURT
Court won 24 major singles titles from 1960-77, including 11 at the Australian Open when most players didn't venture Down Under. She won a combined record of 64 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles.
Court became an ordained Pentecostal minister in 1991 and has been a constant critic of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage in Australia. After a national referendum, the Australian Parliament voted overwhelmingly to legalize gay marriage in December.
Over the years, Court has singled out gay Australian players and Navratilova, a rival and friend of Evert. Court's remarks last year about transgender youth upset King, who said at the recent Australian Open that Court's name should be removed from the arena . Navratilova wrote an open letter suggesting it be renamed for Australian tennis great Evonne Goolagong.
Evert says she disagrees with Court's opinions and believes in freedom of speech. "She goes by the bible and she's just very rigid in that."
ON ACADEMY
Evert still hits the courts almost daily at her tennis academy in Boca Raton, Florida. Madison Keys, who reached the U.S. Open final last year, and Lauren Davis, who had triple-match point on top-ranked Simona Halep at the Australian Open, came through her academy.
Evert's proud "100 percent of the kids" who don't turn pro earn a college tennis scholarship.
"That's like winning Wimbledon for these kids," she said. "That's a wonderful goal. It's really just fun to mentor these kids and try to help them reach their goals and their dreams."
Known for her two-handed backhand and returning nearly every ball, Evert recently partnered with Osteo Bi-Flex to help keep up with the 14-year-olds on her practice courts.
ON ROGER/VENUS
