Chris Evert said yesterday that Serena Williams will eclipse the grand slam record of 24 singles titles, maybe even this season.

The former No 1 tennis player also says the name of current record-holder Margaret Court should remain on the arena at the Australian Open despite her controversial views on LGBT rights.

“I don’t agree with Margaret and her thinking,” said the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion. “I think it honours her tennis career.”

Williams restarts her tennis career on the WTA tour this week with 23 major titles. She’ll play an exhibition match tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York, then compete at Indian Wells, California, in her first tour event in more than a year.

Williams dealt with serious health issues after the birth of her first child in September and missed the first major in January.

But the 36-year-old Williams has been winning majors at a swift clip. Williams passed Evert and Martina Navratilova’s 18 at the 2015 Australian Open and won four more majors in the next three years.

Evert thinks Williams will win at least one Grand Slam title this season.

“I just cannot bet against her,” she said. “I’d be surprised if she won two. I would bet on her to win one.”

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 favours power, rewards power and the rallies aren’t long. She’s got the big serve. The US 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.”