Pam Shriver expects Serena Williams to heal the wounds of last year's heartbreak by winning a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.
Williams is the world's No. 1 player and top seed at Flushing Meadows. She was denied a first calendar Grand Slam in 2015 when she lost to by Roberta Vinci in last September's semifinals.
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There was talk of a changing of the guard when Williams lost in the Australian Open and French Open finals this year, but she responded by matching Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 major singles crowns at Wimbledon in July.
Williams is a strong favorite to win the year's final major of the year for a seventh time.
Shriver, a TV analyst and runner-up in the 1978 U.S. Open, favors Williams in New York and again in January at Melbourne.
"I didn't pick her at the French, I had my doubts," Shriver said. "I didn't think she'd win the Australian because of having a four-month layoff going into that.
"But I thought she'd win Wimbledon and she did. Three years ago she lost three majors in a row much earlier than she did the most recently, but after she wins one she wins them in a bit of a run, so I wouldn't be surprised if she won three in a row again."
Shriver believes the support of a home crowd can drive Williams, who plays Ekaterina Makarova in the first round on Monday.
"She will feel so much less pressure than last year, also because she won Wimbledon and has at least tied Graf," Shriver said.
"Every year Serena adds to her resume and history in the game, the New York crowds, while she's never been beloved, I think the appreciation and realization that the fans are looking at an athlete that comes along once in a blue moon."