Once again, Serena Williams and her quest for history should dominate the year in women’s tennis

The biggest question ahead in women’s tennis is: when will Serena get No 23, or even No 24 to equal Margaret Court’s record?

On a break since her defeat to Karolina Pliskova in the semi-final of the US Open in September, Serena Williams was scheduled to make a return in Auckland on Monday. But rains made sure her fans will have to wait a day longer to see the American in action.

Not for the first time, it has rained on her parade. Remember the 2015 US Open, when she was only two wins away from becoming only the sixth player in history to win all four grand slams in a calendar year, and Roberta Vinci brought her bid to a stunning end, in front of adoring home fans?

It happened again in 2016, twice. Twelve months ago, Williams’ quest for grand slam No 22 was the biggest buzz in women’s tennis, but she lost two finals — to Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open and Garbine Muguruza in the French Open — before finally equalling Steffi Graf’s Open-era record, 12 months after winning 21st grand slam.

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Now, the biggest question ahead in women’s tennis is: when will she get No 23, or even No 24 to equal Margaret Court’s record?

Court, in a recent interview, said it will not be easy for Williams, and few would dare disagree.

But Williams, who turns 36 in 2017, has reached the final in seven of her last nine grand slams, winning five. So how many would dare wager against her equalling Court’s record in 2017?

Kerber denied her at the Australian Open in 2016, but Williams was the hunted at the time, under pressure to win No 22.

Kerber flourished as the underdog and finished the season as No 1, winning two majors. Now, she will be the hunted, with thousands of points to defend, and pressure can do funny things to people.

Still, the battle between those two at the top should be one of the highlights of 2017. Or perhaps Muguruza and the likes of Madison Keys, Simona Halep, Johanna Konta and Dominika Cibulkova might decide to make a few statements of their own.

And lest we forget, Maria Sharapova will be making a return from her doping suspension in late April, five weeks before the start of the French Open. Her return will certainly liven up the European clay court season and add further spice to what should be engrossing season in women’s tennis.

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